B1 Passive & Reported Speech 14 min read Moyen

Voix Passive : Des choses qui arrivent à des choses (est fait, a été envoyé)

Maîtriser la voix passive rend ton anglais plus flexible et expressif, surtout quand tu veux te concentrer sur les actions et les résultats.
Marquer comme appris
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The passive voice shifts focus from the person doing the action to the person or thing receiving the action.

  • Use 'be' + past participle: 'The cake was eaten' (max 20 words)
  • The object of the active sentence becomes the subject (max 20 words)
  • Use 'by' only if the doer is important: 'by Shakespeare' (max 20 words)
Object + 🐝 (am/is/are/was/were) + Verb-ed (V3)

Overview

### Overview
En anglais, la passive voice est un outil grammatical essentiel qui permet de déplacer l'attention du sujet (celui qui fait l'action) vers l'objet (celui qui subit l'action). En français, nous utilisons la « voix passive » de manière très similaire, mais avec une fréquence différente. En tant que francophones, nous avons tendance à privilégier la voix active ou des tournures impersonnelles comme le « on ».
Apprendre à maîtriser la passive voice en anglais est crucial pour atteindre un niveau B1 car cela vous permet de varier votre syntaxe, de paraître plus professionnel au bureau, ou tout simplement de décrire des processus sans avoir à préciser systématiquement « qui » fait quoi.
Pourquoi est-ce important ? Imaginez que vous soyez au travail et que vous deviez annoncer qu'une erreur a été commise. Dire « I made a mistake » est direct, mais parfois, pour des raisons de diplomatie ou d'objectivité, il est préférable de dire « A mistake was made ».
C'est là que la passive voice devient votre meilleure alliée. Contrairement au français où nous utilisons souvent le pronom indéfini « on » (ex: « On a volé mon vélo »), l'anglais préfère très souvent la structure passive : « My bike was stolen ». Cette différence culturelle et linguistique est fondamentale : là où le français utilise un pronom sujet vague, l'anglais utilise la structure passive pour garder le focus sur l'objet touché.
Maîtriser cette nuance vous fera passer d'un anglais « scolaire » à un anglais plus naturel et fluide.
### How This Grammar Works
Le fonctionnement de la passive voice repose sur une transformation structurelle de la phrase active. Dans une phrase active, le subject est l'agent (celui qui agit). Dans une phrase passive, le subject devient le patient (celui qui subit).
Pour construire cette forme, l'anglais utilise l'auxiliaire to be conjugué au temps de la phrase originale, suivi du past participle (participe passé) du verbe principal.
En français, nous utilisons l'auxiliaire « être » suivi du participe passé, ce qui rend la structure assez intuitive pour nous. Cependant, la grande différence réside dans l'utilisation de l'agent. En français, nous introduisons l'agent avec la préposition « par ».
En anglais, on utilise la préposition by.
Prenons un exemple :
  • Actif : The chef prepares the meal. (Le chef prépare le repas.)
  • Passif : The meal is prepared by the chef. (Le repas est préparé par le chef.)
Ici, the meal devient le nouveau sujet. Le verbe prepares (présent simple) devient is prepared (auxiliaire to be au présent + participe passé). Si vous voulez mentionner l'agent, vous ajoutez by + agent.
Ce qui est fascinant pour un apprenant français, c'est que l'anglais permet de supprimer l'agent beaucoup plus naturellement. Si vous dites « The meal is prepared », la phrase est complète. En français, « Le repas est préparé » sonne parfois comme une description d'état plutôt que comme une action en cours.
En anglais, la passive voice est un mécanisme de mise en relief. Si le sujet est « le nouveau produit », on veut qu'il soit le premier mot de la phrase pour capter l'attention. C'est une question de « focus » informationnel : on commence par ce qui est déjà connu ou le plus important pour l'interlocuteur.
### Formation Pattern
La structure est rigide mais simple : Subject + be + Past Participle (+ by + agent). Le temps du verbe to be doit toujours correspondre au temps de la phrase active initiale.
| Temps de la phrase | Structure Passive | Exemple
|---|---|---
| Present Simple | is / are + P.P. | The reports are filed every Friday.
| Past Simple | was / were + P.P. | The reports were filed yesterday.
| Sujet (S) | Auxiliaire to be | Participe Passé | Complément (optionnel)
|---|---|---|---
| The house | is | painted | by my uncle.
| The houses | are | painted | by my uncle.
| The house | was | painted | by my uncle.
| The houses | were | painted | by my uncle.
Il est impératif de bien connaître ses participes passés. Pour les verbes réguliers, c'est facile (ajouter -ed). Pour les irréguliers, il faut les apprendre par cœur (ex: write -> written, take -> taken).
### When To Use It
  1. 1Quand l'agent est inconnu ou évident : C'est le cas classique du voleur ou du technicien. My car was broken into. (On ne sait pas qui, ou ce n'est pas le plus important). En français, on dirait « On a forcé ma voiture ». L'anglais évite le « on » et préfère le passif.
  1. 1Pour l'objectivité (contexte professionnel) : Dans un rapport ou un email formel, il est plus élégant de dire The decision was taken plutôt que I took the decision. Cela donne un ton plus neutre et moins centré sur soi-même.
  1. 1Pour décrire des processus : Si tu expliques une recette de cuisine ou comment utiliser une machine, le passif est parfait. The flour is mixed with water, then the dough is kneaded. C'est beaucoup plus propre que de répéter « You mix... you knead... ».
  1. 1Pour varier le style : Si tu écris un article ou une présentation, alterner entre actif et passif rend ton discours moins répétitif. Si tu commences toutes tes phrases par « I » ou « We », ton anglais paraîtra monotone. Utiliser le passif permet de varier le début de tes phrases.
### Common Mistakes
  1. 1Oublier l'auxiliaire to be : Beaucoup d'étudiants français écrivent The report written yesterday. C'est une erreur grave ! Le participe passé seul ne peut pas être un verbe conjugué. Il faut dire The report was written yesterday. L'interférence vient du fait qu'en français, on peut parfois abréger, mais en anglais, l'auxiliaire est obligatoire.
  1. 1Mauvaise concordance de l'auxiliaire : Les francophones oublient parfois d'accorder was ou were avec le sujet. The emails was sent est une erreur classique. Rappelez-vous : emails est pluriel, donc were.
  1. 1Confusion entre Past Simple et Past Participle : Pour les verbes irréguliers, les étudiants utilisent souvent la forme du passé simple au lieu du participe passé. Ex: The letter was wrote. C'est faux. Il faut utiliser le participe passé : The letter was written.
  1. 1Surutilisation du passif : Attention, ne tombe pas dans le piège de vouloir tout mettre au passif pour « faire plus anglais ». Si l'agent est important, utilise la voix active ! « The police caught the thief » est bien meilleur que « The thief was caught by the police » si tu veux souligner l'action de la police.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Il est important de ne pas confondre la passive voice avec les adjectifs verbaux ou le present continuous.
| Structure | Fonction | Exemple
|---|---|---
| Passive Voice | Action subie | The door is locked. (Quelqu'un l'a verrouillée)
| Adjective | État | The door is heavy. (Description)
| Present Continuous | Action en cours | The door is being locked. (En train d'être verrouillée)
La confusion avec le present continuous passive (is being + P.P.) est fréquente. Si tu veux dire qu'une action est en train de se dérouler, tu dois ajouter being. Sinon, c'est juste un état.
### Quick FAQ
  1. 1Est-ce que je dois toujours mettre le by ? Non, seulement si l'identité de l'agent apporte une information nouvelle et nécessaire. Si tu dis « The book was written by Shakespeare », c'est important. Si tu dis « The dinner was cooked by someone », c'est inutile.
  1. 1Peut-on utiliser le passif avec tous les verbes ? Non, seulement avec les verbes transitifs (ceux qui ont un objet). On ne peut pas dire « He was arrived » car le verbe « arrive » n'a pas d'objet direct.
  1. 1Le passif est-il trop formel ? Il est souvent utilisé dans un contexte formel, mais on l'utilise aussi tous les jours pour parler de problèmes ou d'événements : « My phone was stolen » est très courant dans une conversation informelle au café.

2. Negative Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
is not
isn't
The car isn't washed.
are not
aren't
The cars aren't washed.
was not
wasn't
The car wasn't washed.
were not
weren't
The cars weren't washed.

Passive Voice Tense Formation

Tense Subject To Be Past Participle Example
Present Simple
The car
is
washed
The car is washed.
Present Simple
The cars
are
washed
The cars are washed.
Past Simple
The car
was
washed
The car was washed.
Past Simple
The cars
were
washed
The cars were washed.
Present Continuous
The car
is being
washed
The car is being washed.
Present Perfect
The car
has been
washed
The car has been washed.
Future (Will)
The car
will be
washed
The car will be washed.
Modals
The car
must be
washed
The car must be washed.

Meanings

A grammatical construction where the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the performer.

1

Unknown Agent

Used when we don't know who performed the action.

“My bike was stolen last night.”

“The window was broken while I was out.”

2

Obvious Agent

Used when the performer of the action is so obvious it doesn't need mentioning.

“The thief was arrested.”

“The crops are harvested in autumn.”

3

Formal/Scientific Objectivity

Used to sound objective and professional by removing the 'I' or 'We'.

“The chemicals were mixed in a beaker.”

“The results were analyzed carefully.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Voix Passive : Des choses qui arrivent à des choses (est fait, a été envoyé)
Temps Sujet Verbe 'to be' Participe Passé Exemple
Présent Simple
The report
is
written
The report *is written* daily.
Présent Simple
These apps
are
downloaded
These apps *are downloaded* by millions.
Passé Simple
The message
was
sent
The message *was sent* an hour ago.
Passé Simple
The decisions
were
made
The decisions *were made* quickly.
Présent Simple
My coffee
is
brewed
My coffee *is brewed* fresh every morning.
Passé Simple
Our car
was
repaired
Our car *was repaired* by a local mechanic.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
The requested documentation has been processed.

The requested documentation has been processed. (Workplace)

Neutre
The paperwork was finished this morning.

The paperwork was finished this morning. (Workplace)

Informel
The forms are all done.

The forms are all done. (Workplace)

Argot
It's all sorted, mate.

It's all sorted, mate. (Workplace)

La Voix Passive : Des Choses aux Choses

Voix Passive

Formation

  • Verbe 'to be' par exemple, is, are, was, were
  • Participe Passé par exemple, written, made, sent
  • Optionnel 'by' qui l'a fait

Quand l'utiliser

  • Acteur Inconnu par exemple, My wallet was stolen.
  • Acteur Peu Important par exemple, The road is being repaired.
  • Focus sur l'Action par exemple, News was reported.
  • Contextes Formels par exemple, Rules are enforced.

Erreurs Courantes

  • Manque de 'be' par exemple, 'The book read.'
  • Mauvaise forme de 'be' par exemple, 'They was told.'
  • Mauvaise forme verbale par exemple, 'The cake was ate.'

Voix Active vs. Voix Passive

Voix Active
The chef cooked the meal. Focus sur le chef (acteur).
I sent the email. Action claire et directe par 'I'.
They built the house. Souligne 'they'.
Voix Passive
The meal was cooked. Focus sur le repas (receveur/action).
The email was sent. Souligne l'e-mail (action).
The house was built. Souligne la maison (action).

Devrais-je utiliser la Voix Passive ?

1

L'acteur de l'action est-il connu et important ?

YES
Utilise la Voix Active !
NO
Passe à l'étape suivante.
2

Veux-tu te concentrer sur l'action ou sur la chose qui reçoit l'action ?

YES
Utilise la Voix Passive !
NO
La phrase est-elle plus claire/naturelle à la voix active ?

Situations de la Voix Passive

📰

Actualités et Rapports

  • • 'It was reported that...' (Il a été rapporté que...)
  • • Discoveries are made (Des découvertes sont faites)
  • • Events are announced (Des événements sont annoncés)
⚙️

Processus et Instructions

  • • Ingredients are mixed (Les ingrédients sont mélangés)
  • • Steps are followed (Les étapes sont suivies)
  • • Products are manufactured (Des produits sont fabriqués)
❓

Quand l'acteur est inconnu/peu important

  • • My keys were found. (Mes clés ont été trouvées.)
  • • Mistakes were made. (Des erreurs ont été commises.)
  • • The window was broken. (La fenêtre a été cassée.)
🤝

Diplomatie et Objectivité

  • • Decisions were taken. (Des décisions ont été prises.)
  • • Issues are addressed. (Les problèmes sont abordés.)
  • • Policies are developed. (Des politiques sont élaborées.)
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Exemples par niveau

1

The car is washed.

The car is washed.

2

The pizza is eaten.

The pizza is eaten.

3

The windows are closed.

The windows are closed.

4

The book was lost.

The book was lost.

1

The house was built in 2010.

The house was built in 2010.

2

These shoes are made in Italy.

These shoes are made in Italy.

3

The thief was caught by the police.

The thief was caught by the police.

4

Was the homework finished?

Was the homework finished?

1

The application was rejected because it was late.

The application was rejected because it was late.

2

The meeting is held in the main hall every Friday.

The meeting is held in the main hall every Friday.

3

Many languages are spoken in this city.

Many languages are spoken in this city.

4

The bridge was damaged during the storm.

The bridge was damaged during the storm.

1

The suspect is being questioned by the detectives now.

The suspect is being questioned by the detectives now.

2

The project should have been completed last week.

The project should have been completed last week.

3

It is believed that the company is facing bankruptcy.

It is believed that the company is facing bankruptcy.

4

The data was collected over a six-month period.

The data was collected over a six-month period.

1

The decision was made with the utmost care.

The decision was made with the utmost care.

2

Rarely is such a discovery made in this field.

Rarely is such a discovery made in this field.

3

The building is said to be haunted.

The building is said to be haunted.

4

He was given a standing ovation after his speech.

He was given a standing ovation after his speech.

1

The proposal was met with considerable skepticism.

The proposal was met with considerable skepticism.

2

Provision was made for the possibility of a delay.

Provision was made for the possibility of a delay.

3

The artifacts are thought to have been smuggled out of the country.

The artifacts are thought to have been smuggled out of the country.

4

No effort was spared in the search for survivors.

No effort was spared in the search for survivors.

Facile à confondre

Passive Voice: Things happening to things (is made, was sent) vs Passive vs. Past Participle as Adjective

Learners confuse 'The window was broken (by someone)' with 'The window was broken (state/adjective)'.

Passive Voice: Things happening to things (is made, was sent) vs Passive vs. Present Perfect

Learners confuse 'is done' with 'has done'.

Passive Voice: Things happening to things (is made, was sent) vs Passive vs. Middle Voice

Some verbs look active but feel passive, like 'The book sells well'.

Erreurs courantes

✗

The cake eaten.

✓

The cake was eaten.

Missing the 'be' verb.
✗

The car is wash.

✓

The car is washed.

Using the base form instead of the past participle.
✗

I was borned in London.

✓

I was born in London.

'Born' is already a participle; don't add -ed.
✗

The window broke by me.

✓

The window was broken by me.

Missing 'was' makes it sound like the window broke itself.
✗

The letters was sent.

✓

The letters were sent.

Subject-verb agreement error (plural subject needs 'were').
✗

The book written by him.

✓

The book was written by him.

Forgetting the auxiliary 'was' in the past passive.
✗

Is the dinner cook?

✓

Is the dinner cooked?

Question form still requires the past participle.
✗

The house was builded in 1990.

✓

The house was built in 1990.

Using a regular ending for an irregular verb (build -> built).
✗

It was happened yesterday.

✓

It happened yesterday.

Intransitive verbs like 'happen' cannot be passive.
✗

The work is being do.

✓

The work is being done.

Continuous passive still needs the V3 (done).
✗

The car was got stolen.

✓

The car was stolen / The car got stolen.

Mixing the 'be' passive and 'get' passive.
✗

He is said to have been went.

✓

He is said to have gone.

Incorrect perfect infinitive in passive reporting.
✗

The problem was explained me.

✓

The problem was explained to me.

Missing the preposition 'to' with certain verbs in passive.

Structures de phrases

The ___ was ___ in ___.

___ are ___ every day.

It is ___ that ___.

The ___ hasn't been ___ yet.

Real World Usage

News Headlines constant

Thousands of homes destroyed by flood.

Product Packaging very common

Made in Vietnam. Batteries not included.

Airport Announcements very common

The flight has been delayed.

Cooking Recipes common

The eggs are beaten until fluffy.

Job Interviews occasional

I was given the 'Employee of the Month' award.

Texting about bad luck common

My bike got stolen! :(

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💡

Repère le verbe 'être' !

Cherche toujours une forme de 'to be' (is, are, was, were) suivie d'un participe passé. Si tu ne vois pas 'être', ce n'est probablement pas passif. C'est comme trouver Charlie, mais pour la grammaire ! Par exemple :
The project is completed.
⚠️

N'oublie pas les participes passés !

Le piège le plus courant ! Souviens-toi que les verbes irréguliers ont leurs propres formes de participe passé (par exemple, make - made, eat - eaten). N'utilise pas la forme du prétérit par erreur, ou ta phrase sonnera un peu faux, comme une chanson avec les mauvaises paroles. Par exemple :
The cake was *made*, not *make*.
🎯

Test actif vs passif

Si tu hésites à utiliser le passif, essaie de le réécrire à la voix active. Si la version active semble plus directe et claire, garde-la ! Si l'acteur est non pertinent ou inconnu, alors le passif est ton ami. Par exemple :
The book was written by Jane.
(passive) vs.
Jane wrote the book.
(active).
🌍

Le contexte est roi !

Dans certaines langues, la voix passive est utilisée beaucoup plus souvent ou différemment. En anglais, essaie de l'utiliser naturellement. Elle sonne très bien dans les actualités, les rapports formels, et quand tu veux être diplomate, mais moins si tu es juste en train de potiner avec des amis sur ton dernier coup de cœur. Par exemple :
The new policy was announced.
(formel) vs.
I love this song!
(informel).
💡

Qui est la star ?

Pense à ce que tu veux souligner. Si le *résultat* ou le *receveur* de l'action est plus important que la *personne qui fait* l'action, le passif est ton choix ! Cela aide à déplacer le focus, un peu comme un zoom de caméra. Par exemple :
The concert tickets were sold out.
(focus sur les tickets) vs.
They sold out the concert tickets.
(focus sur 'they').

Smart Tips

Use the passive to avoid sounding like you are blaming someone.

You made a mistake in the invoice. → A mistake was made in the invoice.

Check if it's an adjective or a passive verb by trying to add 'by someone'.

The door was closed. → The door was closed by the janitor.

Don't say 'Someone...'. Use the passive voice instead.

Someone stole my bike. → My bike was stolen.

Use the present simple passive to focus on the steps.

You mix the flour and eggs. → The flour and eggs are mixed.

Prononciation

The CAR was STOLEN.

Stress on Participle

In passive sentences, the main stress usually falls on the past participle, not the 'be' verb.

It /wəz/ MADE in China.

Weak 'was'

The word 'was' is usually unstressed and pronounced as /wəz/.

Falling intonation for statements

The bridge was built in 1890. ↘

Conveys a completed fact.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

BE + V3 = Passive for me! (Be verb + Past Participle).

Association visuelle

Imagine a robot being built in a factory. We don't see the workers, only the robot (the object) moving through the stages of being 'made', 'painted', and 'shipped'.

Rhyme

When the doer is a mystery, use the passive for history!

Story

A man wakes up and finds his car is gone. He tells the police, 'My car was stolen!' He doesn't say 'A thief stole it' because he didn't see the thief. The car is the star of his story.

Word Web

isarewaswerebeenbydonemade

Défi

Look around your room. Find 5 things and say how they were made or where they were bought using the passive voice (e.g., 'This lamp was bought in IKEA').

Notes culturelles

The passive voice is the 'bread and butter' of news. It allows reporters to remain neutral and avoid blaming individuals before a trial.

In Western universities, using 'I' in a science paper is often discouraged. The passive voice is used to make the research seem universal and objective.

Contracts use the passive to define obligations without naming specific employees, focusing on the company as an entity.

The English passive voice evolved from Old English, which used 'weorthan' (to become) or 'beon' (to be) with a participle.

Amorces de conversation

“

Where was your favorite piece of clothing made?

“

Have you ever had something stolen?

“

What is a famous building in your city? When was it built?

“

How are traditional holidays celebrated in your country?

Sujets d'écriture

Describe how your favorite dish is made without using the word 'I'.
Write a short news report about a fictional crime in your neighborhood.
Reflect on a historical event. What happened and what were the consequences?
Write a formal complaint about a product that arrived damaged.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choisis la forme correcte de la voix passive pour compléter la phrase.

The new update ___ on all devices yesterday afternoon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was rolled out
Le sujet 'update' est singulier et l'action s'est produite 'yesterday afternoon' (passé), donc 'was rolled out' est correct.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The message send to everyone in the group chat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The message was sent to everyone in the group chat.
La phrase a besoin d'une forme de 'to be' ('was') et du participe passé de 'send' ('sent') pour former la voix passive. L'action est implicite dans le passé.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement la voix passive ? Choix multiple

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My laptop was repaired last week.
La forme passive correcte nécessite 'was' (forme de 'to be') et 'repaired' (participe passé).
Mets les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase passive correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This castle was built in that city in the 13th century.
La structure passive 'was built' est utilisée pour décrire quand le château a été construit.

Score: /4

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the passive voice (Past Simple).

The Mona Lisa ___ (paint) by Leonardo da Vinci.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was painted
Mona Lisa is singular, and the action happened in the past.
Which sentence is in the passive voice? Choix multiple

Choose the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The mouse was chased by the cat.
This follows the 'be + V3' structure.
Find the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The windows are clean every Saturday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'clean' to 'cleaned'
Passive voice requires the past participle 'cleaned'.
Change this active sentence to passive: 'They make these cars in Japan.' Sentence Transformation

Passive form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: These cars are made in Japan.
The original is present simple, so the passive must be 'are made'.
Is this statement true or false? True False Rule

You can use the passive voice with the verb 'to sleep'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Sleep' is an intransitive verb and has no object to become the subject.
Complete the conversation. Dialogue Completion

A: Why is the road closed? B: An accident ___ (report) ten minutes ago.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was reported
The reporting happened in the past.
Identify the passive sentence. Grammar Sorting

Which of these is passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The movie was seen by millions.
It uses 'was' + V3.
Match the active verb to its passive V3 form. Match Pairs

Write -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Written
Written is the past participle (V3) of write.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complète la phrase en utilisant la forme passive correcte. Texte trous

All assignments ___ online by midnight on Sunday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: must be submitted
Corrige l'erreur dans la phrase suivante. Error Correction

The latest episode released last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The latest episode was released last night.
Sélectionne la phrase qui utilise correctement la voix passive. Choix multiple

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: New features will be added to the app next month.
Traduis la phrase en anglais en utilisant la voix passive. Traduction

Translate into English: 'Das Museum wird gerade renoviert.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The museum is being renovated.","The museum is being renovated right now."]
Remets les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase passive grammaticalement correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: That building was designed by a famous architect.
Associe les sujets aux formes verbales passives correctes. Match Pairs

Match the subjects with the correct passive verb forms:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choisis le meilleur mot pour compléter la phrase passive. Texte trous

The data ___ carefully analyzed before making a decision.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is being
Identifie et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

Many applications submitted for the new role.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Many applications were submitted for the new role.
Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte et utilise la voix passive de manière appropriée ? Choix multiple

Which sentence is grammatically correct and uses the passive voice appropriately?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The project reports were collected by the team leader.
Traduis en anglais en utilisant la voix passive : 'Neue Produkte werden oft in sozialen Medien beworben.' Traduction

Translate into English: 'Neue Produkte werden oft in sozialen Medien beworben.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["New products are often advertised on social media.","New products are often promoted on social media."]
Réarrange les mots pour former une phrase passive logique. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This restaurant is cleaned every week.
Associe les fragments de voix passive pour créer des phrases correctes. Match Pairs

Match the beginnings with their correct endings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Avoid it when the 'doer' is important or when you want to be direct and energetic. 'I love you' is much better than 'You are loved by me'!

No! In fact, we omit 'by' in about 80% of passive sentences because the doer is unknown or obvious.

'Was broken' is standard and neutral. 'Got broken' is informal and often implies the event was accidental or unfortunate.

Yes! Use 'will be' + V3. For example: 'The results will be published tomorrow.'

No, but overusing it can make writing sound dry or evasive. Use it when the focus truly belongs on the object.

Swap the subject and the 'be' verb. 'The car was fixed' becomes 'Was the car fixed?'

Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be passive. You can't say 'The bed was slept' because 'sleep' doesn't have an object.

Yes! In English, being born is something that happens to you, so we always use the passive form.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Voz pasiva (ser + participio) / Pasiva refleja (se)

English uses the passive much more frequently than Spanish in everyday speech.

French high

La voix passive (être + participe passé)

French participles change endings (e.g., mangé vs mangée); English ones never do.

German moderate

Passiv (werden + Partizip II)

German uses 'become' (werden) as the auxiliary, while English uses 'be'.

Japanese low

受身 (ukemi)

Japanese uses a suffix on the main verb; English uses an auxiliary verb.

Arabic low

المبني للمجهول (al-mabni lil-majhul)

Arabic uses vowel shifts within the verb; English uses 'be' + V3.

Chinese partial

被字句 (bèi zì jù)

Chinese 'bèi' is a particle, not a verb conjugation, and often carries a negative connotation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Voix Passive pour l'Objectivité : 'On dit que...'
Next
Passif Simple au Passé: Actions Terminées (fut/furent fait)

Learn These First

B1 Builds On

La voix passive : l'accent sur les actions (passif présent simple)

### Overview Tu t'es déjà demandé pourquoi, dans un article de journal ou une notice technique, on semble éviter de dir...

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