Expected to Be Affected: Complex Passive with Modals
Practice note: Grammar examples and role-play details may be hypothetical. Questions explicitly about the article use the reported facts. This is a historical report, not current travel advice.
Words from the text: be expected to, could be affected, operation, booking, policy, modify, nor'easter, disruption, scale, severe, significant, adjust, beyond
A After passive forms of simple facts (Unit 10), we can add a modal verb to show that something is possible, certain, or recommended rather than already true: modal + be + V3. This is very common in storm reports, where airlines talk about what could happen, not only what has happened.
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| Modal + be + V3 | Example |
| could be affected | Flights could be affected by the storm. |
| will be adjusted | Schedules will be adjusted throughout the weekend. |
| may be modified | Bookings may be modified free of charge. |
Flights to Cape Cod could be affected by the nor'easter if the storm track shifts further north.
Airport operations at Logan will be adjusted as the storm moves through the region.
Some bookings may be modified without an extra fee under the airline's new policy.
Модальный глагол + be + V3: модальность (возможность, обещание, совет) добавляется к обычному пассиву.
B Be expected has several patterns. Use is/are expected when something is anticipated; be expected to + base verb predicts an action; be expected to be + V3 predicts a passive event.
| Form / word | Example / meaning |
| Pattern | Example |
| are expected | More cancelations are expected. |
| is expected to + verb | The storm is expected to disrupt flights. |
| are expected to be + V3 | Flights are expected to be delayed. |
Не объединяйте эти модели в be expected + V3: после to нужен инфинитив, а для пассива — to be + V3.
C To talk about something that may already have happened, combine a modal with the perfect passive: modal + have been + V3. Contrast this with the Present Perfect Passive: have/has been + V3, which reports a confirmed fact.
Some flights to Martha's Vineyard may have been canceled already, although FlightAware has not confirmed the exact number yet.
The waivers allow passengers to modify their bookings, but they do not mean that all flights covered by the policies have been canceled.
A number of connecting flights could have been delayed by the knock-on effect of the storm, even though Delta has not yet updated its figures.
modal + have been + V3 — предположение о том, что, возможно, уже произошло; сравните с обычным Present Perfect Passive для подтверждённого факта.
Exercises
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17.1 Rewrite the predictions in the passive, using the modal verb given. Keep 'by + agent' only where it adds real information.
Example: The storm may disrupt flights across the Northeast. (may) → Flights across the Northeast may be disrupted by the storm.
- Heavy rain could delay several departures at Logan this evening. (could)
- Airlines will adjust flight schedules throughout the weekend. (will)
- The storm might affect regional operations at Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. (might)
- The airline should modify affected bookings free of charge. (should)
- JetBlue will cover flights operated between September 25 and 27 under its new policy. (will)
- The nor'easter could affect airports beyond Boston. (could)
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- Several departures at Logan could be delayed by heavy rain this evening.
- Flight schedules will be adjusted by airlines throughout the weekend.
- Regional operations at Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard might be affected by the storm.
- Affected bookings should be modified free of charge.
- Flights operated between September 25 and 27 will be covered by JetBlue under its new policy.
- Airports beyond Boston could be affected by the nor'easter.
17.2 Complete the practice sentences with be expected, be affected, or be covered. Several predictions are hypothetical; the key gives one possible answer.
Example: A significant number of cancelations ______ at Boston Logan again on Sunday, Delta warned. → are expected
- Operations at Logan to be disrupted further if the nor'easter continues into Monday.
- Flights operated between September 25 and 27 involving Boston, JFK and Newark by JetBlue's Northeast weather waiver.
- Regional airports by the storm's wider impact, though exact figures are not yet confirmed.
- On Saturday, Cape Air's North Region routes heavily, with 115 flights canceled at Logan alone.
- Not all flights by the airlines' policies have actually been canceled, despite the scale of the disruption.
- Bookings for affected passengers to be modified free of charge under the new terms.
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- are expected
- are covered
- could be affected
- were affected
- covered
- are expected
17.3 Using patterns from the text ('are expected', 'could be affected', 'have been canceled'), write three passive predictions about how the storm could affect airport operations this weekend. Try to use at least one of these words in each sentence: operation, booking, policy, modify, expected, affected.
Example: (Philadelphia airport / delay) → Flights at Philadelphia airport could be delayed because of the storm, and further cancelations are expected on Monday.
- (JFK / cancel)
- (bookings / modify)
- (regional network / affect)
Answers
For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.
- A number of flights at JFK could be canceled if the storm track shifts further east, and more cancelations are expected on Monday.
- Bookings for passengers traveling through Boston may be modified without an extra fee under the airline's policy.
- Smaller airports across the regional network could be affected as the storm's impact continues beyond Boston.