Contenido

OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................................................................... 4
THE PASSIVE VOICE WITH MODALS .................................................................................................... 5
Active Voice, Passive Voice. ............................................................................................................ 5
1. Active voice. ............................................................................................................................ 5
2. Passive voice............................................................................................................................ 5
Examples of active voice and passive voice. ................................................................................... 5
MODALS VERBS ............................................................................................................................... 6
PASSIVE VOICE WITH MODALS ........................................................................................................... 9
Can for present possibility or ability ............................................................................................... 9
Might (not) and could for present or future possibility .................................................................. 9
couldn’t and can’t for present impossibility ................................................................................... 9
Should and shouldn’t for advisability .............................................................................................. 9
Have to and must for necessity ....................................................................................................... 9
Yes/no questions ........................................................................................................................... 9
Information questions ................................................................................................................... 10
 INTRODUCTION

Modal verbs in the passive voice have great importance in communication, as these
denote in a sentence affirmative, negative or question: probability, possibility,
conditionality, obligation, permission, will, persistence and skill.

The structure of a sentence in passive voice is:

Object + main verb + subject.

But using the passive voice with modal verb is added and then the verb "be" as shown in
the following formula:

Subject +modals +be +main verb +object.

 OBJECTIVES

 Learn about modal verbs and their application in a sentence in passive voice.
 Students understand the use of passive voice with modal verbs.
 THE PASSIVE VOICE WITH MODALS

Active Voice, Passive Voice.

1. Active voice.
The active voice is the "normal" voice. This is the voice that we use
most of the time. You are probably already familiar with the active
voice. In the active voice, the object receives the action of the verb:

FORM.

Subject Verb object

Cats Eat fish

2. Passive voice.
The passive voice is less usual. In the passive voice,
the subject receives the action of the verb:

Subject Verb object

Fish are eaten are eaten

Examples of active voice and passive voice.

Active voice Passive voice

They grow a lot of coffee in Brazil. A lot of coffee is grown in Brazil.

She prepares the lunch everyday. The lunch is prepared by her
everyday.
They painted that house last That house was painted by them
weekend. last weekend.
MODALS VERBS

Modals verbs are a class of auxiliary verbs.

Modal verbs are also called modal auxiliaries or simply modals. Manners
express the mode of a verb: the ability, possibility, the need or another
condition of the main verb.

These verbs are used with main verbs to form statements or questions.

Modals have not conjugation and no time and cannot be used without a
main verb.

There are ten English modals verbs:

CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / SHALL / SHOULD / OUGHT

TO /WILL / WOULD

Modal Example Uses

They can control their own budgets. Ability / Possibility

We can’t fix it. Inability / Impossibility

Can
Can I smoke here? Asking for permission

Can you help me? Request

Could I borrow your dictionary? Asking for permission.

Could you say it again more slowly? Request

We could try to fix it ourselves. Suggestion

Could
I think we could have another Gulf War. Future possibility

He gave up his old job so he could work for Ability in the past
us.
 May I have another cup of coffee? Asking for permission
May
China may become a major economic power. Future possibility
We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be Present possibility
eating their dinner now.
Might

They might give us a 10% discount. Future possibility

We must say good-bye now. Necessity / Obligation

Must They mustn’t disrupt the work more than Prohibition

necessary.
We ought to employ a professional writer. Saying what’s right or
correct
Ought to

Shall Shall I help you with your luggage? Offer

(More Shall we say 2.30 then? Suggestion
common
Shall I do that or will you? Asking what to do
in the
UK than
the US)
Saying what’s right or
We should sort out this problem at once. correct
I think we should check everything again. Recommending action
Should

Profits should increase next year. Uncertain prediction

I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk. Instant decisions

Will I'll do that for you if you like. Offer

I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday. Promise

 Profits will increase next year. Certain prediction

Would you mind if I brought a colleague with Asking for permission

me?
Would you pass the salt please? Request

Would you mind waiting a moment? Request

Would "Would three o`clock suit you?" - "That’d be Making arrangements

fine."
Would you like to play golf this Friday? Invitation

"Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "I’d like Preferences

tea please."
 PASSIVE VOICE WITH MODALS

Can for present possibility or ability

can be found for medical research on animals.Alternatives

Might (not) and could for present or future possibility

New medicines might be discovered through animal testing.

Cattle might not be mistreated if people knew about the conditions.

A lot could be done to improve conditions.

couldn’t and can’t for present impossibility

Research couldn’t be done today without animals.

Sometimes testing on animals can’t be helped.

Should and shouldn’t for advisability

Corporate chicken farms should be shut down.

People shouldn’t be prohibited from hunting.

Have to and must for necessity

Some animals have to be killed.

Traditions like bullfighting must be preserved.

Yes/no questions
Can other types of research be found?

Should factory farms be shut down?

Must animals be used for research?

Do animals have to be used for research?

Information questions
How can animal be trained to help humans?

What could be done to improve conditions?

Why must their lives be respected?

Why do their lives have to be respected?