Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use modal passives to focus on the action's necessity or possibility without needing to mention who is performing it.
- Present/Future: Use 'Modal + be + Past Participle' (e.g., 'It must be finished').
- Past: Use 'Modal + have been + Past Participle' (e.g., 'It should have been done').
- Negative: Place 'not' after the modal (e.g., 'It cannot be changed').
Overview
Passive with Modals(조동사를 동반한 수동태)는 바로 그 정점에 있는 문법 중 하나입니다.I should finish this report처럼 능동태를 주로 쓰지만, 비즈니스 이메일, 학술 논문, 혹은 공적인 공지사항에서는 '누가' 하는지보다 '무엇이 어떻게 되어야 하는지'가 훨씬 중요할 때가 많습니다. 이때 The report should be finished라는 구조를 사용하면, 문장이 훨씬 객관적이고, 전문적이며, 때로는 더 정중하게 느껴집니다.can, must, should와 같은 조동사가 결합되면, 가능성, 의무, 허가 등의 정교한 의미가 더해져 C1 수준에 걸맞은 세련된 문장이 완성됩니다. 오늘 이 시간을 통해 단순히 공식으로 외우는 수동태가 아니라, 원어민의 사고방식으로 이 문법을 이해하고 활용하는 법을 마스터해 봅시다.Passive with Modals는 조동사(Modal Verb)와 수동태(be + Past Participle)가 결합된 형태입니다. 이 구조를 이해하기 위해서는 먼저 영어와 한국어의 수동 표현 방식의 차이를 짚어볼 필요가 있습니다.This problem can be solved라고 표현합니다.be 동사입니다. 영어의 대원칙 중 하나는 '조동사 뒤에는 반드시 동사 원형이 온다'는 것입니다. 수동태의 기본 공식이 be + p.p.이므로, 조동사와 결합할 때는 be 동사가 시제나 인칭에 상관없이 항상 원형인 be의 형태를 유지해야 합니다.- 능동태:
We must update the app.(우리는 앱을 업데이트해야 한다.) - 수동태:
The app must be updated.(앱은 업데이트되어야 한다.)
We(우리)라는 행위자가 강조되지만, 수동태로 바뀌면서 The app(앱)이 문장의 주인공이 됩니다. 한국어에서는 «앱 업데이트해야 돼»라고 주어 없이 말해도 충분하지만, 영어에서는 The app을 주어로 세우고 must be updated라고 표현함으로써 문법적 완결성을 갖추는 동시에 '업데이트'라는 행위 자체에 초점을 맞춥니다.can은 가능성을, must는 강한 의무를, might는 조심스러운 추측을 나타내죠. 이 태도들이 수동태와 만나면 «~될 수도 있다», «~되어야만 한다», «~될지도 모른다»와 같은 풍부한 표현이 가능해집니다. 이는 특히 비즈니스 상황에서 상대방에게 직접적인 압박을 주지 않으면서도 필요한 조치를 요구할 때 아주 유용합니다.Passive with Modals의 형태는 매우 규칙적입니다. 하지만 C1 레벨에서는 부정문, 의문문, 그리고 완료형 조동사와의 결합까지 완벽하게 숙지해야 합니다.Subject + Modal Verb + be + Past Participle (V3)They can fix the PC. | The PC can be fixed. |You should send the email. | The email should be sent. |We must follow the rules. | The rules must be followed. |The rain might delay the flight. | The flight might be delayed. |not은 항상 조동사 바로 뒤에 위치합니다.Subject + Modal Verb + not + be + Past Participle (V3)The secret must not be revealed.(그 비밀은 밝혀져서는 안 된다.)This software cannot be installed on older devices.(이 소프트웨어는 구형 기기에 설치될 수 없다.)
Modal Verb + Subject + be + Past Participle (V3)?Can the meeting be rescheduled to 3 PM?(회의를 오후 3시로 변경할 수 있을까요?)Should the package be delivered to the office?(택배를 사무실로 배송해야 할까요?)
Modal + have + p.p. 구조도 수동태로 만들 수 있습니다. 이때는 be가 been으로 바뀝니다.Subject + Modal Verb + have been + Past Participle (V3)The mistake could have been avoided.(그 실수는 피할 수도 있었을 텐데.)The documents must have been lost during the move.(서류들이 이사 중에 분실된 게 틀림없다.)
Your coffee will be served shortly라고 합니다.The delivery app orders can be tracked in real-time.(배달 앱 주문은 실시간으로 추적될 수 있습니다.) - 누가 추적하는지보다 '추적 가능함' 자체가 중요합니다.
All personal data must be encrypted to ensure security.(보안을 보장하기 위해 모든 개인 정보는 암호화되어야 합니다.) - '우리가 암호화한다'는 말보다 훨씬 신뢰감을 줍니다.
You must wear a mask는 다소 공격적으로 들릴 수 있습니다. 하지만 Masks must be worn이라고 하면 '사람'이 아닌 '규칙'에 집중하게 되어 훨씬 부드럽고 공적인 느낌을 줍니다.The company dinner (회식) venue should be decided by this afternoon.(회식 장소는 오늘 오후까지 결정되어야 합니다.) - 특정 인물에게 압박을 주기보다 상황의 필요성을 강조합니다.
The new project might be approved by the board.(새 프로젝트가 이사회에 의해 승인될지도 모릅니다.)If the plan fails, the budget would be reduced.(계획이 실패한다면, 예산은 삭감될 것입니다.)
be 동사를 빼먹는 실수 (The Missing 'be')be를 생략하고 바로 p.p.를 쓰는 경우가 많습니다.- 잘못된 예:
The report must signed.(X) - 올바른 예:
The report must be signed.(O) - 설명: 조동사 뒤에는 반드시 동사 원형이 와야 합니다.
signed는 과거분사(형용사 역할)이지 동사 원형이 아닙니다. 따라서 연결 고리인be가 반드시 필요합니다.
be 동사를 인칭에 맞춰 변화시키는 실수 (Inappropriate Inflection)is, are, was 등을 조동사 뒤에 쓰는 경우입니다.- 잘못된 예:
The task can is finished by tomorrow.(X) - 올바른 예:
The task can be finished by tomorrow.(O) - 설명: 조동사는 뒤에 오는 동사의 형태를 '원형'으로 고정시킵니다. 주어가
The task라고 해서is를 쓰면 안 됩니다.
- 잘못된 예:
The car should repair.(X) - 차가 스스로를 수리한다는 뜻이 됩니다. - 올바른 예:
The car should be repaired.(O)
The work must be done.(반드시 해야 함 - 강한 의무)The work should be done.(하는 것이 좋음 - 권고/당위)The work could be done.(할 수도 있음 - 가능성)
be p.p.) | Causative Passive (have something done) |Subject + Modal + be + V3 | Subject + Modal + have + Object + V3 |The car must be fixed. | I must have my car fixed. |- Simple Passive:
The door is locked.(현재 문이 잠겨 있는 상태 혹은 반복적 사실) - Modal Passive:
The door should be locked.(문이 잠겨야 한다는 당위성이나 의무 추가)
by someone을 꼭 써야 하나요?The book was written by Han Kang), 그 정보가 문장에서 핵심적일 때만 씁니다.get 수동태도 조동사와 쓸 수 있나요?The task might get cancelled.처럼 쓸 수 있죠. be 수동태보다 좀 더 구어체적이고 격식이 없는 느낌을 줍니다. 비즈니스 이메일에서는 be를 쓰는 것이 더 안전합니다.go, sleep, arrive 같은 자동사는 수동태 자체가 불가능하므로 조동사와 결합할 때도 능동태로만 써야 합니다. (예: The guest must be arrived (X) -> The guest must have arrived (O))Modal Passive Formation
| Timeframe | Modal | Auxiliary | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present/Future
|
can/must/should
|
be
|
Past Participle (V3)
|
It can be done.
|
|
Past
|
could/should/must
|
have been
|
Past Participle (V3)
|
It should have been done.
|
|
Negative (Pres)
|
cannot/must not
|
be
|
Past Participle (V3)
|
It must not be done.
|
|
Negative (Past)
|
might not
|
have been
|
Past Participle (V3)
|
It might not have been done.
|
|
Question
|
Should
|
Subject + be
|
Past Participle (V3)
|
Should it be done?
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contracted Form | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
cannot be
|
can't be
|
Very common in speech
|
|
should not be
|
shouldn't be
|
Common in advice
|
|
must not be
|
mustn't be
|
Common in British English
|
|
should have been
|
should've been
|
Spoken English only
|
Meanings
The modal passive is used to express necessity, possibility, permission, or obligation regarding an action where the receiver of the action is the subject.
Obligation and Necessity
Expressing that an action is required to be performed on an object.
“Safety goggles must be worn at all times in the lab.”
“The taxes should be paid by the end of the month.”
Possibility and Ability
Expressing what can or could happen to an object.
“The problem could be solved with more funding.”
“This software can be downloaded for free.”
Past Regret or Deduction
Reflecting on actions that were or weren't performed in the past.
“The mistake should have been caught during the review.”
“The package must have been delivered to the wrong address.”
Reference Table
| 조동사 | 의미 | 능동태 예시 | 수동태 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
can
|
능력/가능성
|
They can solve the problem.
|
The problem can be solved.
|
|
could
|
가능성/제안
|
We could reschedule the meeting.
|
The meeting could be rescheduled.
|
|
may
|
허락/가능성
|
You may use this tool.
|
This tool may be used.
|
|
might
|
약한 가능성
|
She might send the email.
|
The email might be sent.
|
|
must
|
의무/필요성
|
Students must read the book.
|
The book must be read.
|
|
should
|
조언/권장
|
You should review the report.
|
The report should be reviewed.
|
|
will
|
미래 확실성 (수동태)
|
They will complete the task.
|
The task will be completed.
|
|
would
|
가정의 결과
|
Someone would enjoy this.
|
This would be enjoyed.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
The report must be finalized by the close of business. (Workplace deadline)
The report should be finished soon. (Workplace deadline)
The report's gotta be done. (Workplace deadline)
This doc needs to be wrapped up ASAP. (Workplace deadline)
조동사 수동태: 핵심 개념
핵심 요소
- 조동사 Can, Should, Must, etc.
- be 항상 'be'
- 과거 분사 V3 형태
주요 목적
- 동작에 집중 행위자가 아닌
- 행위자 불확실 또는 중요하지 않을 때
- 공손함 간접적인 요청/제안
사용 맥락
- 지시 사항 규칙, 절차
- 가능성 미래 결과
- 조언 권장 사항
능동태 vs. 조동사 수동태
조동사 수동태를 사용해야 할까?
동작의 행위자가 알려지지 않았거나 중요하지 않은가요?
가능성, 필요성 또는 조언을 표현해야 하나요?
더 격식 있거나 객관적으로 들리기를 원하나요?
수동태에서의 조동사 의미
의무
- • Must be done
- • Has to be done
가능성
- • Can be done
- • Could be done
- • May be done
- • Might be done
조언
- • Should be done
- • Ought to be done
미래
- • Will be done
수준별 예문
The car can be washed.
El coche se puede lavar.
The food must be eaten.
La comida debe ser comida.
The door should be closed.
La puerta debería estar cerrada.
Can the window be opened?
¿Se puede abrir la ventana?
The bill must be paid now.
La cuenta debe pagarse ahora.
The letters can be sent tomorrow.
Las cartas pueden enviarse mañana.
The room should be cleaned every day.
La habitación debe limpiarse todos los días.
This game cannot be played alone.
Este juego no se puede jugar solo.
The results might be announced later today.
Los resultados podrían anunciarse más tarde hoy.
All staff members must be informed of the change.
Todos los miembros del personal deben ser informados del cambio.
The bridge could be built in two years.
El puente podría construirse en dos años.
Should the meeting be rescheduled?
¿Debería reprogramarse la reunión?
The report should have been submitted yesterday.
El informe debería haber sido entregado ayer.
The software may be updated automatically.
El software puede actualizarse automáticamente.
The suspect must have been seen by someone.
El sospechoso debe haber sido visto por alguien.
These rules ought to be followed strictly.
Estas reglas deberían seguirse estrictamente.
The proposal could have been more clearly articulated.
La propuesta podría haber sido articulada más claramente.
It must be ensured that all safety protocols are met.
Debe asegurarse de que se cumplan todos los protocolos de seguridad.
The data might have been misinterpreted by the researchers.
Los datos podrían haber sido malinterpretados por los investigadores.
Such behavior will not be tolerated in this institution.
Tal comportamiento no será tolerado en esta institución.
The nuances of the contract ought to have been more thoroughly scrutinized.
Los matices del contrato deberían haber sido escrutados más a fondo.
The artifacts may well have been being moved when the fire broke out.
Es muy posible que los artefactos estuvieran siendo trasladados cuando estalló el incendio.
It shall be deemed that the agreement is null and void.
Se considerará que el acuerdo es nulo y sin valor.
The project could not have been brought to fruition without your support.
El proyecto no podría haber llegado a buen término sin su apoyo.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often use the active form when they mean the passive, especially with 'should have'.
Mixing up the perfect active and perfect passive.
Using 'must not' for logical impossibility.
자주 하는 실수
It must done.
It must be done.
The car can washed.
The car can be washed.
It can be do.
It can be done.
Must be it done?
Must it be done?
It should be finish.
It should be finished.
The bill must be pay.
The bill must be paid.
It not can be done.
It cannot be done.
It should have done.
It should have been done.
The work might been finished.
The work might have been finished.
It must be being done.
It must be done.
The data should have been being analyzed.
The data should have been analyzed.
It ought to been seen.
It ought to have been seen.
The results can be interpreted as...
The results could be interpreted as...
It must not have been done.
It can't have been done.
문장 패턴
The ___ must be ___ by ___.
It could be argued that ___.
The ___ should have been ___ earlier.
Under no circumstances may the ___ be ___.
Real World Usage
The files should be uploaded to the shared folder by EOD.
The deposit shall be returned within 30 days.
The bracket must be secured with four screws.
The results could be interpreted as a shift in consumer behavior.
Baggage must not be left unattended.
Your password can be reset using the link below.
항상 'be'를 포함하세요
The problem can be solved.
과거 분사 (V3)에 주의하세요!
The letter must be written.
'by'는 아껴서 사용하세요
The task will be completed.
상황에 맞는 사용이 중요해요
The mistake might be corrected.
부사 활용의 유연함
might be easily understood). 이렇게 하면 표현에 뉘앙스와 정확성을 더할 수 있답니다. The instructions should be clearly understood.
Smart Tips
Change 'I must finish this' to 'This must be finished'. It sounds less like a personal struggle and more like a professional requirement.
Use 'should have been' to focus on the task. It reduces conflict.
Check if there is a modal before it. If so, it's a modal passive!
Use 'could be interpreted' or 'might be seen' to avoid sounding too aggressive with your claims.
발음
Reduction of 'be'
In the phrase 'must be done', the word 'be' is often unstressed and shortened.
Contraction of 'have been'
In 'should have been', 'have been' often sounds like 'av-bin' or 'əv bɪn'.
Stress on the Modal
It MUST be done! (Falling arrow on MUST)
Emphasizing the urgency or necessity.
암기하기
기억법
Remember 'MBP': Modal + Be + Participle. It's the 'Most Basic Passive' for modals!
시각적 연상
Imagine a robot (the object) being repaired. The robot doesn't fix itself; it 'must be fixed' by a factory arm. The focus is on the robot, not the arm.
Rhyme
If a modal is what you see, don't forget to add the 'be'!
Story
A detective arrives at a crime scene. He says, 'The safe must have been opened from the inside. The guards should have been alerted.' He focuses on the objects and actions because the criminal is unknown.
Word Web
챌린지
Look around your room. Find 3 things that 'should be cleaned' and 2 things that 'could be moved'. Say them out loud.
문화 노트
British speakers use 'mustn't be' more frequently than Americans, who prefer 'can't be' or 'shouldn't be' for prohibitions.
Modal passives are the standard for 'polite distancing'. It allows a manager to criticize a process without criticizing a person.
The modal 'shall' is almost exclusively used in legal passives to indicate a mandatory requirement.
The passive voice in English evolved from Old English 'weorthan' (to become) and 'beon' (to be). Modals were originally full verbs with their own meanings.
대화 시작하기
What is one thing in your city that should be improved?
Think of a famous historical event. What should have been done differently?
If you were the president, what laws would be changed immediately?
Can a person's character be judged by their clothes?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
The new rules ___ reviewed by the committee soon.
Find and fix the mistake:
The report should be write by tomorrow morning.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesThe report ___ (must / finish) by tomorrow morning.
Find and fix the mistake:
The car should been fixed yesterday.
Which sentence is most objective?
The stars...
In a modal passive, the word 'be' changes to 'am/is/are' depending on the subject.
A: Why is the office so messy? B: I don't know, it ___ (should / clean) last night.
Select the correct form.
Must be done / Could be done / Should have been done
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesThe payment ___ processed by the end of the week.
Her application could be approve soon.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El problema puede ser resuelto.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the active sentences with their correct passive modal equivalents:
This sensitive information ___ not be shared outside the company.
A decision will being made by next week.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Se podría discutir en la reunión.'
Rearrange these words into a sentence:
Your reservation ___ be confirmed shortly via email.
Match the modal with its implied context:
Score: /13
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Yes, in informal English. For example, 'It needs to get done' instead of 'It needs to be done'. However, 'be' is much more common in writing.
'Must not be' is for rules (prohibition), while 'cannot be' is for things that are impossible.
Use the word `by` at the end. 'The law must be signed `by the President`.'
Yes, they are almost identical in meaning, but 'ought to' is slightly more formal or moralistic.
Technically yes (modal passive continuous), but it is very rare and usually replaced by simpler forms like 'might be happening'.
To sound objective. Scientists care about the experiment, not the person holding the test tube. 'The liquid must be heated' sounds more scientific than 'I must heat the liquid'.
No, you are missing the word `have`. It must be 'It should `have` been done'.
When the 'doer' of the action is the most important part of the sentence or when you want to be very direct and personal.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pasiva con estar/ser o Pasiva Refleja
English uses 'be' + V3, while Spanish often uses 'se' + active verb.
Voix passive avec les modaux
French uses 'on' more frequently than English uses the passive.
Passiv mit Modalverben
German puts the past participle and 'werden' at the end of the sentence.
助動詞 + 受動態 (reru/rareru)
Japanese uses verb suffixes rather than auxiliary verbs like 'be'.
المبني للمجهول مع الأفعال الناقصة
Arabic uses internal vowel changes (morphology) rather than a 'be' auxiliary.
被 (bèi) + Modal
Chinese lacks verb conjugation and the 'be' auxiliary for passives.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
02:43 Blade Runner (1/10) Movie CLIP - She's a Replicant (1982) HD
01:32 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Why the halfling (Full HD)
04:54 STAR WARS - THE RETURN OF THE JEDI - YODA'S LAST WORDS
PASSIVE VOICE - English Grammar step-by-step
Arnel's Everyday English
Active and Passive Voice Tricks | Active Voice and Passive Voice in English Grammar | ChetChat
ChetChat
Related Grammar Rules
객관성을 위한 수동태: '...라고 한다'
Overview 뉴스 리포터들이 왜 그렇게 진지하게 들리는지 궁금한 적이 있나요? 그들은 "내 생각에 이런 일이 일어난 것 같다"라고...
조동사 및 수동태 보고 화법 (C1)
### Overview 영어를 학습하면서 B2 수준을 넘어 C1(Advanced) 단계에 도달한다는 것은 단순히 문장을 정확하게 만드는 것을 넘...
보고 동사: 누가 무엇을 말했는가?
### Overview 여러분, 안녕하세요! 오늘은 영어의 'Reporting Verbs'에 대해 알아볼 거예요. 이 표현들은 다른 사람이 말하거나...
수동태를 사용하는 시점 (뉴스 및 소문 보도)
### 개요 수동태는 영어에서 행위의 주체(agent)가 알려지지 않았거나, 중요하지 않거나, 혹은 의도적으로 생략될 때 사용되는...
수동형 보도 구조 (그는 ~라고 합니다...)
### Overview 영어에서 `He is said to be...`와 같은 수동태 전달 구문(Passive Reporting Structures)은 정보, 의견, 또는 믿...
