Choose the most appropriate passive construction of the given sentence:
You should store these medicines in a cool, dry place.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → These medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Passive with a modal (should):
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | these medicines | These medicines | The medicines receive the action, so they become the subject. |
| Modal kept | should store | should be stored | “Should” gives advice, and the passive keeps it: should be + past participle (V3). “Should” itself does not change. |
| Doer dropped | You | (left out) | “You” here means anyone who keeps the medicines, so “by you” is not added. |
| Full sentence | You should store these medicines in a cool, dry place. | These medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place. |
Can, may, must and will work the same way: modal + verb → modal + be + V3. Example: The guard may lock the back gate. → The back gate may be locked by the guard.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: These medicines should store in a cool, dry place. — Incorrect. “Be” and the V3 are missing. “Should store” is active, as if the medicines will store something.
Option 2: These medicines should have been stored in a cool, dry place. — Incorrect. “Should have been stored” talks about the past. It says the medicines were not stored properly, not what to do now.
Option 4: These medicines are stored in a cool, dry place. — Incorrect. “Should” is dropped. “Are stored” only states a fact. The advice is lost.