B2 Sentence Structure 14 min read Medium

French Agent: Saying 'by' (par)

Use 'par' to introduce the person or thing performing an action in passive French sentences.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'par' to introduce the person or thing performing an action in a passive sentence.

  • Use 'par' for physical agents: 'Le livre a été écrit par Victor Hugo.'
  • Use 'de' for mental or emotional states: 'Il est aimé de tous.'
  • Only use 'par' with passive verbs (être + past participle).
Object + être + past participle + par + Agent

Overview

In French, identifying the agent – the person or thing performing an action in a passive sentence – is crucial. This is primarily achieved using the preposition par (by). When you encounter a passive construction, par signals who or what is responsible for the verb's action, even though the grammatical subject of the sentence is the receiver of that action.

Understanding par in this context allows you to accurately attribute actions and comprehend who is doing what, especially when the emphasis shifts from the actor to the action or its recipient.

At the A1 level, you will most frequently see par used after a past participle, following a form of the verb être (to be). This combination forms the passive voice, and par then introduces the agent. For instance, in Le livre est lu par l'étudiant (The book is read by the student), l'étudiant is the agent, performing the action of reading, introduced by par.

This structure clarifies the relationship between the action, the object affected, and the entity causing the change.

How This Grammar Works

French grammar, like many languages, employs both active and passive voices to convey information. The active voice places the emphasis on the doer of the action: Le chat mange la souris (The cat eats the mouse). Here, le chat is the subject and the actor.
The passive voice, conversely, shifts the focus to the recipient of the action: La souris est mangée par le chat (The mouse is eaten by the cat). In this passive sentence, la souris is the grammatical subject, but le chat remains the logical actor, introduced by par.
This grammatical mechanism allows speakers to highlight different elements within a sentence. Using the passive voice with par is particularly useful when the action or its result is more significant than the actor, or when the actor is unknown, obvious, or less important. For example, in news reports, par often identifies institutions or groups responsible for actions (Une loi a été votée par le Parlement – A law was voted by the Parliament) rather than individual actors.
It provides a formal and objective tone, emphasizing the event itself. Mastering this distinction enables you to express nuanced meanings and comprehend French sentences where the grammatical subject is not the logical doer.

Word Order Rules

The word order for the passive voice with par is highly structured and consistent in French. It follows a clear pattern that ensures the meaning remains unambiguous. The basic arrangement is: Subject (receiver of action) + Auxiliary Verb être + Past Participle + par + Agent (doer of action).
This sequence is fundamental for constructing grammatically correct passive sentences with an explicitly stated agent.
Consider the example: La lettre est écrite par ma mère (The letter is written by my mother).
  • La lettre is the grammatical subject, receiving the action.
  • est is the conjugated form of être (present tense, 3rd person singular).
  • écrite is the past participle of écrire (to write), agreeing in gender and number with la lettre.
  • par introduces the agent.
  • ma mère is the agent, performing the action of writing.
The preposition par must always directly precede the noun or pronoun that functions as the agent. This fixed position helps prevent confusion, ensuring that the listener or reader immediately understands who or what performed the action. Even in interrogative sentences, par maintains its direct connection to the agent, as seen in Par qui est-elle écrite ? (By whom is it written?).
The stability of this word order is a key characteristic of the passive construction in French.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the passive voice with par involves a precise multi-step process, combining the auxiliary verb être with a past participle and the agent. This pattern requires careful attention to verb conjugation and, crucially, past participle agreement. The core structure is Subject + être + Past Participle + par + Agent.
2
Let's break down the formation with an active sentence: Le vent ferme la porte (The wind closes the door).
3
Identify the Direct Object of the Active Sentence: In Le vent ferme la porte, la porte is the direct object. This becomes the subject of your passive sentence.
4
Example: La porte
5
Conjugate être to Match the New Subject and Desired Tense: The auxiliary verb être must agree with the new subject in number and person, and reflect the tense of the original active verb. For A1, we focus on the present tense of être:
6
| Subject | être (Present Tense) |
7
|:--------|:-----------------------|
8
| je | suis |
9
| tu | es |
10
| il/elle/on | est |
11
| nous | sommes |
12
| vous | êtes |
13
| ils/elles | sont |
14
Example: Since La porte is feminine singular (elle), we use est.
15
Use the Past Participle of the Main Verb: Take the main verb from the active sentence (fermer) and form its past participle (fermé).
16
Example: fermé
17
Agree the Past Participle with the New Subject: This is a critical step. The past participle in the passive voice acts like an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the grammatical subject of the passive sentence (which was the direct object of the active sentence). For fermer and La porte (feminine singular):
18
fermé (masculine singular)
19
fermée (feminine singular)
20
fermés (masculine plural)
21
fermées (feminine plural)
22
Example: La porte is feminine singular, so the past participle becomes fermée.
23
Introduce the Agent with par: Add par followed by the original subject of the active sentence (le vent). If the agent is a pronoun, use stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles).
24
Example: par le vent
25
Combining these steps, Le vent ferme la porte becomes La porte est fermée par le vent (The door is closed by the wind). This systematic approach ensures accurate formation of the passive voice with par.

When To Use It

Using par to introduce the agent in the passive voice serves specific communicative functions in French. It is not merely an alternative way to phrase a sentence but a deliberate choice to shift focus or convey particular information. You should employ this construction primarily when the action itself, or the object receiving the action, is more important than the actor, but you still want to identify that actor.
  • Attributing Actions: This is the most common use. par specifies who or what performed the action. For example, Le rapport a été écrit par l'équipe (The report was written by the team) highlights the report, while still crediting the team. Similarly, La décision est prise par le directeur (The decision is made by the director) focuses on the decision, with le directeur as the authority.
  • Mentioning Physical or Natural Forces: par is consistently used when the agent is an inanimate force or element. La maison a été détruite par le feu (The house was destroyed by the fire) or Les arbres sont agités par le vent (The trees are shaken by the wind) are typical instances. In these cases, par links the action to the physical cause.
  • Formal and Impersonal Contexts: The passive voice with par often appears in formal writing, official documents, news articles, or scientific texts, where objectivity and the outcome of events are paramount. For example, Le projet sera approuvé par le comité (The project will be approved by the committee) conveys a sense of official process. This usage helps maintain a degree of distance and formality in communication.
Conversely, you would not use par when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or if the active voice better serves to emphasize the actor. The choice between active and passive with par hinges on what element of the sentence you wish to foreground for your audience.

Common Mistakes

Beginner French learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when using par in the passive voice. Awareness of these common errors and their underlying reasons can significantly improve accuracy.
  1. 1Incorrect Past Participle Agreement: This is perhaps the most frequent mistake. Remember, the past participle in the passive voice always agrees in gender and number with the grammatical subject of the sentence. It does not agree with the agent introduced by par.
  • Wrong: La lettre est écrit par Paul. (The letter is masculine singular, écrit is masculine singular)
  • Right: La lettre est écrite par Paul. (The letter is feminine singular, so écrite must be feminine singular. Note the silent e.)
  • Wrong: Les livres sont lu par Marie. (The books are masculine plural, lu is masculine singular)
  • Right: Les livres sont lus par Marie. (The books are masculine plural, so lus must be masculine plural. Note the silent s.)
  1. 1Using Subject Pronouns Instead of Stressed Pronouns for the Agent: After prepositions like par, French requires stressed pronouns (also known as disjunctive or tonic pronouns) rather than subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles).
  • Wrong: C'est fait par je.
  • Right: C'est fait par moi. (It's done by me.)
  • Wrong: La photo a été prise par elle.
  • Right: La photo a été prise par elle. (The photo was taken by her.) – Note: elle is both a subject and stressed pronoun, so it's correct here. But for other persons, the distinction is vital. Similarly, lui for masculine singular.
  1. 1Confusing par with pour: While both translate to 'for' or 'by' in some English contexts, their French meanings are distinct. par indicates the agent or means, while pour indicates purpose, destination, or duration.
  • Wrong: Le cadeau est acheté pour Marie. (If you mean Marie bought it)
  • Right: Le cadeau est acheté par Marie. (The gift is bought by Marie.)
  • Right (different meaning): Le cadeau est acheté pour Marie. (The gift is bought for Marie – as a present for her.)
  1. 1Misusing par with de: For certain verbs, particularly those expressing feelings, emotions, or states of being, de is used instead of par to introduce the agent (e.g., aimé de, connu de). While par is for actions, de is often for more descriptive or emotional connections. As an A1 learner, focus on par for actions, but be aware that de exists for specific contexts.
Avoiding these common pitfalls requires consistent practice and attention to the specific roles of pronouns, prepositions, and participle agreement rules.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

While par is the primary preposition for introducing the agent in the passive voice, French has other prepositions that can cause confusion due to overlapping English translations or similar contexts. Distinguishing par from de and avec is essential for precise communication.
  • par vs. de (Agent in Passive Voice):
The main distinction lies in the nature of the verb. par is used with verbs expressing actions, especially physical or tangible ones. de is generally used with verbs that express feelings, mental states, or descriptions.
| Preposition | Usage | Example (French) | Example (English) |
|:------------|:-----------------------------------------|:--------------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------|
| par | For actions, physical forces, tangible acts | Le roman est écrit par l'auteur. | The novel is written by the author. |
| | | La ville a été inondée par la pluie. | The city was flooded by the rain. |
| de | For feelings, mental states, descriptions| Il est aimé de tous. | He is loved by everyone. |
| | (Often with verbs like aimer, connaître, respecter, entourer) | Elle est connue de beaucoup. | She is known by many. |
At A1, par covers the vast majority of cases you will encounter. Recognize that de signals a more abstract or emotional connection to the agent.
  • par vs. avec (Means/Instrument):
par indicates the agent (who or what does the action), while avec (with) indicates the instrument or means by which an action is performed.
  • par (Agent): Le dessin a été fait par l'artiste. (The drawing was made by the artist.) – The artist is the doer.
  • avec (Instrument): Le dessin a été fait avec un crayon. (The drawing was made with a pencil.) – The pencil is the tool used.
Confusing these would imply that a pencil is the actor, rather than a tool, leading to illogical statements like Le dessin a été fait par un crayon. Always use avec for tools or instruments.
Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the correct preposition and convey precise meanings in your French sentences.

Real Conversations

Understanding how par functions in everyday exchanges is key to natural French communication. These examples illustrate par in various common scenarios, from social media to daily tasks.

Conversation 1: Social Media Interaction

L

Léa

Regarde cette photo de Paris ! Elle est incroyable. (Look at this photo of Paris! It's incredible.)
T

Tom

Oui, elle a été prise par mon ami, Marc. (Yes, it was taken by my friend, Marc.)
L

Léa

Ah, d'accord ! Il est doué. (Oh, okay! He's talented.)

Explanation*: prise par mon ami, Marc directly attributes the action of prendre (to take) to Marc, the agent, while the focus remains on the beautiful photo.

Conversation 2: Discussing a Gift

C

Camille

Ce collier est magnifique ! C'est un cadeau ? (This necklace is magnificent! Is it a gift?)
H

Hugo

Oui, il m'a été offert par ma sœur pour mon anniversaire. (Yes, it was offered to me by my sister for my birthday.)
C

Camille

Quelle bonne idée ! (What a great idea!)

Explanation*: offert par ma sœur clarifies that ma sœur is the giver of the gift, using par to identify the agent of offrir (to offer).

Conversation 3: Ordering Food

M

Manager

Est-ce que la pizza pour la table 5 est prête ? (Is the pizza for table 5 ready?)
C

Chef

Oui, elle vient d'être préparée par moi. (Yes, it has just been prepared by me.)
M

Manager

Excellent ! (Excellent!)

Explanation*: préparée par moi uses the stressed pronoun moi as the agent, emphasizing that the chef personally completed the action. The emphasis remains on the pizza's readiness.

These dialogues demonstrate that the passive voice with par is a natural and common way to convey information, allowing speakers to credit the actor while maintaining focus on the action's outcome.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common questions can clarify specific points about using par in the passive voice for A1 learners.
  • Does par change before a vowel or h mute?
No. Unlike articles (le/la become l'), the preposition par remains unchanged regardless of the following word's initial letter. For instance, you say par Eric or par Anne, not p'Eric or p'Anne. This consistency simplifies its use for beginners.
  • Can par introduce any agent?
Yes, par can introduce a person, an animal, an inanimate object, a natural force, or even an abstract concept, as long as it is the logical doer of the action in a passive sentence. For example, Le livre a été critiqué par les étudiants (The book was criticized by the students), La balle a été attrapée par le chien (The ball was caught by the dog), La table a été fabriquée par une machine (The table was manufactured by a machine).
  • Is the passive voice only for the past?
No. The passive voice can be formed in any tense, simply by conjugating the auxiliary verb être into the desired tense. While many examples are in the past (a été fait), it's common in the present (est fait), future (sera fait), or other tenses.
For A1, focusing on the present and passé composé is most relevant. For example: Le mur est peint par l'artiste (The wall is painted by the artist - present) or Le mur sera peint par l'artiste (The wall will be painted by the artist - future).
  • What if I don't know or don't want to specify the agent?
If the agent is unknown, unimportant, or you wish to keep it general, you simply omit the par phrase. The passive sentence will still be grammatically correct. For example, La porte est fermée (The door is closed) implies the action happened, but the actor is not identified.
Alternatively, you can use the impersonal on in the active voice: On a fermé la porte (Someone closed the door).
  • Why is past participle agreement so important?
Agreement is vital because the past participle in the passive voice functions like an adjective. Just as adjectives agree with the noun they describe, the past participle agrees with the grammatical subject (the receiver of the action). Incorrect agreement can lead to grammatical errors, making your French sound unnatural to native speakers.
This rule reinforces the grammatical focus on the action's recipient.
  • Are there contexts where par can mean 'through' or 'via'?
Yes, outside the passive voice, par has other meanings, including 'through', 'via', 'by means of', or 'per'. For example, passer par la forêt (to go through the forest) or envoyer par la poste (to send by mail). It's important not to confuse these meanings with its specific function as an agent marker in the passive voice.
The context of être + past participle will always indicate its role as an agent marker.

Passive Voice Formation

Tense Auxiliary (être) Participle Agent
Present
est
écrit
par Marie
Passé Composé
a été
écrit
par Marie
Imparfait
était
écrit
par Marie
Futur Simple
sera
écrit
par Marie

Meanings

The preposition 'par' is used to mark the agent of a passive verb, indicating who or what is performing the action.

1

Agent of passive

The performer of the action in a passive construction.

“Le gâteau a été mangé par les enfants.”

“La ville a été détruite par le séisme.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Agent: Saying 'by' (par)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
S + être + PP + par + Agent
Il est vu par elle.
Negative
S + ne + être + pas + PP + par + Agent
Il n'est pas vu par elle.
Question
être + S + PP + par + Agent?
Est-il vu par elle?
Future
S + sera + PP + par + Agent
Il sera vu par elle.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Le rapport a été rédigé par le directeur.

Le rapport a été rédigé par le directeur. (Workplace)

Neutral
Le rapport a été écrit par le directeur.

Le rapport a été écrit par le directeur. (Workplace)

Informal
C'est le directeur qui a écrit le rapport.

C'est le directeur qui a écrit le rapport. (Workplace)

Slang
Le boss a torché le rapport.

Le boss a torché le rapport. (Workplace)

The Agentive 'Par' Map

Passive Agent

Physical

  • construit built
  • écrit written

Mental (Use 'de')

  • aimé loved
  • connu known
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Examples by Level

1

Le livre est écrit par Paul.

The book is written by Paul.

1

La lettre a été envoyée par ma mère.

The letter was sent by my mother.

1

Le projet sera terminé par l'équipe demain.

The project will be finished by the team tomorrow.

1

La décision a été prise par le comité de direction.

The decision was taken by the management committee.

1

Cette théorie a été largement critiquée par les experts du domaine.

This theory was widely criticized by experts in the field.

1

L'œuvre fut admirée par tous ses contemporains.

The work was admired by all his contemporaries.

Easily Confused

French Agent: Saying 'by' (par) vs Par vs De

Learners use 'par' for everything, but 'de' is required for mental states.

French Agent: Saying 'by' (par) vs Passive vs Active

Learners overuse the passive voice in French where active is better.

French Agent: Saying 'by' (par) vs Par vs Pour

Learners confuse 'by' (par) with 'for' (pour).

Common Mistakes

✗

Le livre est écrit de Paul.

✓

Le livre est écrit par Paul.

Use 'par' for physical agents.
✗

Il est mangé par la pomme.

✓

La pomme est mangée par lui.

Subject-object confusion.
✗

Le livre est écrit par il.

✓

Le livre est écrit par lui.

Use disjunctive pronouns after prepositions.
✗

Le livre est écrit par le.

✓

Le livre est écrit par le garçon.

Missing noun.
✗

La maison est construite de mon père.

✓

La maison est construite par mon père.

Physical action requires 'par'.
✗

Il est aimé par tout le monde.

✓

Il est aimé de tout le monde.

Emotional verbs use 'de'.
✗

Le gâteau a mangé par moi.

✓

Le gâteau a été mangé par moi.

Missing auxiliary 'être'.
✗

Elle est connue par beaucoup de gens.

✓

Elle est connue de beaucoup de gens.

State of being uses 'de'.
✗

Le film a été vu par moi.

✓

Le film a été vu par moi (or 'J'ai vu le film').

Passive is awkward here.
✗

La décision a été prise par le comité.

✓

La décision a été prise par le comité.

Correct, but check agreement.
✗

Il est craint par ses ennemis.

✓

Il est craint de ses ennemis.

Fear is a mental state.
✗

La loi est votée par le parlement.

✓

La loi a été votée par le parlement.

Tense consistency.
✗

Le tableau est peint par lui.

✓

Le tableau a été peint par lui.

Tense consistency.
✗

Il est entouré par des amis.

✓

Il est entouré d'amis.

Surrounded by uses 'de'.

Sentence Patterns

Le/La ___ a été ___ par ___.

___ a-t-il été ___ par ___?

La décision sera ___ par ___.

Il est ___ de ___.

Real World Usage

News report very common

La loi a été votée par le parlement.

Academic paper very common

L'expérience a été menée par les chercheurs.

Business email common

Le dossier a été envoyé par mon collègue.

Social media occasional

La photo a été prise par moi.

Travel guide common

Le monument a été construit par les Romains.

Food delivery app rare

La commande a été préparée par le chef.

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💡

Check the verb

Always check if the verb is physical or mental before choosing 'par' or 'de'.
⚠️

Don't overuse

The passive voice can sound stiff; use it only when necessary.
🎯

Agreement

Remember that the past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number.
💬

Formal register

The passive voice is a great way to sound more professional in French.

Smart Tips

Use the passive voice to maintain objectivity.

J'ai pris la décision. → La décision a été prise par la direction.

Use 'par' to credit the creator.

Victor Hugo a écrit ce livre. → Ce livre a été écrit par Victor Hugo.

Switch to 'de' for emotional verbs.

Il est aimé par tout le monde. → Il est aimé de tout le monde.

If the agent is obvious, omit it.

Le gâteau a été mangé par quelqu'un. → Le gâteau a été mangé.

Pronunciation

par | elle

Liaison

When 'par' is followed by a word starting with a vowel, no liaison occurs.

Declarative

Le livre est écrit par Paul ↘

Neutral statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Par is for the physical 'part' of the action.

Visual Association

Imagine a painter (the agent) holding a brush, painting a wall. The wall is being painted 'par' the painter.

Rhyme

If the action is physical and clear, use 'par' to make it appear.

Story

The letter was written by the king. The king held the pen. The pen moved across the paper. The letter was written 'par' the king.

Word Web

paragentpassifêtreparticipeaction

Challenge

Find 3 passive sentences in a French newspaper and identify the agent.

Cultural Notes

The passive voice is highly valued in French administration and journalism to sound objective.

Similar to France, but slightly more flexible in spoken register.

Very formal usage in legal contexts.

Derived from Latin 'per', meaning 'through'.

Conversation Starters

“

Par qui ce livre a-t-il été écrit ?

“

La décision a-t-elle été prise par le patron ?

“

Par qui la chanson a-t-elle été composée ?

“

Le projet a-t-il été validé par l'équipe ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a famous building in your city using the passive voice.
Write a short report about a recent event using the passive voice.
Explain how a product is made using the passive voice.
Discuss a historical event using the passive voice.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'par' or 'de'.

Il est aimé ___ ses parents.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Aimer is a mental state.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre est écrit par Paul.
Physical action uses par.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La maison est construite de mon père.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La maison est construite par mon père.
Physical action uses par.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Paul a écrit le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre a été écrit par Paul.
Passé composé passive.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

We use 'par' for mental states.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
We use 'de' for mental states.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qui a fait ce gâteau? B: Il a été fait ___ moi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: par
Physical action.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

le film / par / vu / a été / moi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film a été vu par moi.
Correct word order.
Match the verb with the preposition. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de / par
Mental vs physical.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'par' or 'de'.

Il est aimé ___ ses parents.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Aimer is a mental state.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre est écrit par Paul.
Physical action uses par.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La maison est construite de mon père.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La maison est construite par mon père.
Physical action uses par.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Paul a écrit le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre a été écrit par Paul.
Passé composé passive.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

We use 'par' for mental states.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
We use 'de' for mental states.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qui a fait ce gâteau? B: Il a été fait ___ moi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: par
Physical action.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

le film / par / vu / a été / moi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film a été vu par moi.
Correct word order.
Match the verb with the preposition. Match Pairs

Aimer / Construire

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de / par
Mental vs physical.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate to French: 'The photo is taken by Paul.' Translation

The photo is taken by Paul.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La photo est prise par Paul
Which sentence correctly uses the agent? Multiple Choice

Select the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le café est fait par lui.
Match the English to the French agent. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["par moi","par eux","par nous","par toi"]
Complete the sentence with the correct past participle agreement. Fill in the Blank

Les chansons sont ___ (écrire) par Stromae.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: écrites
Fix the pronoun usage. Error Correction

Le colis est livré par je.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le colis est livré par moi.
Reorder: 'The window is broken by the cat.' Sentence Reorder

Reorder the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la fenêtre est cassée par le chat
Which one describes a natural force acting on something? Multiple Choice

Pick the right sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'arbre est tombé par le vent.
Translate: 'The email is read by the boss.' Translation

The email is read by the boss.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: L'email est lu par le patron
Who did it? Use 'par' + 'her'. Fill in the Blank

C'est fait ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: par elle
Match the noun with the correct article and agent. Match Pairs

Match:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["par le vent","par le robot","par les gens","par l'application"]

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, you must use 'de' for mental or emotional verbs.

It is common in formal writing but less so in speech.

No, 'par' is invariable.

Use the disjunctive pronoun 'moi'.

Yes, it is the standard way to introduce the agent.

No, use 'avec' for instruments.

When the active voice is clearer and more direct.

Some verbs can take either depending on the nuance, but 'de' is standard for states.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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Spanish high

por

Spanish also uses 'por' for cause, whereas French uses 'à cause de'.

German moderate

von

German has a more complex case system.

Japanese low

ni

Japanese passive is often used for adversity.

Arabic moderate

min qibal

Arabic passive is often avoided in favor of active voice.

Chinese moderate

bei

Chinese 'bei' is often used for negative events.

English high

by

English uses 'by' for everything, while French distinguishes 'par' and 'de'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Matching Past Participles in Passive Voice (Accord du participe passé)
Next
French Passive with 'de' (aimé de, connu de)

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