Basic modal forms can be used in the passive voice by combining:
modal + to be/to have been + past participle:
| EXAMPLE: |
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|
| will |
I will write |
it will be written |
| may |
I may write |
it may be written |
| may have |
I may have written |
it may have been written, etc. |
We form the passive voice with the verb 'to be' and the past particle.
The passive forms are:
Simple present tense
EXAMPLE: The letter is written by her. (Active: She writes the letter.)
Present continuous tense
EXAMPLE: The letter is being written by her. (Active: She is writing the letter.)
Present perfect tense
EXAMPLE: The letter has been written by her. (Active: She has written the letter.)
Simple past tense
EXAMPLE: The letter was written by her. (Active: She wrote the letter.)
Past continuous tense
EXAMPLE: The letter was being written by her. (Active: She was writing the letter.)
Past perfect tense
EXAMPLE: The letter had been written by her. (Active: She had written the letter.)
Simple future tense
EXAMPLE: The letter will be written by her. (Active: She will write the letter.)
Future perfect tense
EXAMPLE: The letter will have been written by her. (Active: She will have written the letter.)
Infinitive:
EXAMPLE: The letter has to be written. (Active: She has to write the letter.)
Modals:
EXAMPLE: The letter will/may be written. (Active: She will/may write the letter.)
Note: The present perfect continuous, the past perfect continuous, the future continuous, and the future perfect continuous tenses are not normally used in the passive voice.
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