English
Passive Voice with Modals
Updated Oct 28, 2026
Express rules, possibilities, and requirements in passive clauses.
What you’ll learn
Express rules, possibilities, and requirements in passive clauses.
សរសេរច្បាប់ និងលទ្ធភាពដោយ modal passive។
Meaning and use
A modal passive uses modal + be + past participle. The modal does not change for a plural subject. This pattern is useful for instructions and policies, but active wording is often clearer when the responsible person matters. Keep the difference between prohibition and optional action.
Passive ជាមួយ modal ប្រើ modal + be + past participle។ វាមានប្រយោជន៍សម្រាប់ការណែនាំ និងច្បាប់ ពេលចង់សង្កត់លើកិច្ចការដែលត្រូវធ្វើ។
Grammar patterns
| Pattern | Example or form |
|---|---|
| Modal passive | must/can/should + be + past participle |
| Negative | must not be shared / need not be printed |
Examples
-
The form must be signed.
សំណុំបែបបទត្រូវតែចុះហត្ថលេខា។
-
Tickets can be bought online.
សំបុត្រអាចទិញតាមអ៊ីនធឺណិតបាន។
-
The password should not be shared.
មិនគួរចែករំលែកពាក្យសម្ងាត់ទេ។
-
The room may be used after three.
បន្ទប់អាចត្រូវបានប្រើក្រោយម៉ោងបី។
Everyday conversation
Dara: Does the application need to be printed?
Maly: No. It can be submitted online.
Common mistakes
| Instead of | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The forms must are signed. | The forms must be signed. | Be remains in its base form after a modal. |
| It can be use tomorrow. | It can be used tomorrow. | The passive main verb is a past participle. |
Practice
Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.
សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។
- Make passive: You must return the books.
- Correct: The file should deleted.
- Make passive: People can recycle these bottles.
Answers and explanations
Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ
-
The books must be returned.
Use must be + past participle.
-
The file should be deleted.
A passive modal pattern needs be.
-
These bottles can be recycled.
The receiver becomes the subject.
Quick recap
- Modal passive: must/can/should + be + past participle
- Negative: must not be shared / need not be printed