The German Passive Voice With Modal Verbs

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In a previous topic on the German passive voice, I explicitly explained what it means for a voice to be passive, how it can be made passive, when it can be used and why it should even be used at all. In this topic, I have further explained the inclusion of a modal verb in a passive sentence.

Recall that a passive sentence/voice can be formed with either werden or sein depending on whether it is ‘Vorgangspassiv‘ or ‘Zustandspassiv‘ respectively. In the case of passive with modal verbs, it is only formed with werden. This means that the German modal verbs can only be used in the ‘Vorgangspassiv’ or processual passive voice.

Content in this post
1. Quick revision on what a passive voice is and their different types
2. Passive Voice with modal verbs in present tense
3. How to make passive sentences with modal verbs in present tense
4. Passive Voice with modal verbs in Präteritum
5. How to make passive sentences with modal verbs in Präteritum
Table of content for the german passive voice with modal verb

A passive voice is usually formed with a modal verb to either show politeness or suggestions and can only be expressed in the present and past tense. when expressed in the present/ past tense, the modal verbs are conjugated in the second position to the object turned subject while the auxiliary verb werden which means “be” here, goes to the end of the sentence in its finite form directly after the Partizip II. Hence, the structure of a passive sentence with a modal verb becomes “Modalverb + … + Partizip II + werden”.

German passive voice with modal verbs in the present tense

In the present tense, the modal verbs are conjugated in the present tense and maintain their meanings as illustrated below.

PronounsMüssenKönnenDürfenSollenWollenMögen
ich
du
er/sie/es
wir
ihr
sie/Sie
muss
musst
muss
müssen
müsst
müssen
kann
kannst
kann
können
könnt
können
darf
darfst
darf
dürfen
dürft
dürfen
soll
sollst
soll
sollen
sollt
sollen
will
willst
will
wollen
wollt
wollen
mag
magst
mag
mögen
mögt
mögen
Meaningmust/have tocan/ be able tomay/ allowed or permitted toshould/ supposed todesire/ want (to)like (to)
conjugated modal verbs for passive sentences in the present tense
GermanTranslation
1. Die alten Häuser sollen gemalt werden.The old houses should be painted.
2. Du musst von Sara beobachtet werden.You have to be observed by Sara.
3. Das Auto kann nicht repariert werden.The car can not be repaired.
Sentence of the german passive voice with modal verb in present tense

German passive voice with modal verbs in the past tense

In the past, the passive voice of modal verbs is often expressed in the simple past tense which is called Präteritum in German. Expressions in the perfect tense could be possible but then is more complex and not used. See illustration in the präteritum below;

PronounsMüssenKönnenDürfenSollenWollenMögen
ich
du
er/sie/es
wir
ihr
sie/Sie
musste
musstest
musste
mussten
musstet
mussten
konnte
konntest
konnte
konnten
konntet
konnten
durfte
durftest
durfte
durften
durftet
durften
sollte
solltest
sollte
sollten
solltet
sollten
wollte
wolltest
wollte
wollten
wolltet
wollten
mochte
mochtest
mochte
mochten
mochtet
mochten
conjugated modal verbs for passive sentences in Präteritum
GermanEnglish Translation
1. Das Auto konnte nicht von Mario gekauft werden.The car could not be bought by Mario.
2. Warum wolltest du zum Museen gebracht werden?Why did you want to be taken to the museum?
3. Du solltest dich für die Prüfung vorbereitet werden.You were supposed to be prepared for the exam.
Sentence of the german passive voice with modal verb in Präteritum

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