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13. Passive-Modals

The document explains modal verbs, which are special verbs that convey specific meanings in sentences and do not take '-s' in the third person. It also discusses passive sentences, their usage, and how to form passive constructions with modal verbs. Additionally, it highlights that not all sentences with modal verbs can be converted to passive voice, particularly when there is no recipient of the action.

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Cristina Ruiz Lopez
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98 views

13. Passive-Modals

The document explains modal verbs, which are special verbs that convey specific meanings in sentences and do not take '-s' in the third person. It also discusses passive sentences, their usage, and how to form passive constructions with modal verbs. Additionally, it highlights that not all sentences with modal verbs can be converted to passive voice, particularly when there is no recipient of the action.

Uploaded by

Cristina Ruiz Lopez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 Doesanyone remember what are modals

verbs?

 List some of the modal verbs that you know!

Can Ought to
Could Shall
May Should
Might Will
Must Would
 Modal verbs are special verbs which give special meaning to the sentences.

 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.Examples:

• He can speak Chinese.


• She should be here by 9:00.

 2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and
Simple Past.

• He should not be late.


• They might not come to the party.

 3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

• He will can go with us. Not Correct


• She musted study very hard. Not Correct
 What are passive sentences?
 Why do we need passive sentences?

Ili is cleaning the room.


The room is being cleaned (by Ili)

Ili wrote an essay.


The essay was written (by Ili)

Ili kicked her boyfriend.


Ili’s boyfriend was kicked (by Ili).

Ili prepared lunch for her students.


Lunch was prepared (by Ili) for her students.
 1. Passive voice is often used when the agent (the doer of an action; the subject of
an active verb) is obvious, unknown, or unnecessary:
Toyotas are made in Japan.
Her purse was stolen.

 2. Passive voice is often used when the agent is known, but the
speaker/writer doesn’t want to mention it:
She was given bad advice.
A mistake has been made.

 3. Passive voice is often used when the agent is very general such
as people or somebody.
English is spoken here.
The door should be locked.

 4. Passive voice is often used when the speaker/writer wants to emphasize a result:
Several thousand people were killed by the earthquake.
• Passive Modals!
Rule: MODAL+BE+PAST PARTICIPLE
(present/future modals)

Ili will invite her students out for lunch.


Her students will be invited out for lunch (by Ili)

Ili must give her students good grades.


Good grades must be given to her students (by Ili)
Her students must be given good grades (by Ili)

Ili may give her students good grades.


Good grades may be given to her students (by Ili)
Her students may be given good grades (by Ili)
RULE: MODAL+HAVE BEEN+PAST PARTICIPLE
(past)

Example:

Ili should have prepared dinner last night.


Dinner should have been prepared (by Ili) last night.

Ili may have given money to her best friend last week.
Her best friend may have been given money (by Ili)

Ili would have invited her students out for lunch yesterday.
Her students would have been invited out for lunch (by Ili)
 Sometimes, we need to use passive
sentences and when we do, we cannot
throw away the modal verbs.
 Regular passive sentences may not have
modal verbs, but sometimes, sentences
have modals verbs and we can change it
to passive.
I must go to school today.
• If I change it, it will become

The school must be gone (by me) today.

IS THIS CORRECT????????

No, this sentence cannot be changed to passive because


there is no person receiving the action.

No, because if I were to change it, the sentence would have


no meaning.

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