48. Focus on: modals and present perfect passive phrasal verbs

In Section 43, we discussed the use of several modal and semimodal auxiliaries in the present perfect. These same modals and semimodals are commonly used in passive sentences. The modal or semimodal is followed by have or the contraction 've, been, and the past participle:

could + have + been + past participle would + have + been + past participle should + have + been + past participle have to + have + been + past participle must + have + been + past participle might + have + been + past participle may + have + been + past participle

Let's compare a present perfect active sentence containing a modal with a present perfect passive sentence containing a modal:

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active: Jane might have switched on the light. passive: The light might have been switched on.

As we have seen, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Also, there is no object in the passive sentence, so the pas­sive phrasal verb cannot be separated. The object of the active sentence can be used in a by phrase:

active: Jane might have switched on the light. passive: The light might have been switched on (by Jane).

And once again we see that it is not always easy to distinguish between a past participle:

The burglar alarm must have been switched off

(by the night manager because he's the only one with a key).

and a participle adjective:

The burglar alarm must have been switched off (because if it had been on, everyone in the neighborhood would have heard it when the burglars smashed the window of the jewelry store).

1. close... down p.v. When you close down a business or a business is closed down, it closes permanently or for a long time.

The restaurant was closed down by the health department.

The ski resort will close down for the summer on May 1.