German Passive with Modals: Saying 'must be signed', 'can be changed', 'should be checked'
Learn to combine werden-passive with können, müssen and sollen to express possibility, obligation and recommendation in German, with word order and replacement infinitive rules.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
German already has a passive voice built with werden plus a past participle: Die Rechnung wird bezahlt ('The bill is paid'). This lesson adds a modal verb on top of that structure. Instead of simply stating what happens, you say what can, must or should happen: Die Rechnung muss bezahlt werden. The crucial mechanical point is that the passive participle and werden form a double infinitive that moves to the very end of the clause, while the modal takes second position in a main clause. This pattern is extremely common in instructions, forms, regulations and formal notices, so mastering it makes official German far more readable.
By the end, you can…
- build passive sentences with können, müssen and sollen in the present tense
- place the double infinitive werden correctly at the end of a main clause
- distinguish obligation (müssen), recommendation (sollen) and possibility (können) in passive constructions
- recognise and use passive-with-modal forms in formal instructions and notices
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Das Formular muss unterschrieben werden.
The form must be signed.
das for-moo-LAHR moos un-ter-SHREE-ben VAIR-den
Standard written instruction on forms and official documents; the model sentence for this lesson.
Die Datei kann jederzeit geändert werden.
The file can be changed at any time.
dee da-TYE kan YAY-der-tsyte ge-EN-dert VAIR-den
können expresses possibility or permission; common in software and administrative texts.
Der Antrag soll bis Freitag eingereicht werden.
The application should be submitted by Friday.
dair AN-trahk zol bis FRY-tahk AYN-ge-rykht VAIR-den
sollen here conveys an expectation or instruction from someone else, not a personal moral ought.
Hier darf nicht geraucht werden.
Smoking is not permitted here.
heer dairf nikht ge-ROWKHT VAIR-den
dürfen in the passive is the standard way to express prohibition on signs and in rules.
Die Ergebnisse müssen noch überprüft werden.
The results still have to be checked.
dee air-GAIP-nis-er MYOOS-en nokh ue-ber-PRUEFT VAIR-den
Plural subject with müssen; typical in project and laboratory reports.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The formula is: subject + modal (position 2) + ... + past participle + werden (end). Present tense examples: Die Rechnung muss bezahlt werden. Die Rechnung kann bezahlt werden. Die Rechnung soll bezahlt werden. The modal is conjugated, werden stays as a bare infinitive, and the past participle sits immediately before it. With a plural subject the modal changes but werden does not: Die Rechnungen müssen bezahlt werden. In a subordinate clause the whole double infinitive plus modal moves after the conjunction: ..., weil die Rechnung bezahlt werden muss.
When to use it
Use müssen werden for rules that leave no choice: Das Formular muss unterschrieben werden. Use können werden for what is possible or allowed: Das Formular kann online ausgefüllt werden. Use sollen werden for instructions and expectations passed on from someone else, common in workplace and exam contexts: Die Aufgaben sollen bis 12 Uhr abgegeben werden. Use dürfen werden for permission and prohibition: Hier darf nicht geparkt werden. Note that sollen does not mean a personal moral 'should' in the way English does; for advice to a specific person, German often prefers sollten: Du solltest das Formular unterschreiben.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, wo muss dieses Formular unterschrieben werden?
Excuse me, where does this form have to be signed?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh moos DEE-zes for-moo-LAHR un-ter-SHREE-ben VAIR-denDas kann direkt am Empfang unterschrieben werden.
That can be signed directly at the reception desk.das kan dee-REKT am em-PFANG un-ter-SHREE-ben VAIR-denUnd wann sollen die Unterlagen eingereicht werden?
And when should the documents be submitted?unt van ZOL-en dee UN-ter-lah-gen AYN-ge-rykht VAIR-denSie müssen bis Freitag abgegeben werden, sonst kann der Antrag nicht bearbeitet werden.
They have to be handed in by Friday, otherwise the application cannot be processed.zee MYOOS-en bis FRY-tahk AP-ge-gay-ben VAIR-den, zonst kan dair AN-trahk nikht be-AR-by-tet VAIR-denA little context goes a long way
In German official and workplace writing, passive-with-modal sentences are normal and neutral, not evasive. A notice such as Die Unterlagen müssen bis Freitag eingereicht werden is standard administrative style. In Austria and Switzerland the same construction is used, though Swiss German often prefers the verb bleiben in some passive-like expressions (Das bleibt zu erledigen) and southern varieties may favour sein-passive states (Das Formular ist unterschrieben) for results rather than processes.
One thing to watch for
Die Rechnung muss bezahlt.
Try this instead: The sentence is incomplete: the passive needs werden at the end. Say Die Rechnung muss bezahlt werden. Without werden, bezahlt functions as an adjective and the sentence means something like 'The bill must be paid' only in a very colloquial, non-standard way. Keep the full double infinitive: past participle + werden.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Turn into a passive with müssen: 'Man muss den Antrag unterschreiben.'
Show a sample answer
Der Antrag muss unterschrieben werden.
The accusative object becomes the subject, the modal moves to position 2, and unterschrieben werden stays at the end. Der Antrag muss unterschrieben werden is the standard result.
2Which modal fits a prohibition on a sign: 'Hier ___ nicht geparkt werden'?
Show a sample answer
darf
dürfen expresses permission and prohibition. Hier darf nicht geparkt werden means 'Parking is not permitted here'. können would suggest impossibility rather than a rule, so it is less suitable on a sign.
3Make it a subordinate clause: 'Die Ergebnisse müssen überprüft werden.' Start with 'Ich glaube, dass ...'
Show a sample answer
Ich glaube, dass die Ergebnisse überprüft werden müssen.
In a subordinate clause the finite modal moves to the final position, after the double infinitive überprüft werden. The main-clause order müssen ... werden is reversed.
For passive with modals, remember the frame: modal in second position, past participle plus werden at the end. Choose müssen for obligation, können for possibility, sollen for instructions, dürfen for permission or prohibition.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr