35 Passive Voice: Modal verbs

The Passive Form expresses the idea of something or someone receiving an action or experiencing a particular event or effect. {see Passive Structure, B1 level}

A Modal Verb is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that has no meaning on its own but it modifies the main verb, changes its meaning and gives more details about action. {see Modal Verb, A2 Level}

We can use Passive Voice with Modal Verbs too.

Present form

Passive structure of the Present form is as follows:

Affirmative: Object + modal verb + be + past participle;
Negative: Object + modal verb + not + be + past participle;
Interrogative: Modal verb + object + be + past participle + (?).

Past form

Passive structure of the Past form is as follows:

Affirmative: Object + modal verb + have been + past participle;
Negative: Object + modal verb + not + have been + past participle;
Interrogative: Modal verb + object + have been + past participle + (?).

Future form

Passive structure of the Future form is as follows:

Affirmative: Object + modal verb + be + past participle/being + past participle;
Negative: Object + modal verb + not + be + past participle/being + past participle;
Interrogative: Modal verb + object + be + past participle/being + past participle + (?).

Your accessories may be stolen by thieves.
Your accessories may not be stolen by thieves.
May your accesories be stolen by thieves?
Healthy hair could have been obtained by maintenance.
Healthy hair couldn’t have been obtained by maintenance.
Could healthy hair be obtained by maintenance?
He will be given a short-sighted glasses by the doctor.
He won’t be given a short-sighted glasses by the doctor.
Will he be given a short-sighted glasses by the doctor?

Modal Verbs can also be used in Passive structure.