Modal passive combinations

Level 4

Use a modal verb followed by the passive infinitive form of the main verb. This expresses possibility, necessity, or intention for an action to be performed on the subject. The structure is: Modal Verb + Passive Infinitive (e.g., kan göras or kan bli gjord).

How It Works

The modal passive construction is essential for expressing concepts like ability, obligation, or intention in the passive voice. The general formula is:

Subject + Modal Verb + Passive Infinitive (+ Agent)

The modal verb is conjugated as usual, but the main verb that follows must be in a passive infinitive form. Let's break down the two ways to form this.

1. Using the S-passive Infinitive
This is the most common and often more formal way. Add -s to the active infinitive: göra → göras, se → ses. Do not use a general -as rule: the infinitive may end in another vowel.

  • göra (to do) → göras (to be done)
  • se (to see) → ses (to be seen)
  • bygga (to build) → byggas (to be built)

Example: `Huset ska byggas nästa år.` (The house will be built next year.)

2. Using the Bli-passive Infinitive
This form uses the infinitive bli followed by the past participle of the main verb. This construction often emphasizes the change of state or the result of the action. A key rule is that the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.

  • ett brev (neuter): `Brevet kan bli skickat.` (The letter can be sent.)
  • en bok (en-genus): `Boken kan bli skriven.` (The book can be written.)
  • två böcker (plural): `Böckerna kan bli skrivna.` (The books can be written.)

Example: `Resultaten kan bli publicerade online.` (The results can be published online.)

Choosing Between S-passive and Bli-passive
In many cases, they are interchangeable. However, the s-passive is often preferred in formal, written, and general statements. The bli-passive can feel more concrete and focused on the resulting state.

The Agent (Doer)
If you want to specify who or what performs the action, you add av (by) followed by the agent.
Example: `Lagen måste godkännas av riksdagen.` (The law must be approved by the parliament.)

Examples (6)

  1. Problemet måste lösas omedelbart.

    The problem must be solved immediately.

    Word by Word: The problem must be-solved immediately.

  2. Den här dörren kan inte öppnas inifrån.

    This door cannot be opened from the inside.

    Word by Word: This here door can not be-opened from-inside.

  3. Alla anställda bör informeras om beslutet.

    All employees should be informed about the decision.

    Word by Word: All employees should be-informed about the-decision.

  4. Bilen kan bli reparerad nästa vecka.

    The car can be repaired next week.

    Word by Word: The-car can become repaired next week.

    Here, 'bli reparerad' is used. The past participle 'reparerad' agrees with the en-word 'bilen'.

  5. Matchen kommer att visas på TV.

    The game will be shown on TV.

    Word by Word: The-game comes to be-shown on TV.

    This uses 'kommer att' (a future modal-like construction) with the s-passive 'visas'.

  6. Dokumenten får inte tas ut ur arkivet.

    The documents are not allowed to be taken out of the archive.

    Word by Word: The-documents may not be-taken out of the-archive.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the active infinitive instead of the passive infinitive after a modal verb.

    Boken måste läsa av alla studenter.
    Boken måste läsas av alla studenter.

    The subject 'boken' (the book) is receiving the action of reading, it is not performing it. Therefore, the passive form 'läsas' (to be read) is required, not the active 'läsa' (to read).

  • Forgetting to make the past participle agree with the subject in the 'bli-passive' construction.

    Alla fönster måste bli stängt.
    Alla fönster måste bli stängda.

    In the 'bli-passive', the past participle functions like an adjective and must agree with the subject. Since 'fönster' is plural here, the plural form of the participle, 'stängda', must be used, not the neuter singular 'stängt'.

  • Using an infinitive instead of a participle after vara in the result-state pattern.

    Maten ska vara laga snart.
    Maten ska vara lagad snart.

    Vara needs the participle here: Maten ska vara lagad snart means the food should be cooked and ready soon. Laga is an active infinitive and does not fit this pattern. Maten ska lagas snart focuses on cooking the food; bli lagad presents the change to a cooked result. Vara itself is not forbidden after a modal.

How It Connects

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Modal passive combinationsLevel 4

Learn This First

To understand modal passive combinations, you first need to be familiar with Swedish modal verbs (like kan, ska, måste) and how the s-passive is formed. This pattern specifically combines a modal verb with the passive infinitive of a main verb (e.g., 'kan göras').