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Unit 03
Advanced Passive + Modals
it is said that, he is believed to
Combining Modals & the Passive
This unit combines modal verbs with the passive voice to express impersonal ideas, beliefs, speculation, and necessity — the hallmark of formal English, academic writing, and news reporting.
Passive with Modal Verbs
The structure is modal + be + past participle.
| Modal | Passive example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| must | The forms must be completed. | Strong necessity |
| should / ought to | The forms should be sent soon. | Advice / obligation |
| can | The package can be collected at reception. | Possibility / ability |
| could / might / may | The case might be reviewed again. | Uncertainty / speculation |
| have to | All documents have to be signed. | External obligation |
Modal Perfect Passive — Past
For the past, use modal + have been + past participle.
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must have been | Almost certain | The parcel must have been delivered. |
| can't have been | Almost certain (negative) | It can't have been opened yet. |
| might / could have been | Possible | The data might have been deleted. |
| should have been | Expected but didn't happen | The report should have been submitted. |
Reporting Passive — "It is said that..."
Used in formal/academic English. Common verbs: say, believe, report, expect, know, think, consider, claim, allege.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| It + be + pp + that-clause | It is said that the singer lives in Spain. |
| It is believed that he escaped last night. | |
| It was reported that prices increased by 10%. |
Reporting Passive — "He is said to..."
Subject moves to front: Subject + be + pp + to + verb. Present → to + base verb; Past → to have + past participle.
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | He is said to work at Google. |
| Past | He is said to have worked at Google. |
| More | They are believed to be hiding. |
| She is thought to have moved abroad. |
Obligation, Prohibition & Advice (Passive)
| Meaning | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Obligation | must be / have to be + pp | All forms must be completed. |
| Prohibition | mustn't be + pp | Phones mustn't be used in class. |
| Advice | should / ought to be + pp | The report should be checked carefully. |
| No necessity | don't have to be + pp | Attendance doesn't have to be recorded. |
Passive Infinitives & Gerunds
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Passive infinitive | to be + past participle | She hopes to be promoted this year. |
| Perfect passive infinitive | to have been + past participle | The building is thought to have been built in 1850. |
| Passive gerund | being + past participle | I hate being interrupted. · He avoided being seen. |
| There + be said / thought to be | existence | There are said to be over 100 species here. |
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectThe reportauxiliarymust beverbfinishedadverbby Monday.
↳ Modal + be + past participle — present obligation.
subjectThe mistakeauxiliarycould have beenverbavoided.
↳ Modal perfect passive — past speculation.
subjectHeverbis believedverbto have wonobjectthe award.
↳ Reporting passive — past event with to have + pp.
Common Mistakes
It said that he left.
→
It is said that he left.
The reporting passive needs "be": It is said that...
He is believed to has gone.
→
He is believed to have gone.
Use "to have + past participle" for past events.
The project must be finished yesterday.
→
The project must have been finished yesterday.
Past → modal + have been + past participle.
It is expect that she will come.
→
It is expected that she will come.
Past participle needed: expected.
These reports should been checked carefully.
→
These reports should be checked carefully.
Present modal passive = modal + be + pp (not "should been").
I don't like being tell what to do.
→
I don't like being told what to do.
Passive gerund → being + past participle.
It is said that there are 100 species. → There is said that...
→
There are said to be 100 species.
There + be said + to be.