Modal verb structure stays as is:(except to match plurality of new subject) Right passive:Le train n'a pas pu être arrêté à temps par le conducteur. May I add to the explanation given for converting a sentence with a MODAL verb to the passive mood.Īctive: Le conducteur n'a pas pu arrêter le train à temps: > It's possible that the train was not stopped by the conductor.
Le train a pu ne pas être arrêté par le conducteur. > The train was not able to be stopped by the conductor, the conductor was not able to stop the train. Le train n'a pas pu être arrêté par le conducteur. > The meat might not be eaten by the vegan (it's possible he might not eat it) La viande peut ne pas être mangée par le végane. > The meat cannot be eaten by the vegan (it's not possible, he's not allowed) La viande ne peut pas être mangée par le végane. This is a different matter entirely - the negation could be used with either the modal or the main verb, with different nuances. >In both the negative examples, shouldnt the 'ne pas' follow the rule for the infinitive passé. If we used a feminine and/or plural noun, we'd also have to think about agreement.Īnd also with a plural object-cum-subject, we'd have to think about the conjugation of the modal. This example is relatively easy because le train is masculine singular. Which gives us Le train n'a pas pu être arrêté par le conducteur.
And (3) the subject in the original sentence becomes the agent, while (4) the direct object becomes the subject.ġ - main verb arrêter is the infinitive -> être in the infinitiveģ - subject le conducteur -> agent par le conducteur The passive construction is formed by (1) conjugating être in the same tense/mood as the verb in the active construction, then adding (2) the past participle of the main verb. So in a construction like Le conducteur n'a pas pu arrêter le train à temps, it's the main verb that goes from active to passive. There are a lot of good points here, which I will attempt to summarize.Īs Jameson suggested, modal verbs cannot be used passively.
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