Passive Voice of Modal Auxiliaries

We already have talked about active and passive voice, moreover had discoursed about modal verbs. In this lesson we will elaborate active and passive voice and you are going to lean passive voice of modal auxiliaries. In addition, click Active and Passive Voice Complete Rules, you might find this useful too.

Passive Voice of Modal Auxiliaries

Concentrate in the formulas below how the active sentences are changed to passive voice. 

Active: S + MA + V1 + object + ROTS            Passive: S + MA + be + V3 + ROTS

• Her husband should take her to the hospital. (Active)
• She should be taken to the hospital by her husband.  (Passive)
• Rich people must help the needy. (Active)
• The needy must be helped by rich people.  (Passive)
• The government may/might pave all the roads and streets in Quetta. (Active)
• All the roads and streets in Quetta may/might be paved by the government.  (Passive)
• Someone could build a skyscraper in Islamabad.  (Active)
• A skyscraper could be built in Islamabad.  (Passive)

Semi Auxiliaries

Active: S + SA + V1 + object + ROTS        Passive: S + SA + be + V3 + ROTS

• You have to do your homework.  (Active)
• Your homework has to be done by you. (Passive)
• People have to follow the traffic law.    (Active)
• The traffic law has to be followed. (Passive)
• Everyone is supposed to speak English inside Perfect academy.  (Active)
• English is supposed to be spoken inside Perfect academy. (Passive)
• You ought to close the gate on time.  (Active)
• The gate ought to be closed by you on time. (Passive)
• She had to clean the kitchen.  (Active)
• The kitchen had to be cleaned by her. (Passive)
• I was supposed to take her to the hospital.  (Active)
• She was supposed be taken to the hospital by me. (Passive)

Note: If the subject of the active sentence is not a specific person or thing, the by phrase in the passive sentence is not necessary. Sometimes the by phrase is not necessary even if the subject of the active sentence is a specific person or thing.

• People speak English in many countries.  (Active)
• English is spoken in many countries.  (Passive)
• No one eats pork in Afghanistan.   (Active)
• Pork is not eaten in Afghanistan. (Passive)
• I want to do my homework early tonight.   (Active)
• I want my homework to be done early tonight  (Passive)

Attempt Active and Passive Voice Exercise

Conclusion:

Would you like to know more about active and passive voice? Check out the useful book below: