Passive with other tenses and modals
Use the passive with the present perfect, continuous tenses, will and modals: has been cancelled, is being repaired, must be done.
In this lesson you will
- Form the passive in other tenses
- Use modal passives
- Recognise the passive in news and notices
Learn
Present perfect: has/have been + participle: The flight has been cancelled.
Continuous: is/was being + participle: The road is being repaired. The suspect was being questioned.
Future and modals: will be / must be / can be / should be + participle: The results will be announced* tomorrow. Mobile phones must be switched off.*
The passive is common in news, notices, instructions and formal writing: Applications must be submitted by Friday.
Examples
- Three people have been arrested.
- A new hospital is being built near the station.
- Tickets can be bought online.
- You will be contacted by our team.
Vocabulary
arrest
take someone to the police station
submit
send formally
suspect
a person thought to have done a crime
switch off
turn off
postpone
move to a later time
Practice
Complete the sentence.
Listening: Station announcement
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Attention please. The 14:20 service to Leeds has been cancelled due to a signal failure.
Passengers are advised to take the 14:50 service, which is being held at platform 3.
Tickets for the cancelled train will be accepted on all services today.
Refunds can be requested at the ticket office.
1.Why was the train cancelled?
2.Where is the 14:50 train?
3.Tickets for the cancelled train will be accepted today.
4.Where can refunds be requested?
Speaking
Describe changes happening in your town right now and recently: what is being built, what has been closed or opened, what will be done next year.
Writing
Write a notice for a building or event (6–8 rules) using modal passives: must be…, can be…, should not be…
Lesson quiz
The documents ___ signed yet.
Review
Key points
- has/have been + participle.
- is/was being + participle.
- will/must/can/should be + participle.
- Common in news and notices.
What you learned
- ✓ I can use the passive in many tenses.
- ✓ I can use modal passives.
- ✓ I understand passive notices.
Grammar reference: The passive voice