modals and passive voice

Passive Voice Of Modals.

Learn English Grammar|CBSE|ICSE|UP Board|Exercise with solution and practice Set

Some sentences are made by using modals. In this post you will learn to convert active voice sentence into passive voice.

{like=>May,Might,Can,Could,Should,Must,Ought to etc} these types of sentences can be transferred into passive voice by using the following rules. 

  • We exchange Subject and Object from each other.
  • We use preposition by before Subject [Subject of Active Voice.]
  • We write Be after May,Might,Can,Could,Should,Must,Ought to etc.
  • We write the third form of the Verb.

Affirmative-

Object + May/Might/Can/Could/Should/Must/Ought to + Be + Third Form of The Verb + By + Subject.

Examples-

  1. He may call the police. [Active Voice]
  • The police may be called by him. [Passive Voice]
  1. She can sing a sweet song. [Active Voice]
  • A sweet song can be sung by her. [Passive Voice]
  1. They should help us. [Active Voice]
  • We should be helped by them. [Passive Voice]
  1. You ought to obey traffic rules. [Active Voice]
  • Traffic rules ought to be obeyed by you. [Passive Voice]

Negative-

Object + May/Might/Can/Could/Should/Must/Ought to + Not + Be + Third Form of The Verb + By + Subject.

Examples-

  1. He may not call the police. [Active Voice]
  • The police may not be called by him. [Passive Voice]
  1. She can not sing a sweet song. [Active Voice]
  • A sweet song can not be sung by her. [Passive Voice]
  1. They should not help us. [Active Voice]
  • We should not be helped by them. [Passive Voice]

Interrogative-

May/Might/Can/Could/Should/Must/Ought to + Object + Not + Be + Third Form of The Verb + By + Subject.

Examples-

  1. May he call the police? [Active Voice]
  • May the police be called by him? [Passive Voice]
  1. Can he sing a sweet song? [Active Voice]
  • Can a sweet song be sung by him? [Passive Voice]
  1. Should they not help us? [Active Voice]
  • Should we not be helped by them? [Passive Voice]

Main Interrogative-

Question Word + May/Might/Can/Could/Should/Must/Ought to + Object + Not + Be + Third Form of The Verb + By + Subject.

Examples-

  1. When may he call the police? [Active Voice]
  • When may the police be called by him? [Passive Voice]
  1. How can he sing a sweet song? [Active Voice]
  • How can a sweet song be sung by him? [Passive Voice]
  1. Why should they not help us? [Active Voice]
  • Why should we not be helped by them? [Passive Voice]

Transform the following sentences into Passive Voice.

  1. He can sing a sweet song.
  2. Her song may charm the audience.
  3. My younger brother can help you.
  4. Can you solve the question?
  5. Why can they not do it?
  6. They should help their friends.
  7. We should listen to this speech.
  8. The children should play a cricket match against them.
  9. My brother should please his friends.
  10. Everyone should do his work timely.
  11. No one should insult the poor.
  12. They should not abuse anyone.
  13. We should not drink cold water now.
  14. The king should not leave his people alone.
  15. They should not throw the stone.
  16. You must help your younger brother.
  17. They must follow all the instructions.
  18. You ought to obey your elders.
  19. You ought to respect your teachers.
  20. We must solve this question today.

From Passive Voice to Active Voice.

We transform a modal sentence from Passive Voice into Active Voice according to the following rules-

We exchange Subject and Object from each other.

Example-

  1. Cricket can be played by my brother.[Passive Voice]
  • My brother can play cricket.[Active Voice]

We remove By and Be from the sentence.

Example-

  1. Cricket can be played by my brother.[Passive Voice]
  • My brother can play cricket.[Active Voice]

We use the first form of the Verb.

Example-

  1. Cricket can be played by my brother.[Passive Voice]
  • My brother can play cricket.[Active Voice]

Transform the following sentences into Active Voice.

  1. The flower can be plucked by the children.
  2. The book can be sold by us in the fair.
  3. The first prize might be achieved by the tallboy.
  4. You can be beaten by the teacher.
  5. Our plane may be hijacked by terrorists.
  6. His parents can not be displeased by him.
  7. Physics paper can not be solved by me.
  8. The medicine can not be sold by him without permission.
  9. The match can not be won by Australia now.
  10. The child can not be given chocolate by him due to illness.
  11. Can the poem not be explained by the teacher?
  12. Can the bell not be rung by the peon timely?
  13. Can the song be heard by you?
  14. By whom can the wind be seen?
  15. When can the children be called by the mother?
  16. The principle ought to be obeyed by all the students.
  17. Women should be respected by everyone.
  18. The game should not be started by them before Sunday.
  19. Why should they not be helped by you?
  20. New trees must be planted by us.

Content Writer– Mohammad Anas.….. Edited by– Shadab Akhtar.

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