modals: special difficulties (and 9)

9.- MODAL VERBS AND THE PASSIVE

Having no past participle, modal verbs cannot be conjugated in the passive, but they can express passive ideas if they are followed by a passive infinitive:

It can’t be done – no puede hacerse.

It must be done - debe hacerse.

To know more about Modal Verbs, you can consult my Gramática Inglesa pp. 294-327.

Practice -9

Turn the following sentences into the passive

a.- You must finish this as soon as possible

a.- This ........................................................

b.- We must tell the police at once

b.- The police ................................................

c.- They might have run you over

c.- You ......................................................

d.- They ought to give him a medal

d.- He ..........................................................

KEY TO PRACTICE -9

a- This must be finished as soon as possible

b- The police must be told once

c- You might have been run over

d- He ought to be given a medal.