Correct Answer:
B. be started
The correct answer is B: be started. This question tests your understanding of the passive voice, particularly when used in conjunction with a modal verb. The subject of the sentence, "The project," is not the entity performing the action of starting; instead, it is the recipient of that action. This grammatical relationship necessitates the use of the passive voice.
- The standard structure for forming the passive voice with a modal verb (such as 'can', 'will', 'must', 'should') is: modal verb + be + past participle. Following this rule, 'can' combines with 'be' and the past participle 'started'.
- Option A, "start," is in the active voice, implying the project itself initiates the action, which is grammatically incorrect in this context.
- Option C, "started," is a past participle but is missing the crucial auxiliary verb 'be' to correctly form the passive construction with a modal.
- Option D, "starting," is a present participle and would typically be used in continuous tenses (e.g., "is starting") or as a gerund, not for this specific passive structure.
Therefore, "The project can be started next month" accurately conveys that an external agent will initiate the project at a future time.