Passive Modal Combinations in Technical Requirements
5 exercises — practise forming passive modal structures correctly in specs and requirements.
0 / 31 completed
1 / 31
Which sentence correctly forms a passive modal structure to state a mandatory validation requirement in a specification?
"All input fields must be validated before submission" is correct: the passive modal structure requires modal + "be" + past participle, so "must be validated" is properly formed. Option A omits the required "be" after the modal, leaving an ungrammatical bare past participle. Option C incorrectly uses the -ing form "being" instead of the base form "be" after the modal. Option D uses the active bare infinitive "validate", which would mean the fields themselves perform the validating, the opposite of the intended passive meaning.
2 / 31
Which sentence correctly uses a passive modal structure to make a recommendation, not a strict requirement, about a code review process?
"Every pull request should be reviewed by at least one other engineer" correctly forms the passive modal with "should" (recommendation, weaker than "must") plus "be" plus the past participle "reviewed". Option B omits "be" after the modal. Option C uses the bare noun/verb form "review" instead of the past participle "reviewed". Option D incorrectly uses "being" instead of "be" directly after the modal.
3 / 31
Which sentence correctly uses a passive modal structure with "can" to describe an optional configuration capability in documentation?
"The timeout value can be configured in the settings file" correctly forms the passive modal "can be configured", indicating the timeout value is the thing acted upon, appropriate since values don't configure themselves. Option B omits "be". Option C incorrectly uses the -ing form "configuring" instead of the past participle "configured". Option D uses the active bare infinitive "configure", which reverses the intended passive meaning.
4 / 31
Which sentence correctly uses a passive modal perfect structure to state that something should have happened already but did not, appropriate for a postmortem finding?
"The alert threshold should have been adjusted before the incident occurred" correctly forms the passive modal perfect: modal + "have been" + past participle, expressing a criticism that a past action which should have occurred did not, standard in postmortem findings. Option B uses the simple passive modal "should be adjusted", which loses the past, unfulfilled-obligation meaning required here. Option C omits "been", leaving an incomplete passive perfect. Option D incorrectly uses "having" instead of "have" after the modal.
5 / 31
Which sentence correctly uses a passive modal structure with "may" to describe a permitted but non-mandatory action in an API specification?
"Additional query parameters may be included in the request" correctly forms the passive modal "may be included", expressing that this is permitted but optional, a common pattern in RFC-style API specifications. Option B omits "be" after the modal. Option C uses the bare form "include" instead of the past participle "included". Option D scrambles the word order into an ungrammatical sequence.
6 / 31
Code Review Comment: "The API endpoint /usersmust be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment."
This question tests the use of 'must' in a passive modal structure within a code review context. 'Must' indicates an obligation or requirement that developers should adhere to. The correct phrasing clearly demonstrates this enforced necessity, while the other options utilize less precise modal verbs or incorrect sentence structures for expressing mandatory requirements.
7 / 31
Standup Update (to team): "The database migration migrate_v2had to have been completed by Friday, but the logs show it wasn't."
This question tests the use of a passive modal perfect structure with 'had to.' This construction expresses regret or disappointment about an action that *should* have happened in the past but didn't. The correct phrasing accurately conveys this sense of missed expectation. The other options employ different modal verbs and structures which are not appropriate for describing past failures.
8 / 31
Code Review Comment: "The API endpoint /usersmust be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment."
This question tests the use of 'must' in a passive modal structure within a code review context. 'Must' indicates an obligation or requirement that developers should adhere to. The correct phrasing clearly demonstrates this enforced necessity, while the other options utilize less precise modal verbs or incorrect sentence structures for expressing mandatory requirements.
9 / 31
Standup Update (to team): "The database migration migrate_v2had to have been completed by Friday, but the logs show it wasn't."
This question tests the use of a passive modal perfect structure with 'had to.' This construction expresses regret or disappointment about an action that *should* have happened in the past but didn't. The correct phrasing accurately conveys this sense of missed expectation. The other options employ different modal verbs and structures which are not appropriate for describing past failures.
10 / 31
Code Review Comment: "The API endpoint /usersmust be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment."
This question tests the use of 'must' in a passive modal structure within a code review context. 'Must' indicates an obligation or requirement that developers should adhere to. The correct phrasing clearly demonstrates this enforced necessity, while the other options utilize less precise modal verbs or incorrect sentence structures for expressing mandatory requirements.
11 / 31
Standup Update (to team): "The database migration migrate_v2had to have been completed by Friday, but the logs show it wasn't."
This question tests the use of a passive modal perfect structure with 'had to.' This construction expresses regret or disappointment about an action that *should* have happened in the past but didn't. The correct phrasing accurately conveys this sense of missed expectation. The other options employ different modal verbs and structures which are not appropriate for describing past failures.
12 / 31
During a code review, Sarah commented: "The new service must be deployed with version 2.5 or later. It should have been tested thoroughly before release." Which option best reflects the passive modal structure used in this comment?
Sarah uses "should have been tested" which employs the passive modal 'should' combined with the perfect aspect. This doesn't mandate testing; it expresses a recommendation about what *ought* to have happened. The key difference is that 'should' implies possibility or advisability, not obligation, unlike 'must'.
13 / 31
In a Slack message to the team regarding a new feature, Mark stated: "The documentation may include details on the advanced caching strategies. It's up to the architects to decide if they add it." Which of the following best describes the grammatical function of the passive modal structure here?
'May' establishes a permission or possibility. The passive modal here indicates that including details on advanced caching is *permitted*, but not required. This reflects a realistic scenario where architectural decisions hold sway over documentation content.
14 / 31
As part of a postmortem analysis for a failed deployment, David wrote: "The database schema update migrate_v2could have been rolled back if the monitoring system had detected an error." What does this passive modal structure primarily convey?
The phrase 'could have been rolled back' utilizes a passive modal perfect structure. It suggests that the *possibility* existed for rollback, but it wasn't actually performed, highlighting an area where the monitoring system fell short of its intended function – a crucial observation in a postmortem.
15 / 31
During a standup meeting, Emily reported: "The API endpoint /usersneeds to be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment." Which of the following best represents the intended meaning conveyed by this passive modal structure?
'Needs' in this context functions as a strong passive modal, indicating an absolute requirement. While technically 'needs' can be used to express a suggestion, in this scenario, it's intended to convey the critical nature of securing the endpoint – a typical communication style during a standup.
16 / 31
In a PR description for a new feature, John wrote: "The user authentication logic may be enhanced with multi-factor authentication. The team is evaluating its feasibility." What does the passive modal structure primarily contribute to in this context?
Here, 'may' denotes possibility and exploration. The passive modal structure accurately reflects that the team is *evaluating* MFA's feasibility – a common practice in feature development rather than imposing a definitive requirement.
17 / 31
During a code review, Sarah commented: "The new service must be deployed with version 2.5 or later. It should have been tested thoroughly before release." Which option best reflects the passive modal structure used in this comment?
Sarah uses "should have been tested" which employs the passive modal 'should' combined with the perfect aspect. This doesn't mandate testing; it expresses a recommendation about what *ought* to have happened. The key difference is that 'should' implies possibility or advisability, not obligation, unlike 'must'.
18 / 31
In a Slack message to the team regarding a new feature, Mark stated: "The documentation may include details on the advanced caching strategies. It's up to the architects to decide if they add it." Which of the following best describes the grammatical function of the passive modal structure here?
'May' establishes a permission or possibility. The passive modal here indicates that including details on advanced caching is *permitted*, but not required. This reflects a realistic scenario where architectural decisions hold sway over documentation content.
19 / 31
As part of a postmortem analysis for a failed deployment, David wrote: "The database schema update migrate_v2could have been rolled back if the monitoring system had detected an error." What does this passive modal structure primarily convey?
The phrase 'could have been rolled back' utilizes a passive modal perfect structure. It suggests that the *possibility* existed for rollback, but it wasn't actually performed, highlighting an area where the monitoring system fell short of its intended function – a crucial observation in a postmortem.
20 / 31
During a standup meeting, Emily reported: "The API endpoint /usersneeds to be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment." Which of the following best represents the intended meaning conveyed by this passive modal structure?
'Needs' in this context functions as a strong passive modal, indicating an absolute requirement. While technically 'needs' can be used to express a suggestion, in this scenario, it's intended to convey the critical nature of securing the endpoint – a typical communication style during a standup.
21 / 31
In a PR description for a new feature, John wrote: "The user authentication logic may be enhanced with multi-factor authentication. The team is evaluating its feasibility." What does the passive modal structure primarily contribute to in this context?
Here, 'may' denotes possibility and exploration. The passive modal structure accurately reflects that the team is *evaluating* MFA's feasibility – a common practice in feature development rather than imposing a definitive requirement.
22 / 31
During a code review, Sarah commented: "The new service must be deployed with version 2.5 or later. It should have been tested thoroughly before release." Which option best reflects the passive modal structure used in this comment?
Sarah uses "should have been tested" which employs the passive modal 'should' combined with the perfect aspect. This doesn't mandate testing; it expresses a recommendation about what *ought* to have happened. The key difference is that 'should' implies possibility or advisability, not obligation, unlike 'must'.
23 / 31
In a Slack message to the team regarding a new feature, Mark stated: "The documentation may include details on the advanced caching strategies. It's up to the architects to decide if they add it." Which of the following best describes the grammatical function of the passive modal structure here?
'May' establishes a permission or possibility. The passive modal here indicates that including details on advanced caching is *permitted*, but not required. This reflects a realistic scenario where architectural decisions hold sway over documentation content.
24 / 31
As part of a postmortem analysis for a failed deployment, David wrote: "The database schema update migrate_v2could have been rolled back if the monitoring system had detected an error." What does this passive modal structure primarily convey?
The phrase 'could have been rolled back' utilizes a passive modal perfect structure. It suggests that the *possibility* existed for rollback, but it wasn't actually performed, highlighting an area where the monitoring system fell short of its intended function – a crucial observation in a postmortem.
25 / 31
During a standup meeting, Emily reported: "The API endpoint /usersneeds to be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment." Which of the following best represents the intended meaning conveyed by this passive modal structure?
'Needs' in this context functions as a strong passive modal, indicating an absolute requirement. While technically 'needs' can be used to express a suggestion, in this scenario, it's intended to convey the critical nature of securing the endpoint – a typical communication style during a standup.
26 / 31
In a PR description for a new feature, John wrote: "The user authentication logic may be enhanced with multi-factor authentication. The team is evaluating its feasibility." What does the passive modal structure primarily contribute to in this context?
Here, 'may' denotes possibility and exploration. The passive modal structure accurately reflects that the team is *evaluating* MFA's feasibility – a common practice in feature development rather than imposing a definitive requirement.
27 / 31
During a code review, Sarah commented: "The new service must be deployed with version 2.5 or later. It should have been tested thoroughly before release." Which option best reflects the passive modal structure used in this comment?
Sarah uses "should have been tested" which employs the passive modal 'should' combined with the perfect aspect. This doesn't mandate testing; it expresses a recommendation about what *ought* to have happened. The key difference is that 'should' implies possibility or advisability, not obligation, unlike 'must'.
28 / 31
In a Slack message to the team regarding a new feature, Mark stated: "The documentation may include details on the advanced caching strategies. It's up to the architects to decide if they add it." Which of the following best describes the grammatical function of the passive modal structure here?
'May' establishes a permission or possibility. The passive modal here indicates that including details on advanced caching is *permitted*, but not required. This reflects a realistic scenario where architectural decisions hold sway over documentation content.
29 / 31
As part of a postmortem analysis for a failed deployment, David wrote: "The database schema update migrate_v2could have been rolled back if the monitoring system had detected an error." What does this passive modal structure primarily convey?
The phrase 'could have been rolled back' utilizes a passive modal perfect structure. It suggests that the *possibility* existed for rollback, but it wasn't actually performed, highlighting an area where the monitoring system fell short of its intended function – a crucial observation in a postmortem.
30 / 31
During a standup meeting, Emily reported: "The API endpoint /usersneeds to be secured with OAuth 2.0 before deployment." Which of the following best represents the intended meaning conveyed by this passive modal structure?
'Needs' in this context functions as a strong passive modal, indicating an absolute requirement. While technically 'needs' can be used to express a suggestion, in this scenario, it's intended to convey the critical nature of securing the endpoint – a typical communication style during a standup.
31 / 31
In a PR description for a new feature, John wrote: "The user authentication logic may be enhanced with multi-factor authentication. The team is evaluating its feasibility." What does the passive modal structure primarily contribute to in this context?
Here, 'may' denotes possibility and exploration. The passive modal structure accurately reflects that the team is *evaluating* MFA's feasibility – a common practice in feature development rather than imposing a definitive requirement.
What will I practise in "Passive Modal Combinations in Technical Requirements — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise correctly forming modal + be + past participle passive structures (must be validated, should be reviewed, can be configured, should have been
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 31 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
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Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.