Mandarin Chinese: Passive Sentences with 被 and Modal Verbs (能, 必须, 应该)
Learn to combine the passive marker 被 with modal verbs like 能, 必须, and 应该 to say what can, must, or should be done, using the pattern 被 + doer + modal + verb.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin, passive meaning is often expressed with the coverb 被 (bèi). To say that something can, must, or should be done, you place a modal verb such as 能 (néng), 必须 (bìxū), or 应该 (yīnggāi) after the 被 phrase and before the main verb. This lesson teaches that pattern step by step, with practical examples about forms, documents, and everyday tasks. You will also learn how to leave out the doer when it is unknown or unimportant, and how to avoid the common mistake of putting the modal in the wrong position.
By the end, you can…
- form passive sentences with 被 and the modal verbs 能, 必须, and 应该.
- say that something can, must, or should be done, with or without naming the doer.
- ask and answer questions about whether a form or task can, must, or should be completed.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这张表格必须签字。
This form must be signed.
Zhè zhāng biǎogé bìxū qiānzì.
Use 必须 for a strong obligation, like a rule or requirement. Here the doer is not mentioned because it is obvious or unknown, and 被 is omitted, which is the natural choice in speech.
申请表应该今天交。
The application form should be handed in today.
Shēnqǐng biǎo yīnggāi jīntiān jiāo.
Use 应该 for a recommendation or what is expected. The doer is omitted and 被 is left out, so the sentence sounds general and polite.
这个文件能被修改吗？
Can this document be changed?
Zhège wénjiàn néng bèi xiūgǎi ma?
Use 能 in a yes-no question with 吗 to ask whether something is possible or allowed. Here 被 comes after the modal 能, which is the standard order when 被 is kept.
护照必须被检查。
The passport must be checked.
Hùzhào bìxū bèi jiǎnchá.
Here 被 is kept without a stated doer to emphasize the passive action; this is common in formal or written Chinese.
这个问题应该被认真讨论。
This problem should be discussed seriously.
Zhège wèntí yīnggāi bèi rènzhēn tǎolùn.
Use 应该被 when you want to stress that an action should be done to the topic. The adverb 认真 (seriously) goes before the verb.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic passive pattern is: topic + 被 + doer + verb. To add a modal, put the modal before 被: topic + modal + 被 + doer + verb. For example, 这张表格被小李签字了 (Zhè zhāng biǎogé bèi Xiǎo Lǐ qiānzì le) means 'This form was signed by Xiao Li.' With a modal: 这张表格必须被小李签字 (Zhè zhāng biǎogé bìxū bèi Xiǎo Lǐ qiānzì) means 'This form must be signed by Xiao Li.' When the doer is unknown or unimportant, you can omit it: 这张表格必须签字 (Zhè zhāng biǎogé bìxū qiānzì). In that case, 被 is often left out, and the sentence still has passive meaning because the topic is the thing affected. If you keep 被 without a doer, as in 护照必须被检查, it sounds more formal and emphasizes the passive action.
When to use it
Use 能 (néng) for ability or possibility, 必须 (bìxū) for a strong obligation, and 应该 (yīnggāi) for advice or expectation. In everyday speech, if the doer is not important, it is very common to drop 被 and simply say 表格必须签字 (Biǎogé bìxū qiānzì) or 申请表应该今天交 (Shēnqǐng biǎo yīnggāi jīntiān jiāo). If you want to name the doer, keep 被: 这个文件必须由经理签字 (Zhège wénjiàn bìxū yóu jīnglǐ qiānzì) uses 由 instead of 被 to mean 'by the manager' in a formal way. For questions, use 能……吗？: 这个文件能被修改吗？ (Can this document be changed?). For negative obligation, use 不能 (bù néng) or 不应该 (bù yīnggāi): 这个文件不能被修改 (This document cannot be changed).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
这张申请表必须今天交吗？
Must this application form be handed in today?Zhè zhāng shēnqǐng biǎo bìxū jīntiān jiāo ma?对，必须今天交。不过，可以明天补材料。
Yes, it must be handed in today. However, you can submit the materials tomorrow.Duì, bìxū jīntiān jiāo. Bùguò, kěyǐ míngtiān bǔ cáiliào.那这个文件能被修改吗？
Then can this document be changed?Nà zhège wénjiàn néng bèi xiūgǎi ma?不能，但是应该被认真检查。
No, but it should be checked carefully.Bù néng, dànshì yīnggāi bèi rènzhēn jiǎnchá.A little context goes a long way
In spoken Mandarin, dropping 被 when the doer is unknown is very common and often sounds more natural: 表格必须签字 is more conversational than 表格必须被签字. Keeping 被 without a doer sounds formal and is more typical in written notices, rules, or official documents. When you want to name the doer in a formal context, 由 (yóu) is often preferred over 被, as in 这个项目必须由团队完成 (This project must be completed by the team). Choose the form that matches the register: casual speech favors omission, while formal writing may keep 被 or use 由.
One thing to watch for
Putting the modal after 被, as in 这张表格被必须签字.
Try this instead: The modal goes before 被 and before the main verb: 这张表格必须被签字. If you omit the doer, you can also say 这张表格必须签字, which is more natural in speech.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate into Chinese: 'This form must be signed.'
Show a sample answer
这张表格必须签字。
必须 expresses strong obligation, and the doer can be omitted because it is unknown or unimportant. You may also say 这张表格必须被签字, which is more formal.
2Translate into Chinese: 'Can this document be changed?'
Show a sample answer
这个文件能被修改吗？
能 asks about possibility or permission, and 被 marks the passive. A valid alternative is 这个文件能修改吗？, which is more conversational.
3Translate into Chinese: 'This problem should be discussed seriously.'
Show a sample answer
这个问题应该被认真讨论。
应该 gives advice or expectation, 被 marks the passive, and the adverb 认真 comes before the verb 讨论. You can also omit 被: 这个问题应该认真讨论。
Remember the order: topic + modal + 被 + doer + verb. If the doer is unknown, you can drop 被 and still keep the passive meaning: 表格必须签字.
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