1. Modals: Use “Should, Ought to, and Had Better” to give Advice Use “Have to” and “Must” for Necessity

2. Modals Use “Should, Ought to, and Had Better” to give Advice For example: The Space Shuttle will be launched soon. The launch will not be postponed. The crew must be given time off. Decisions should not be made too quickly.

3. Use will or be going to with the passive to talk about the future… It will be launched very soon. It is going to be launched very soon.

4. Use can with the passive to express present ability. The blastoff can be seen for miles. Use could with the passive to express past ability. It could be seen very clearly last year.

5. Use could, may, might, and cannot with the passive to talk about the future… It will be launched very soon. It is going to be launched very soon.

6. When to use the passive (cont.) You want to avoid mentioning the agent. For example: Some mistakes were made. (I know who made the mistakes but I do not want to blame the person who made them.)

7. Mentioning the agent Use the passive with “by” if you mention the ‘agent’ (the doer of the action) Mention the agent when: 1. You introduce new necessary information about the agent. For example: Cathy is an excellent student. She has just been accepted by Harvard University. (The name of the university is necessary new information.)

8. Mentioning the agent Mention the agent when: 2. You want to give credit to someone who created something. For example: This book was written by Paulo Coehlo.

9. Mentioning the agent Mention the agent when: 2. The agent is surprising. For example: Our windows are washed by a robot.

10. Mentioning the agent BE CAREFUL!! In most cases you do not need to mention an agent in passsive sentences. Do not include an agent unless you have a clear need for one. For example: The book was published in 1977. NOT: The book was published by the publisher in 1977.