Avoiding the Passive Voice (on, se, se faire)
on, reflexive verbs, or direct active subjects.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
French prefers active, impersonal structures over the passive voice to keep sentences natural and direct.
- Use 'On' for general statements: 'On parle français ici' (French is spoken here).
- Use 'se' for reflexive passive: 'Le pain se vend bien' (Bread sells well).
- Use 'se faire' for negative passive: 'Il s'est fait arrêter' (He got arrested).
Overview
French fundamentally prioritizes active voice constructions. While a passive voice (la voix passive) exists, its usage is significantly more restricted, formal, and less idiomatic in everyday communication compared to English. This preference stems from a linguistic inclination to clearly define the agent of an action, even when that agent remains generalized or unstated.
The frequent absence of a natural, direct equivalent for many English passive sentences necessitates alternative structures to convey the same meaning with native fluency.
To achieve this natural, active cadence, French employs three primary strategies: the impersonal pronoun on, specific reflexive verbal constructions (often termed 'pronominal passive' or 'réfléchi passif'), and the specialized structure se faire + infinitive. These mechanisms allow you to express actions typically in the passive voice in English, but within an active or impersonally active French framework. Mastering these alternatives is crucial for B1 learners to elevate their expression beyond direct translation, enabling authentic French communication and a deeper understanding of its linguistic nuances.
How This Grammar Works
onon functions as a third-person singular subject pronoun, always conjugating the verb as il or elle. Semantically, however, its meaning is highly flexible.on typically functions as an unspecified agent. For example, instead of an English passive like 'The door was opened', French naturally opts for On a ouvert la porte. (Someone opened the door.).se + Verb)verbes pronominaux) to convey a passive or impersonal meaning. This is often called the 'pronominal passive'. In these cases, the action is not performed by the subject on itself in the typical reflexive sense (Elle se lave – She washes herself).Le français se parle ici. Here, le français (French) is the subject, and the action of being spoken naturally se parle (literally, 'speaks itself' or 'is spoken').Se faire + Infinitivefaire + infinitive (the causative) typically means 'to have something done' by actively arranging it (Je fais réparer ma voiture – I have my car repaired), se faire + infinitive implies that the subject experiences the action, often without direct control, or that the action is performed by someone else for them. It frequently carries a connotation of something happening to the subject, which can be negative (Il s'est fait voler son portefeuille. – He had his wallet stolen.) or neutral/positive (Elle s'est fait faire une nouvelle coupe de cheveux. – She had a new haircut.).Word Order Rules
on:on invariably acts as the subject.on (always) | Someone / We / They | On |a livré |le message |- Example:
On a découvert un nouveau virus.(A new virus was discovered./Someone discovered a new virus.) The verba découvert(found) is singular, agreeing withon. - Example:
On parlera de ce sujet plus tard.(This topic will be discussed later./We will talk about this subject later.) The verbparlerais also singular.
se + Verb):me, te, se, nous, vous, se) precedes the conjugated verb, and it agrees with the subject.Le français |se (or s' before a vowel or mute h) | itself | se |parle |ici |- Example:
Ces livres se vendent bien.(These books sell well./These books are sold well.) Here,serefers back toCes livres, andvendentis conjugated for plural. - Example:
La porte s'est ouverte soudainement.(The door opened suddenly./The door was opened suddenly.)s'acts as the reflexive pronoun forLa porte.
se faire + Infinitive:faire, and then the infinitive verb. The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) agrees with the subject.Il |se (or s') | himself | s' |faire | Conjugated to agree with subject | had | est fait |arrêter |- Example:
Elle s'est fait couper les cheveux.(She had her hair cut.)s'refers toElle, andest faitis the conjugated verb phrase. - Example:
Ils se sont fait voler leurs passeports.(They had their passports stolen.) Again,seagrees withIls.
Formation Pattern
on Construction:
on as the subject, followed by the verb conjugated strictly in the third-person singular (the il/elle form) for all tenses. This grammatical consistency makes it exceptionally versatile and common in everyday communication.
On parle souvent de ça. | People often talk about that. |
On a livré le colis. | The package was delivered. (lit. Someone delivered the package.) |
On disait qu'il était riche. | He was said to be rich. (lit. People were saying he was rich.) |
On annoncera les résultats. | The results will be announced. (lit. Someone will announce the results.) |
On devrait vérifier. | One should verify. |
passé composé), on almost exclusively uses the auxiliary avoir. For instance, On a mangé. (We ate. / Someone ate.). Even when on informally refers to 'we', it still takes the 3rd person singular verb form and avoir as the auxiliary verb. There are rare exceptions in very formal contexts where on might take être if it clearly refers to a plural subject and the verb demands être, but this is not typical B1 usage.
se + Verb):
me, te, se, nous, vous, se) before the verb, which is then conjugated to agree with the subject (the noun experiencing the action). In compound tenses, these verbs always use être as the auxiliary verb, and the past participle generally agrees in gender and number with the subject.
Ça se dit. | That is said. |
La porte s'est ouverte. | The door opened. / The door was opened. (ouverte agrees with la porte - feminine singular) |
Ces problèmes se résolvaient vite. | These problems were resolved quickly. |
Les billets se vendront vite. | The tickets will sell quickly. |
Les lettres se sont écrites en français. (The letters were written in French.) Here, écrites is feminine plural, agreeing with Les lettres.
Se faire + Infinitive:
faire conjugated in the relevant tense, and then the infinitive verb. Crucially, in compound tenses, faire acts as an auxiliary with être, but the past participle fait remains invariable (does not agree with the subject) when it is immediately followed by an infinitive. This is a common and important point for learners to grasp.
Je me fais comprendre. | I make myself understood. |
Il s'est fait arrêter. | He got arrested. / He was arrested. (fait is invariable) |
Elle se faisait toujours coiffer. | She was always having her hair styled. |
Elles se feront vacciner. | They will get vaccinated. |
fait is a cornerstone of this construction: Elle s'est fait couper les cheveux. (Not faite). Ils se sont fait prendre en photo. (Not faits). This rule applies consistently when an infinitive directly follows fait.
When To Use It
on when:- The agent is unknown, irrelevant, or generalized: This is the most prevalent use case, offering a smooth alternative to an awkward passive.
On a cambriolé la banque hier soir.(The bank was robbed last night.– You don't know who did it, or it's not the main focus.)- Referring to 'people in general' or 'they': When making broad statements about what people typically do, say, or think.
En France, on boit du vin à tous les repas.(In France, people drink wine at every meal.)- Substituting for 'we' in informal contexts: While
nousis grammatically standard,onis overwhelmingly preferred in spoken and informal written French for 'we', making communication more natural. Alors, on va au cinéma ce soir ?(So, are we going to the cinema tonight?)- Giving instructions, rules, or making observations impersonally: When the rule applies to anyone or when avoiding direct address.
Ici, on ne parle pas fort.(Here, one does not speak loudly./Speaking loudly is not allowed here.)
se + Verb) when:- Describing processes, natural occurrences, or inherent properties: For actions that happen to an object naturally or describe how something functions.
L'eau se gèle à zéro degré Celsius.(Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.)- Highlighting the inherent capability or quality of something: How an object performs or is perceived, often emphasizing ease or difficulty.
Cette voiture se conduit très facilement.(This car drives very easily./This car is very easy to drive.)- Stating what is (or is not) conventionally done/said (impersonally): Expressions of common practice or social norms, where the action is implicitly understood as 'what happens'.
Ça ne se fait pas de parler la bouche pleine.(It's not done to speak with your mouth full./One doesn't speak with a full mouth.)- Describing availability or general disposition: What can be found or obtained.
Ces légumes se trouvent au marché bio.(These vegetables are found at the organic market.)
se faire + Infinitive when:- The subject experiences an action, often against their will or due to external circumstances: Particularly common for negative events, highlighting the subject's passivity in the face of an action.
Il s'est fait renvoyer de son travail.(He got fired from his job./He was fired from his job.)- The subject arranges for something to be done to them by someone else: Similar to the English 'to get/have something done' for oneself, focusing on the subject as the recipient of a service.
Je me fais couper les cheveux une fois par mois.(I get my hair cut once a month.)- To indicate an action happened to someone, without specifying the agent: A strong, active-voice alternative to the traditional passive that emphasizes the recipient of the action.
Elle s'est fait opérer de l'appendicite hier.(She was operated on for appendicitis yesterday.)- Expressing being understood or making oneself heard: Often used with verbs of communication.
Il a du mal à se faire comprendre en anglais.(He has difficulty making himself understood in English.)
Common Mistakes
subject + be + past participle) using être + past participle in French, often resulting in grammatically awkward or incorrect phrases. French often lacks a direct passive equivalent for certain verbs.- Incorrect:
*J'ai été dit.(for 'I was told') –dire(to say/tell) does not naturally formêtre ditin this sense.Être dittypically refers to something being
Impersonal Structures
| Structure | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
On + Verb
|
General/We
|
On travaille
|
|
Object + se + Verb
|
Reflexive Passive
|
Le pain se vend
|
|
Subject + se faire + Inf
|
Negative Passive
|
Il s'est fait punir
|
Meanings
These structures allow speakers to describe actions without specifying an agent, making the sentence more fluid and less heavy than the traditional passive voice.
General 'On'
Referring to people in general or an unspecified group.
“On dit que c'est vrai.”
“On mange bien ici.”
Reflexive Passive
Describing how an object behaves or is treated.
“Ce livre se lit facilement.”
“La porte se ferme seule.”
Se faire
Used for negative or unwanted passive experiences.
“Il s'est fait voler son sac.”
“Elle s'est fait remarquer.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
On + Verb
|
On mange ici.
|
|
Negative
|
On ne + Verb + pas
|
On ne mange pas ici.
|
|
Reflexive
|
Obj + se + Verb
|
La porte se ferme.
|
|
Negative Reflexive
|
Obj + ne se + Verb + pas
|
La porte ne se ferme pas.
|
|
Se Faire
|
Subj + se faire + Inf
|
Il s'est fait aider.
|
|
Negative Se Faire
|
Subj + ne se fait pas + Inf
|
Il ne s'est pas fait aider.
|
Formality Spectrum
Le travail est effectué. (Workplace)
On a fait le travail. (Workplace)
Le boulot est fait. (Workplace)
Le taf est torché. (Workplace)
Avoiding Passive Voice
People
- On One/We
Objects
- Se Reflexive
Negative
- Se faire Get done
Examples by Level
On mange à midi.
We eat at noon.
On parle français ici.
French is spoken here.
La porte se ferme.
The door closes.
On regarde la télé.
We watch TV.
Ce livre se vend bien.
This book sells well.
On ne fume pas ici.
Smoking is not allowed here.
Il s'est fait mal.
He got hurt.
Le pain se mange chaud.
Bread is eaten hot.
On m'a dit que tu pars.
I was told that you are leaving.
Ces fruits se trouvent au marché.
These fruits are found at the market.
Je me suis fait voler mon vélo.
My bike was stolen.
On devrait finir ce projet.
This project should be finished.
Cela se comprend aisément.
That is easily understood.
On ne nous a pas prévenus.
We were not warned.
Elle s'est fait licencier.
She got fired.
Le vin se boit avec modération.
Wine is drunk in moderation.
On s'attend à une hausse des prix.
A price increase is expected.
Ce phénomène se manifeste rarement.
This phenomenon is rarely observed.
Il s'est fait piéger par ses amis.
He was trapped by his friends.
On ne saurait ignorer ce fait.
This fact cannot be ignored.
La décision se prendra demain.
The decision will be made tomorrow.
On se doit d'agir vite.
One must act quickly.
Il s'est fait l'écho de ces rumeurs.
He echoed these rumors.
Ces règles se sont établies avec le temps.
These rules were established over time.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'être' for everything.
Learners think 'on' is only for 'one'.
Learners use 'se faire' for positive things.
Common Mistakes
Le livre est lu par moi.
On lit le livre.
La porte est fermée par le vent.
La porte se ferme avec le vent.
On est mangé.
On mange.
Il est fait mal.
Il s'est fait mal.
Le pain est vendu ici.
Le pain se vend ici.
Il a fait voler son sac.
Il s'est fait voler son sac.
On ne est pas permis.
Ce n'est pas permis.
Le travail est fait par nous.
On a fait le travail.
Elle s'est fait aider par son ami.
Elle s'est fait aider.
Le vin est bu froid.
Le vin se boit froid.
La décision est prise par le comité.
Le comité prend la décision.
Il s'est fait donner un cadeau.
On lui a donné un cadeau.
Le problème est résolu par nous.
On a résolu le problème.
Sentence Patterns
On ___ ici.
Ce produit ___ facilement.
Je ___ voler mon sac.
On ne ___ pas cette règle.
Real World Usage
On adore cette photo !
On se voit quand ?
On cherche une personne motivée.
On peut prendre le train ici ?
On livre en 30 minutes.
On s'attend à de la pluie.
The 'On' Rule
The 'J'ai été' Trap
Formal vs. Informal
Smart Tips
Use 'on' instead of 'nous' for a natural sound.
Use the reflexive passive.
Use 'se faire'.
Passive is okay here.
Pronunciation
Liaison with 'On'
When 'on' is followed by a vowel, make a liaison.
Falling intonation
On mange. ↘
Statement of fact.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
On is for the crowd, Se is for the thing, Se faire is for the sting.
Visual Association
Imagine a crowd (On) doing a task, a door closing itself (Se), and someone getting a parking ticket (Se faire).
Rhyme
Use 'On' for the general view, 'Se' for the object, it's true, 'Se faire' when something bad happens to you.
Story
On decided to open a shop. The door se ferme automatically. But the owner s'est fait voler son argent.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day using 'on' instead of 'I'.
Cultural Notes
French people value directness in speech, which is why 'on' is everywhere.
Quebecois use 'on' even more frequently than in France.
Similar usage to France, but with specific regional vocabulary.
The 'on' pronoun comes from the Latin 'homo' (man).
Conversation Starters
Comment dit-on 'It is done' en français ?
Qu'est-ce qui se vend bien dans ton pays ?
T'es-tu déjà fait voler quelque chose ?
Pourquoi évite-t-on la voix passive ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ mange à quelle heure ?
Ce vin ___ bien.
Find and fix the mistake:
Le livre est lu par les gens.
Il a été volé.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
___ dit que c'est vrai.
Elle ___ fait couper les cheveux.
pain / se / vendre / bien
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ mange à quelle heure ?
Ce vin ___ bien.
Find and fix the mistake:
Le livre est lu par les gens.
Il a été volé.
Match: 1. On, 2. Se, 3. Se faire
___ dit que c'est vrai.
Elle ___ fait couper les cheveux.
pain / se / vendre / bien
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesTranslate: It is sold here.
We were invited to the party.
Il ___ virer hier.
J'ai été dit que c'était gratuit.
Arrange these words:
Match the pairs:
Le vin rouge ___ frais.
The decision was made.
Translate: That isn't done.
Arrange these words:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's not 'bad', just heavy. French prefers active structures.
Yes, but it sounds formal.
Almost always. Don't use it for positive events.
The verb must be plural: 'Les livres se vendent'.
In informal writing, yes. In formal, use 'nous'.
In this context, it's a reflexive passive.
Reflexive passive focuses on the object's properties.
Language is fluid; context is key.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se vende
Spanish uses 'se' more broadly.
Man sagt
German 'man' is strictly singular.
Passive voice
French avoids it.
Passive form
French uses impersonal structures.
Passive voice
French uses pronouns.
Bei construction
French uses 'on' or 'se'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
The French 'Si': Using 'If' and 'Yes' (Contradiction)
Overview The French word si is a cornerstone of the language, but its power comes from its dual identity. For a beginner...
Getting Things Done to You (se faire + infinitif)
Overview The construction **`se faire` + infinitive** is a cornerstone of modern spoken French, serving as a dynamic an...
The Magic 'On': The Easy Alternative to the Passive
Overview The pronoun `on` is one of the most versatile and essential words in modern French. While often introduced as a...
French Nominalization: Turning Verbs into Nouns (-tion, -ment)
Overview Nominalization, or `la nominalisation` in French, is the grammatical process of converting a verb or an adject...
French Expressions of Age: I have 20 years (avoir ... ans)
Overview In French, expressing age differs fundamentally from English. You do not **“be”** your age; instead, you **“hav...
