Introduction to Passive with Modal Verbs
In German, combining the passive voice with modal verbs extends your ability to describe actions that must, can, or should be done. This structure helps you highlight an action rather than who performs it, while still expressing necessity or possibility. Understanding how to form these constructions clearly and correctly is essential for more advanced communication.
What is the Passive Voice in German?
The passive voice in German focuses on what happens to an object or person rather than who carries out the action. It often uses werden plus a past participle (Das Haus wird gebaut = The house is being built). For more on the standard passive, see German passive.
What Are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs (müssen, können, sollen, wollen, dürfen, mögen) add nuance such as obligation or permission to a main verb. Check out
German modal verbs for a broader understanding of their forms.
Why Use Passive with Modal Verbs?
Combining passive with modals expresses actions that need or can be performed. This construction often appears in official, academic, or polite contexts. Commonly, it’s used in the present or simple past tenses, though it can appear in other tenses as well.
German Passive with Modal Verbs in Different Tenses
While passive with modal verbs can occur in all tenses, you’ll most likely see it in the present tense and simple past. Still, let’s outline each tense for completeness.
Present Tense (Präsens)
Structure
Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive)
For example: “Es muss gemacht werden.” (It must be done.)
Example Sentences
| German | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Die Bücher müssen sortiert werden. | The books must be sorted. |
| Die Fenster können heute gereinigt werden. | The windows can be cleaned today. |
| Das Essen soll warm gehalten werden. | The food should be kept warm. |
| Eine Lösung darf nicht vergessen werden. | A solution must not be forgotten. |
| Der Fehler muss schnell behoben werden. | The mistake must be fixed quickly. |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Structure
Subject + modal verb (simple past form) + past participle + werden (infinitive)
Example: “Es musste gemacht werden.” (It had to be done.)
Example Sentences
| German | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Die Anweisungen mussten genau befolgt werden. | The instructions had to be followed exactly. |
| Der Fehler konnte gestern behoben werden. | The mistake could be fixed yesterday. |
| Die Rechnung sollte sofort bezahlt werden. | The bill was supposed to be paid immediately. |
| Der Bericht wollte am Montag verfasst werden. | The report wanted to be written on Monday. (less common usage, but possible) |
| Die Besucher durften nicht hereingelassen werden. | The visitors were not allowed to be let in. |
Present Perfect (Perfekt)
While less common, you can form the passive with modals in the present perfect. In normal conversation, many prefer the present or simple past forms, but let’s see the structure briefly.
Structure
Subject + form of haben + past participle + werden (infinitive) + Modal (infinitive) This structure is quite complex and rarely used, so we’ll keep examples minimal.
Example Sentences
- Diese Information hat veröffentlicht werden müssen.
- Die Aufgaben haben gestern erledigt werden können.
Notice how the modal and “werden” appear in infinitive form together with the main verb’s past participle. This order can be confusing; many native speakers avoid it.
Past Perfect (Plusquamperfekt)
Structure
Subject + simple past form of haben + past participle + werden (infinitive) + Modal (infinitive)
Passive plus modal in the past perfect is very rarely used in everyday speech, similar to the present perfect scenario. The structure becomes quite long, so native speakers often rephrase. We’ll list one example for completeness.
- Die Einladung hatte rechtzeitig verschickt werden müssen.
This means “The invitation had to have been sent on time.”
Future Tense (Futur I)
Structure
Subject + werden (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive) + Modal (infinitive)
Many consider it simpler to use present tense with context. But if clarity is needed, you can say:
Example Sentences
| German | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Die Arbeit wird gemacht werden müssen. | The work will have to be done. |
| Das Problem wird gelöst werden können. | It will be possible to solve the problem. |
| Die Dokumente werden gelesen werden sollen. | The documents will be supposed to be read. |
| Das Haus wird verkauft werden müssen. | The house will have to be sold. |
Future Tense Perfect (Futur 2)
Constructing the passive with a modal in Future II is extremely cumbersome. Here is a minimal example:
- Die Ware wird geliefert worden sein müssen.
Means “The goods will have had to be delivered.” Practically, such sentences are almost never used, and often avoided.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Incorrect Word Order
In passive with a modal, ensure the modal is conjugated near the start for the present and simple past tenses, while werden appears at the end.
Confusing Active and Passive
Don’t forget that passive highlights the action done to the subject, rather than what the subject does. If you mention the agent, it might appear with “von” or “durch.”
Conjugating “werden”
When conjugating “werden”, pay attention to the tense:
- Present, Simple Past, Perfect, and Past Perfect: Use the infinitive of “werden” in these tenses.
- Future 1: “Werden” appears in two forms—the first form is conjugated, while the infinitive stands in second-to-last position in the sentence.
- Future 2: The conjugated form of “werden” is used to construct this tense.
Practice Exercises
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences (Present)
1) Die Fenster _______(müssen) heute _______(putzen) .
2) Der Bericht _______ (sollen) ___________ (schreiben) .
3) Das Essen _______ (können) _______ (kochen).
Answers:
1) Die Fenster müssen heute geputzt werden.
2) Der Bericht soll geschrieben werden.
3) Das Essen kann gekocht werden.
Transform Active Sentences into Passive
1) Wir müssen das Projekt beenden.
2) Sie konnten das Problem lösen.
3) Man soll die Tür abschließen.
Answers:
1) Das Projekt muss beendet werden.
2) Das Problem konnte gelöst werden.
3) Die Tür soll abgeschlossen werden.
Choose the Correct Word Order
1) a) Das Haus kann werden gebaut. b) Das Haus kann gebaut werden.
2) a) Die Pakete müssen werden morgen verschickt. b) Die Pakete müssen morgen verschickt werden.
3) a) Der Kühlschrank wird von dem Mann gereinigt werden müssen. b) Der Kühlschrank muss von dem Mann gereinigt wird.
Answers:
1) b) Das Haus kann gebaut werden.
2) b) Die Pakete müssen morgen verschickt werden.
3) a) Der Kühlschrank wird von dem Mann gereinigt werden müssen.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
- In passive sentences with modal verbs, the modal verb is conjugated, and “werden” appears at the end of the sentence.
- This structure is most commonly used in the present and simple past tenses.
- It can appear in the perfect, past perfect, and future tenses, but these forms are rare.
- Always follow word order rules for each tense.
FAQ: German Passive with Modal Verbs
What is the passive voice with modal verbs in German?
In German, passive with modal verbs describes actions that must, can, or should be done. The modal verb is conjugated, and “werden” appears at the end of the sentence.
How do you structure passive with modal verbs in the present tense?
Formula:
Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive)
Example:
“Das Problem muss gelöst werden.” (The problem must be solved.)
How does this structure change in the simple past tense?
Formula:
Subject + modal verb (simple past) + past participle + werden (infinitive)
Example:
“Die Aufgabe musste erledigt werden.” (The task had to be completed.)
Can you use passive with modal verbs in perfect and past perfect tenses?
Yes, but these forms are rarely used in everyday speech because they are complex.
Example (Perfect):
“Die Aufgaben haben erledigt werden können.” (The tasks could have been completed.)
Example (Past Perfect):
“Die Einladung hatte verschickt werden müssen.” (The invitation had to have been sent.)
How do you form passive with modal verbs in the future tense?
Formula:
Subject + werden (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive) + modal verb (infinitive)
Example:
“Das Haus wird verkauft werden müssen.” (The house will have to be sold.)
Is it common to use passive with modal verbs in conversation?
Yes, but mostly in present and past tenses. More complex forms appear in formal writing or official statements.
Can I use present tense instead of future passive?
Yes, some speakers use the present tense with context instead of future passive. Example:
Instead of “Das Problem wird gelöst werden können.”
Say “Das Problem kann gelöst werden.”
