Modal passive (must be done)
Modal passive (must be done) means “Modal passive: a modal + be + past participle, for rules, possibility or necessity in the passive”. A modal (must, can, should, may. Formation: modal + be + past participle
Modal passive: a modal + be + past participle, for rules, possibility or necessity in the passive
B2Formation
modal + be + past participle
Explanation
A modal (must, can, should, may...) can be made passive with be + past participle: This form must be signed. The rules can be changed. The modal keeps its usual meaning — obligation, possibility, permission — while be + participle turns the sentence passive, so the subject receives the action. The doer is often left out because the rule or the possibility matters more than who acts.
Examples
Note
The continuous version, a modal + be being + past participle (It might be being repaired), is grammatically possible but rare; people usually reword it as It might be under repair or use the active.
FAQ
Modal passive (must be done) — what does it mean and how is it used?
Modal passive: a modal + be + past participle, for rules, possibility or necessity in the passive. A modal (must, can, should, may...) can be made passive with be + past participle: This form must be signed. The rules can be changed. The modal keeps its usual meaning — obligation, possibility, permission — while be + participle turns the sentence passive, so the subject receives the action. The doer is often left out because the rule or the possibility matters more than who acts.
Modal passive (must be done) — how do you form it?
modal + be + past participle
Modal passive (must be done) — any usage notes?
The continuous version, a modal + be being + past participle (It might be being repaired), is grammatically possible but rare; people usually reword it as It might be under repair or use the active.