CATEGORY 1: MODALS & CERTAINTY
The issue __________ be related to a recent update.
Might/Could
If the system ________ updated, the bug would not exist.
had been
Change to passive:
They installed the software yesterday.
The software was installed yesterday.
He avoided __________ (make) the same mistake again.
making
Responsible __________ system maintenance.
for
He ________ finished the task already — he left the office early.
Must have
Rewrite: If we had more time, we would fix it.
If we were/ Were we to have more time, we would fix it.
The issue is __________ to affect multiple users.
expected / likely
The developer stopped __________ the logs to investigate the error.
to check
Complete with best linker: The fix was quick; __________, it caused other issues.
however / nevertheless
Rewrite using modal perfect:
It was a mistake not to back up the data.
The data should have been backed up
If he ________ the instructions, he wouldn’t be having this problem now.
had followed
Rewrite using impersonal reporting (passive reported speech: People believe the system is secure.
It is believed that the system is secure.
Explain the difference: stop doing vs stop to do
stop doing = cease activity
stop to do = pause to do something else
The solution was implemented __________ accordance with company policy.
in
Employees are __________ to follow security protocols.
required / supposed
Rewrite using inversion: If it hadn’t been for the firewall, the attack would have succeeded.
Had it not been for the firewall…
Rewrite: They say the data was leaked internally.
The data is said to have been leaked internally.
Rewrite: I regret that I didn’t inform the team earlier.
I regret not informing the team earlier.
Rewrite more formally: Because of the delay, the release was cancelled.
Due to the delay, the release was cancelled.
Rewrite: It’s impossible that the error was caused by the server.
The error can’t have been caused by the server.
Rewrite with passive in the perfect tense: We didn’t deploy the update, so performance is poor.
Had the update been deployed, performance would be better.
Rewrite using a complex passive: Someone should have fixed the vulnerability earlier.
The vulnerability should have been fixed earlier.
The system needs __________ (update) before deployment.
updating / to be updated
Rewrite using a formal linker: Even though the test passed, problems remained.
Notwithstanding the successful test, problems remained.