Modal Passive (sein + zu + Infinitive)

This structure is a replacement for modal verbs. Specifically, it replaces müssen or können in the passive. In English, we say 'This is to be done'. Or 'This can be done'. German makes it even shorter. You take the verb sein. You add the word zu. Then you put the main verb at the end. That is it! The subject of the sentence receives the action. It does not do the action. If I say Der Apfel ist zu essen, the apple is not eating. The apple is waiting for you to eat it. It means 'The apple must be eaten'. Or maybe 'The apple can be eaten'. The context tells you which one it is. Most of the time, it means 'must'. It feels a bit formal but very direct. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells you what is allowed or required. No fluff, just facts.

1. 1Building this is like stacking three blocks. Follow these steps:
2. 2Pick your subject. This is what the action happens to. For example, Das Haus (The house).
3. 3Conjugate sein. This must match your subject. For Das Haus, we use ist.
4. 4Add the word zu. This always stays the same. It never changes.
5. 5Put the main verb at the end. Use the infinitive form. For example, verkaufen (to sell).
6. 6Combine them: Das Haus ist zu verkaufen. Translation: 'The house is to be sold' or 'The house is for sale'. If the subject is plural, change sein. For Die Häuser, use sind. Die Häuser sind zu verkaufen. Simple, right? It is like a recipe. If you follow the steps, it works every time. Just remember to keep the main verb at the very end. German loves to hide the best part for last!

You will see this in many places. Use it for instructions. Use it for rules. It is perfect for work environments. Imagine a job interview. The boss says, Die Berichte sind heute zu schreiben. They are telling you the reports must be written today. It sounds professional. It is also great for signs. At the airport, you might see Der Pass ist vorzuzeigen. This means 'The passport must be shown'. Use it when you want to sound objective. It is not about *who* does it. It is just that it *needs* to be done. It is very common in academic writing too. But you can use it when giving directions. Die nächste Straße ist links zu nehmen. The next street is to be taken on the left. It makes you sound like a pro. Use it to simplify your sentences. You avoid using long passive structures with werden.

Do not use this for active actions. If you are doing something, use the normal way. Do not say Ich bin zu essen if you mean 'I am eating'. That would mean 'I am to be eaten'. That is a very different day! Also, avoid it for simple descriptions. If the sky is blue, just say Der Himmel ist blau. Do not try to force zu in there. It is specifically for necessity or possibility. If there is no 'must' or 'can' feeling, skip it. Do not use it if you want to emphasize the person. If you want to say 'Hans is painting', say Hans malt. Using the modal passive hides Hans. If Hans wants credit, he will be sad. Only use it when the person does not matter. Keep it for tasks, rules, and possibilities.

One big mistake is forgetting the zu. People say Das ist machen. That sounds like 'That is make'. It makes no sense. Always include zu. Another error is the verb position. Do not put the main verb in the middle. It belongs at the end. Do not say Das ist zu machen die Arbeit. Say Die Arbeit ist zu machen. The verb is the anchor at the end. Some learners use the wrong form of sein. They say Die Bücher ist zu lesen. No! Die Bücher is plural. You must use sind. Die Bücher sind zu lesen. Also, do not confuse it with haben + zu. That is a different rule for the active voice. Ich habe zu arbeiten means 'I have to work'. Die Arbeit ist zu tun means 'The work is to be done'. It is a small difference but a big one. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Just take it slow.

Let us compare this to the normal passive. The normal passive uses werden. For example, Die Tür wird geschlossen. That means 'The door is being closed'. It describes an action happening right now. Our rule, Die Tür ist zu schließen, is different. it means 'The door must be closed'. It is about a rule or a requirement. See the difference? One is a description. The other is a command or a possibility. Now compare it to modal verbs. Man muss die Tür schließen. This means 'One must close the door'. It is active. Die Tür ist zu schließen is the passive version of that. It is shorter. It is punchier. It is like the difference between a long story and a text message. Both work, but one is faster. Use the modal passive when you want to be quick and direct.