The word “shall” comes under the group of “modal verbs” in the English language. Let us check the use of “shall” in the passive voice.
We mainly use the modal verb “shall” along with the main verb in the active voice, and we must put a “be” between the “shall” and “past participle” form of the main verb in the passive voice.
Let us check the placement and use of the modal verb “shall” in passive voice.
When to use “shall” in passive voice?
Use of the modal verb “will” is less formal than the use of the word “shall” in future tense. Let us see the use of the word “shall” in passive voice.
We must use the modal verb “shall” without changing its form in the passive voice if there is a placement of the “shall” in the active voice to show “probability of any event” or “probability of any action” in the future tense.
Example:
- Active Voice – I shall read the story of Aesop’s fable to my daughter.
- Passive Voice – The story of Aesop’s fable shall be read by me to my daughter.
Explanation:
The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the 1st person singular personal pronoun “I” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “read” of the action verb “read”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”“.
How to use “shall” in passive voice?
The change from active voice to passive voice must follow some particular structures. Let us check the way to use “shall” in the passive voice.
We must follow a particular structure while changing an active voice sentence framed with “shall” to passive voice.
| Tense Form | Structure | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Simple Future Tense | Active Voice: Subject (I or We) + “shall” + verb root form + object Passive Voice: The subject (the object of the active voice will be the subject of the passive voice) + shall + be + past participle form of verb + by + object (the subject of the active voice must be placed as the object of the passive voice). | Active Voice: We shall send the emergency fax to Mr. Rajib. Passive Voice: The emergency fax shall be sent by us to Mr. Rajib. | The modal verb “shall” is in use just after the 1st person plural personal pronoun “We” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “sent” of the action verb “send”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice. |
| 2. Future Perfect Tense | Active Voice: Subject (I or We) + “shall” + past participle form of verb + object Passive Voice: The subject (the object of the active voice will be the subject of the passive voice) + shall + have + been + past participle form of verb + by + object (the subject of the active voice must be placed as the object of the passive voice). | Active Voice: We shall have caught the train on time. Passive Voice: The train shall have been caught by us on time. | The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the pronoun “we” along with “have” and the past participle form of the verb “catch” in the active voice, while there is an addition of “been” in the passive voice after the verb “have”. |
Examples of “shall” used in passive voice-
Let us go through examples that are framed with the modal verb “shall” and related explanations.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Active Voice: I shall help you to do well in the coming assignment. Passive Voice: You shall be helped by me to do well in the coming assignment. | The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the 1st person singular personal pronoun “I” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “helped” of the verb “help”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 2. Active Voice: We shall present the presentation to the delegates in a polite manner. Passive Voice: The presentation shall be presented by us to the delegates in a polite manner. | The modal verb “shall” is in use just after the 1st person plural personal pronoun “we” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changes its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “presented” of the action verb “present”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 3. Active Voice: I shall give you the book “David Copperfield” on your birthday. Passive Voice: The book “David Copperfield” shall be given to you by me on your birthday. | The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the 1st person singular personal pronoun “I” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “given” of the verb “give”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 4. Active Voice: We shall provide the news to the channel about the recent earthquake. Passive Voice: The news shall be provided by us to the channel about the recent earthquake. | The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the 1st person singular personal pronoun “I” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “provided” of the verb “provide”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 5. Active Voice: I shall transfer the money to your bank account within two weeks. Passive Voice: The money shall be transferred by me to your account within two weeks. | The modal verb “shall” has been placed just after the 1st person singular personal pronoun “I” in the active voice, while the same modal verb changed its placement in the passive voice. The modal verb “shall” has been placed just before the past participle form “transferred” of the verb “transfer”, with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
When to use “should” in passive voice?
We must not always use the word “should” as a past form of “shall” but as an individual “modal verb”“. Let us check the use of “should” in the passive voice.
We must place “should” without changing its form in the passive voice if there is the use of the same in the active voice to give any “suggestion”, “recommendation” or “advice”.
There is no boundary of using the modal verb “should’’ with any type of pronoun. Every type of personal pronoun can be placed with the modal verb “should”.
Example:
- Active Voice: You should repair your mobile phone by yourself.
- Passive Voice: Your mobile phone should be repaired by yourself.
Explanation:
The modal verb “should” is in use just after the pronoun “you” in the active voice, while the word “should” has been placed before the past participle form “repaired” of the verb “repair” with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”.
Examples of “should” used in passive voice-
Let us go through sentences with the modal verb “should” in both active and passive voice.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Active Voice: You should confirm the train ticket with the help of the internet. Passive Voice: The train ticket should be confirmed by you with the help of the internet. | The modal verb “should” is in use just after the pronoun “you” in the active voice, while the word “should” has been placed before the past participle form “confirmed” of the verb “confirm” with a “be” in between in the passive voice in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 2. Active Voice: Rajib should speak the truth to his father about his profession. Passive Voice: The truth should be spoken by Rajib to his father about his profession. | The modal verb “should” is in use just after the noun “Rajib” in the active voice, while the word “should” has been placed before the past participle form “spoken” of the verb “speak” with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”. |
| 3. Active Voice: Mina should perform the dance performance with her sister. Passive Voice: The dance performance should be performed by Mina with her sister. | The modal verb “should” is in use just after the noun “Rajib” in the active voice, while the word “should” has been placed before the past participle form “performed” of the verb “perform” with a “be” in between in the passive voice of the sentence in “Simple Future Tense”“. |
Conclusion –
Let us make a note that we can use the modal verb “shall” with only two types of personal pronouns in any type of sentence, irrespective of the fact that the sentence is an active voice or passive voice, and those two pronouns are the first person singular pronoun “I” and the first person plural number “We”.
Hey! I am Arpita Bose Roy. My qualifications are M.A. in English with B. Ed. in both general education and special education. I have 2 years of experience as a “language analyst” at IIT Kharagpur and 4 years of experience as an “Academic Content Developer” at IIT Kharagpur. Currently, I am working as an academic writer at Lambdageeks.
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