Passive With a Modal

Level 4

Dit moet vandag gedoen word. (It must be done today.) The modal stays second, and the ge- form and word go to the end.

How It Works

1. The shape. Subject + modal + other words + ge- form + word:

  • Dit moet vandag gedoen word. (It must be done today.)
  • Die brief kan môre gestuur word. (The letter can be sent tomorrow.)
  • Die werk sal volgende week klaargemaak word. (The work will be finished next week.)

2. Past modals. With kon and moes the pattern stays the same: Dit moes gister gedoen word. (It had to be done yesterday.) Die kar kon nie reggemaak word nie. (The car couldn't be fixed.)

3. Saying who does it. Use deur (by): Die vorm moet deur 'n ouer geteken word. (The form must be signed by a parent.)

4. In a subordinate clause. The modal also goes to the end. The usual order is ge- form, modal, word: omdat dit vandag gedoen moet word (because it must be done today). The order moet gedoen word is also heard. See verbs together at the end.

5. Negative sentences. Nie comes after the modal, and the closing nie follows word: Die kos mag nie in die klas geëet word nie. (Food may not be eaten in the classroom.)

6. Word or wees. Gedoen word is about the action. Gedoen wees is about the finished state: Dit moet teen Vrydag gedoen wees. (It must be done by Friday.)

Tip: Without a modal the present passive is just word + ge- form (the passive with word): Dit word vandag gedoen. The modal takes word's place in second position and pushes word to the end.

Examples (6)

  1. Dit moet vandag gedoen word.

    It must be done today.

    Word by Word: It must today done become.

  2. Die brief kan môre gestuur word.

    The letter can be sent tomorrow.

    Word by Word: The letter can tomorrow sent become.

  3. Die vorm moet deur 'n ouer geteken word.

    The form must be signed by a parent.

    Word by Word: The form must by a parent signed become.

    Deur names who does the action.

  4. Die kar kon nie reggemaak word nie.

    The car couldn't be fixed.

    Word by Word: The car could not fixed become not.

  5. Ek weet nie of dit vandag gedoen kan word nie.

    I don't know whether it can be done today.

    Word by Word: I know not whether it today done can become not.

    In the of clause the modal kan moves to the end, between the ge- form and word.

  6. Die kos mag nie in die klas geëet word nie.

    Food may not be eaten in the classroom.

    Word by Word: The food may not in the class eaten become not.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting word before the ge- form, as in English be done.

    Dit moet vandag word gedoen.
    Dit moet vandag gedoen word.

    In Afrikaans the ge- form comes first and word comes last.

  • Leaving out word.

    Dit moet vandag gedoen.
    Dit moet vandag gedoen word.

    The passive needs the helper word at the end.

  • Using the plain verb instead of the ge- form.

    Die brief kan môre stuur word.
    Die brief kan môre gestuur word.

    The passive uses the ge- form: gestuur word.

How It Connects

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Passive With a ModalLevel 4

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The passive can combine with a modal verb.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

wordge-