A1 · 초급 챕터 20

Focusing on the Action: The Passive Voice

6 총 규칙
65 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Shift your focus from the performer to the action itself to sound more professional in French.

  • Construct passive sentences using the verb 'être'.
  • Apply gender and number agreements to past participles.
  • Master the usage of 'par' and 'de' to identify the agent.
Master the passive: When the action matters most!

배울 내용

Wow, this chapter is going to make your French sound so much more sophisticated! Did you know that in French, sometimes who did an action isn't as important as the action itself? Exactly! In this chapter, you'll learn how to shift the focus of your sentences from 'who' to 'what' or 'how'. For instance, instead of always saying 'X opened the door,' you'll be able to say 'The door was opened.' This is super useful, especially when you don't know who performed an action, or when the action itself is more significant. First, you'll learn the basic structure of the passive voice using 'être' and a past participle that magically changes to match the subject, just like a chameleon! Then, we'll see how to introduce the 'by whom' with 'par,' and when to use 'de' instead, especially for feelings or states of being. You'll even discover how to form passive sentences without mentioning the agent at all – focusing purely on the result, like 'the work was done.' Finally, we'll dive into compound tenses with 'a été' to express 'it was done' or 'it has been done.' By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to speak much more professionally and flexibly in various situations. For example, when discussing a new product, you can say 'This product was manufactured in Paris,' or when hearing news, 'The news was announced.' This skill will truly help you think and speak French like a native. Don't worry, this is easier than it seems! We'll go step-by-step together, and you'll be forming awesome sentences in no time.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Transform active sentences into passive constructions to emphasize the object.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to an exciting chapter in your A1 French grammar journey! This section will unlock a powerful way to express yourself: the French passive voice. Often, in everyday conversation and formal writing, we want to highlight the action itself rather than who performed it.
Think about statements like
The news was announced
or
The product was manufactured.
In these sentences, the focus shifts from the 'doer' to the 'done.' Mastering this concept will make your French sound much more natural and sophisticated, allowing you to articulate ideas with greater flexibility and precision.
At the A1 French level, you're building foundational skills, and understanding the passive voice is a significant step towards speaking and understanding French like a native. It's incredibly useful when the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. You'll learn how to construct these sentences using the verb être and a special form of the verb called the past participle, which will magically adapt its ending.
Don't worry, this isn't as complex as it sounds! We’ll break down each step, showing you how to correctly form these sentences and when to use them. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to confidently shift the focus of your sentences, making your French communication richer and more nuanced.
Get ready to elevate your linguistic skills and truly master this essential aspect of French grammar!

How This Grammar Works

The core of the French passive voice is surprisingly straightforward: you combine the verb être (to be) with a past participle. The structure is subject + form of être + past participle. For example, instead of saying
Someone opens the door
(Quelqu'un ouvre la porte), you can say
La porte est ouverte.
(The door is opened/is open.) Notice how ouverte (opened) agrees with la porte (feminine singular).
This is crucial: the accord du participe passé means the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the passive sentence, just like an adjective!
Let's look at more examples of this matching past participles in passive voice:
* Le livre est lu. (The book is read.) - lu agrees with le livre (masculine singular).
* La lettre est écrite. (The letter is written.) - écrite agrees with la lettre (feminine singular).
* Les maisons sont construites. (The houses are built.) - construites agrees with les maisons (feminine plural).
* Les enfants sont aimés. (The children are loved.) - aimés agrees with les enfants (masculine plural).
When you want to specify who performed the action, you introduce the agent using par (by). This is the French agent: saying 'by'. For instance:
* Le gâteau est mangé par l'enfant. (The cake is eaten by the child.)
* La chanson est chantée par la chorale. (The song is sung by the choir.)
However, for verbs expressing feelings, opinions, or states of being, especially with verbs like aimer (to love), connaître (to know), or estimer (to esteem), you often use de (by/of) instead of par. This is the French passive with 'de':
* Il est aimé de tous. (He is loved by everyone.)
* Elle est connue de beaucoup. (She is known by many.)
Sometimes, the agent is completely irrelevant or unknown, and you can form French passive: actions without the 'who'. In these cases, you simply omit par or de:
* Le travail est fait. (The work is done.)
* Les règles sont établies. (The rules are established.)
Finally, the French compound passive voice: was done, has been done allows you to express past actions. You use the compound past of être (avoir + past participle of être, which is été) followed by the main verb's past participle.
* La porte a été ouverte. (The door was/has been opened.)
* Les lettres ont été écrites. (The letters were/have been written.)
This structure uses a été (was/has been) or ont été (were/have been) to convey actions completed in the past.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: La voiture est lavé.
✓ Correct: La voiture est lavée.
*Explanation:* The past participle lavé (washed) must agree in gender and number with the subject la voiture (feminine singular). Therefore, it should be lavée. Always remember the accord du participe passé!
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Le président est connu par le public.
✓ Correct: Le président est connu de le public. (or connu du public)
*Explanation:* For verbs expressing feelings or states of being like connu (known), aimé (loved), or respecté (respected), de is typically used to introduce the agent, not par. This is a key nuance in the French passive with 'de'.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: La décision a prise.
✓ Correct: La décision a été prise.
*Explanation:* When forming the French compound passive voice (was done, has been done), you need the auxiliary verb être in its compound past form (a été for singular subjects, ont été for plural subjects), followed by the past participle of the main verb. Omitting été makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Real Conversations

A

A

Les invitations ont-elles été envoyées ? (Have the invitations been sent?)
B

B

Oui, elles ont été envoyées ce matin. (Yes, they were sent this morning.)
A

A

Par qui ce tableau a-t-il été peint ? (By whom was this painting painted?)
B

B

Il a été peint par un artiste local. (It was painted by a local artist.)
A

A

La porte est-elle fermée ? (Is the door closed?)
B

B

Non, elle est ouverte. (No, it is open/opened.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Why is the passive voice important for A1 French learners?

The passive voice allows you to focus on the action or result, which is crucial for describing events, news, or situations where the 'doer' is unknown or less important. It adds flexibility and sophistication to your French grammar A1 sentences.

Q

How do I know when to use par versus de in French passive voice?

Generally, use par when the agent performs a physical action. Use de with verbs expressing feelings, emotions, or states of being, such as aimer (to love), connaître (to know), respecter (to respect), or accompagner (to accompany).

Q

Can I form passive sentences without mentioning who did the action?

Absolutely! This is very common, especially when the agent is unknown, obvious, or irrelevant. For example,

Le problème est résolu.
(The problem is solved.) This is the French passive: actions without the 'who'.

Q

Does the past participle always agree with the subject in the French passive voice?

Yes, in the passive voice, the past participle always agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This is a fundamental rule of accord du participe passé.

Cultural Context

In French, the passive voice is often used in more formal contexts, such as news reports, scientific articles, official announcements, or administrative documents. While it exists in everyday speech, native speakers sometimes opt for more active constructions or the impersonal on (e.g., On a ouvert la porte instead of La porte a été ouverte) in casual conversation. However, understanding and using the passive voice is essential for comprehending French media and for expressing yourself clearly and professionally in various situations.
It's a key part of sounding sophisticated in A1 French.

주요 예문 (2)

1

Cet acteur est aimé de tout le monde.

이 배우는 모든 사람에게 사랑받아요.

'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)
2

La ville est entourée de montagnes.

그 도시는 산으로 둘러싸여 있어요.

'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

팁과 요령 (4)

⚠️

성수 일치는 필수!

새로운 주어가 여성인지 복수인지 꼭 확인하세요.
La porte est fermée.
처럼 'e'를 붙이는 걸 자주 깜빡한답니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 수동태: 만드는 법 (La voix passive)
💡

카멜레온 규칙

과거분사가 주어 위에 앉아있는 카멜레온이라고 상상해 보세요. 주어의 색깔(성별/수)에 맞춰 꼬리를 바꿔야 해요!
La voiture est réparée.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 수동태에서의 과거분사 성수 일치 (Accord du participe passé)
⚠️

'Pour'와 헷갈리지 마세요!

'나를 위해'는 'pour moi'지만, '나에 의해'는 Fait par moi라고 해요. 의미가 완전히 달라지니 주의하세요!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 행위자: '~에 의해' (par) 말하기
💡

마음의 동사들

사랑, 미움, 존경처럼 마음속에서 일어나는 일에는 'de'를 쓰면 훨씬 자연스러워요.
Il est aimé de ses amis.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

핵심 어휘 (5)

être to be par by fabriqué manufactured aimé loved annoncé announced

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

At the Paris Boutique

Review Summary

  • Subject + être + past participle
  • Subject + a été + past participle

자주 하는 실수

You forgot to agree the past participle with the feminine subject 'la pomme'. Always add an 'e' for feminine subjects.

Wrong: La pomme est mangé.
정답: La pomme est mangée.

With mental states or knowledge verbs like 'connaître', we use 'de' instead of 'par'.

Wrong: Il est connu par tout le monde.
정답: Il est connu de tout le monde.

Actually, this is correct! Ensure you aren't using 'de' here; 'par' is correct for physical actions.

Wrong: Le livre est écrit par lui.
정답: Le livre est écrit par lui.

이 챕터의 규칙 (6)

1

프랑스어 수동태: 만드는 법 (La voix passive)

B1
주인공을 바꾸고 싶을 때 être 동사와 주어에 맞춘 «과거분사»만 기억하면 수동태 마스터!
La pizza est préparée par le chef.
10 예문
2

수동태에서의 과거분사 성수 일치 (Accord du participe passé)

B2
프랑스어 수동태에서 과거분사는 주어의 성별과 수에 따라 변신하는 «카멜레온» 같아요. «-e», «-s», -es를 기억하세요!
La porte est fermée.
10 예문
3

프랑스어 행위자: '~에 의해' (par) 말하기

B2
동작을 누가 했는지 콕 집어 말할 때는 par 하나만 기억하면 끝이에요!
La pizza est livrée par Uber Eats.
12 예문
4

'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

B2
단순한 행동이 아니라 '상태'나 '감정'을 나타낼 때는 de를 사용해서 문장을 연결해요. aimé, connu, entouré 같은 단어들과 단짝이에요.
Cet acteur est aimé de tout le monde.
11 예문
5

프랑스어 수동태: 누가 했는지 생략하기 (Passif sans complément d'agent)

B2
누가 했는지보다 '결과'가 중요할 때 être 동사와 «과거분사»를 사용해서 문장을 만들어보세요. 성별과 수만 맞추면 끝!
La pizza est livrée.
11 예문
6

복합 시제 수동태: ~되었다, ~되어 있었다 (Voix passive)

B2
과거에 일어난 수동태는 «a été» 또는 ont été를 쓰고, 뒤에 오는 단어의 성별과 수를 주어에 맞춰주면 끝이에요!
Ton message a été lu il y a deux heures.
11 예문

Next Steps

You have completed the chapter! Your ability to shift focus in sentences is a sign of true fluency. Keep practicing these structures in your daily writing.

Watch a French news clip and count the passive structures you hear.

Continue to: Conditions and Delegating Actions

빠른 연습 (9)

성수일치 오류를 찾아 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Les voitures sont vendu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les voitures sont vendues.
'Voitures'는 여성 복수형이므로 과거분사 끝에 'es'를 붙여야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 수동태: 누가 했는지 생략하기 (Passif sans complément d'agent)

빈칸에 알맞은 'être' 동사 형태를 채워보세요.

La pizza ___ préparée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est
'La pizza'는 단수 주어이므로 'est'를 사용하는 것이 맞습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 수동태: 누가 했는지 생략하기 (Passif sans complément d'agent)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아보세요.

La maison est entourée par des arbres.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La maison est entourée d'arbres.
'entouré'는 둘러싸인 상태를 나타내므로 'de'를 씁니다. 'de'와 'des'가 만나면 'de'가 되고, 모음 앞이라 'd''가 되었어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 바르게 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

{Les|pl} photos sont envoyé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les photos sont envoyées.
'Une photo'는 여성 명사이고, 여기서는 복수('les')이므로 여성 복수 어미인 '-es'가 필요해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 수동태에서의 과거분사 성수 일치 (Accord du participe passé)

'de'와 'par' 중 알맞은 것을 고르세요. 감정은 'de'라는 걸 잊지 마세요!

Ce chanteur est adoré ___ ses fans.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
누군가를 아주 좋아하는 것은 감정/상태이므로 'de'를 사용합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

단어들을 올바른 순서로 배열해 보세요.

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est respecté de tout le monde
순서는 주어(Il) + 동사(est) + 과거분사(respecté) + 연결어(de) + 대상(tout le monde)입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'de'를 사용한 프랑스어 수동태 (aimé de, connu de)

'그녀들은 초대받았다'라는 문장에서 빠진 단어를 채우세요.

Elles ont ___ invitées.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: été
복합 수동태에서는 항상 être의 과거분사인 'été'가 필요해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 복합 시제 수동태: ~되었다, ~되어 있었다 (Voix passive)

'terminer'(끝내다)의 올바른 형태를 골라 빈칸을 채워보세요.

{La|f} leçon est ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: terminée
'la leçon'은 여성 단수 명사이기 때문에 과거분사 뒤에 '-e'를 붙여야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 수동태에서의 과거분사 성수 일치 (Accord du participe passé)

성수 일치 오류를 찾아 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Les pizzas ont été mangé par les invités.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les pizzas ont été mangées by les invités.
'Pizzas'는 여성 복수이므로 'mangé' 뒤에 'es'를 붙여 'mangées'가 되어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 복합 시제 수동태: ~되었다, ~되어 있었다 (Voix passive)

Score: /9

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

행동의 대상이 주인공이 되는 말투예요. 예를 들어
La pizza est mangée
(피자가 먹혔다)처럼요.
주어 뒤에 être 동사를 쓰고 과거분사를 붙이면 돼요. "C'est fait"(그건 됐어)처럼요.
수동태에서 동사는 주어를 설명하는 형용사 역할을 해요.
La porte est fermée
처럼 주어가 여성이면 동사도 여성형이 되어야 하죠.
네, 수동태로 쓰이는 모든 동사는 이 규칙을 따라요. écrite나 faite 같은 불규칙 동사도 마찬가지예요.
아니요, 자주 하는 실수예요! 'par' 뒤에는 반드시 'moi' 같은 강세형 대명사를 써야 해요. 예를 들어 "C'est fait par moi"라고 하세요.
놀랍게도 변하지 않아요! "C'est écrit par Anne"처럼 그대로 쓴답니다.
이전 챕터
Describing Your World
다음 챕터
Conditions and Delegating Actions
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