What are the tenses for phrases using "can + be + verb 3", such as "can be found", "can be broken down", and "can be determined"?
2023-04-19
This is what goPenpal answered
The structure "can + be + verb 3" in English is actually not a tense, but rather a passive construction used to describe actions or events without specifying who did them. This construction is formed by using the modal verb "can" in combination with the auxiliary verb "be" and the past participle of a verb (also known as the third form).
The modal verb "can" suggests that the action is possible or has the potential to occur. The auxiliary verb "be" is used to show the passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by an agent that may be unknown or unimportant. The past participle of a verb is used to show that an action has been completed or finished.
For example, if we take the sentence "The lost keys can be found," it means that it is possible to find the keys, but it is not specified who will find them. The focus is on the action of finding the keys, rather than on who is doing the searching. Similarly, "The complex process can be broken down," means that the process is able to be simplified or analyzed, without specifying who will be doing the breaking down.
In summary, "can + be + verb 3" is a passive construction that describes potential actions or events informally, without specifying who is doing the action.
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