Passive Voice with Modal Verbs in German

The passive voice with modal verbs (Passiv mit Modalverben) is a common German construction that combines the passive voice with the meaning of a modal verb, such as necessity, permission, or ability. To form this structure in the present tense, you conjugate the modal verb and place it in the second position of the sentence. The main verb is constructed in the passive form at the very end of the clause. This passive form consists of the past participle (Partizip II) of the main verb followed by the infinitive form of the auxiliary verb 'werden'. For example, in the sentence 'Das Auto muss repariert werden', the modal verb 'muss' is conjugated, and 'repariert werden' sits at the end.

In the past tense (Präteritum), the same word order rules apply, but the modal verb itself is conjugated in its past tense form. For instance, the sentence becomes 'Das Auto musste repariert werden'. In subordinate clauses, the conjugated modal verb moves to the absolute end of the clause, placed right after the passive infinitive, as in 'Ich weiß, dass das Auto repariert werden muss'. Using this grammar allows you to express rules, requirements, and possibilities objectively.