PAST MODALS

PAST MODALS

The past passive form follows this pattern:

modal + have been + past participle

Active: SHOULD HAVE / SHOULDN'T HAVE

The students should have learned the verbs.

The children shouldn't have broken the window.

Passive: SHOULD HAVE / SHOULDN'T HAVE

The verbs should have been learned by the students.

The window shouldn't have been broken by the children.

Active: OUGHT TO

Students ought to have learned the verbs.

(negative ought to is rarely used)

Passive: OUGHT TO

The verbs ought to have been learned by the students.

Active: BE SUPPOSED TO (past time)

I was supposed to type the composition.

I wasn't supposed to copy the story in the book.

Janet was supposed to clean the living room.

She wasn't supposed to eat candy and gum.

Frank and Jane were supposed to make dinner.

They weren't supposed to make dessert.

Passive: BE SUPPOSED TO (past time)

The composition was supposed to be typed by me.

The story in the book wasn't supposed to be copied.

The living room was supposed to be cleaned by Janet.

Candy and gum weren't supposed to be eaten by her.

Dinner was supposed to be made by them.

Dessert wasn't supposed to be made by them.

Active: MAY / MAY NOT

That firm may have offered Katya a new job.

The students may not have written the paper.

MIGHT / MIGHT NOT

That firm might have offered Katya a new job.

The students might not have written the paper.

Passive: MAY / MAY NOT

Katya may have been offered a new job by that firm.

The paper may not have been written by the students.

MIGHT / MIGHT NOT

Katya might have been offered a new job by that firm.

The paper might not have been written by the students.