B2 Sentence Structure 14 min read Medium

The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive)

Use se voir + infinitive to naturally describe actions happening to you without using the formal passive voice.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'se voir' + infinitive to describe an action happening to you that you perceive or experience passively.

  • Use 'se voir' to indicate you are the recipient of an action: 'Je me suis vu refuser l'entrée.'
  • The past participle 'vu' agrees with the subject if the subject is the direct object of 'voir'.
  • The infinitive follows immediately: 'Il s'est vu offrir un cadeau' (He was offered a gift).
Subject + se voir (conjugated) + infinitive verb

Overview

The structure se voir + infinitive is a sophisticated and common feature of modern French, particularly for learners at the B2 level and above. It functions as a type of passive voice, often called the "pronominal passive" or "perceptive passive." Instead of stating that an action was done to a subject using the classic être + past participle construction, this pattern frames the subject as a direct, personal witness to the action happening to them. It conveys the meaning of "to be given," "to be awarded," "to be refused," or "to be assigned" something.

Consider the difference. J'ai été invité translates literally to "I was invited." It's a neutral, factual statement. In contrast, Je me vois inviter translates more closely to "I see myself being invited." This shift in perspective places the focus squarely on the subject's personal experience of the event.

It's less about a disembodied action and more about the consequence and perception of that action from the subject's point of view. This construction is prevalent in professional contexts, news reporting, and administrative language, lending a formal yet personal tone that is highly valued in contemporary French.

Mastering this structure allows you to move beyond textbook passive forms and adopt a more nuanced and native-sounding style. It demonstrates a deeper understanding of how French speakers can manipulate sentence structure to shift emphasis and convey subtle shades of meaning. While it may seem complex, its logic is consistent and its usage follows predictable patterns centered on verbs of transaction and communication.

How This Grammar Works

The linguistic mechanism behind se voir + infinitive is a fascinating blend of reflexive, perceptive, and passive ideas. At its core, the verb voir (to see) is used in a figurative sense. The subject isn't literally seeing themselves with their eyes; they are experiencing or witnessing an event of which they are the recipient.
The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) acts as the direct object of the verb voir. The infinitive that follows explains what action the subject "sees" happening to them.
Let's break down the sentence Le directeur se voit refuser l'accès (The director is denied access).
  • Le directeur: This is the subject of the sentence. He is the one experiencing the event.
  • se: This reflexive pronoun is the direct object of voit. Who does the director see? He sees "himself" (se).
  • voit: This is the conjugated verb voir. It establishes the perceptive framework.
  • refuser l'accès: This infinitive phrase is the action being perceived. What does the director see happening to himself? He sees the act of "being denied access."
This structure is inherently agentless in its basic form. It focuses on the outcome and the person affected, not on who performed the action. In Elle se voit offrir une promotion, the emphasis is on her receiving the offer, not on who offered it.
This makes it an elegant way to omit the agent when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally being left unsaid. It feels more direct and active than the traditional passive voice, which can sometimes sound cumbersome in comparison: Une promotion lui a été offerte. The se voir version centers the story on elle, making her the active perceiver of her good fortune.

Word Order Rules

The syntax for se voir + infinitive is rigid and must be followed precisely. Any deviation will either be ungrammatical or completely change the meaning of the sentence. The core pattern depends on whether the sentence is affirmative, negative, or in a compound tense.
Affirmative, Simple Tense: The structure is fixed.
  • Formula: Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + voir (conjugated) + Infinitive (+ complement)
  • Je me vois attribuer un nouveau rôle. (I am being assigned a new role.)
  • Les étudiants se voient accorder un délai supplémentaire. (The students are granted an extension.)
Negative, Simple Tense: The ne...pas pair surrounds the reflexive pronoun and the conjugated verb voir.
  • Formula: Subject + ne + Reflexive Pronoun + voir (conjugated) + pas + Infinitive (+ complement)
  • Tu ne te vois pas accorder cette permission. (You are not being granted this permission.)
  • Nous ne nous voyons pas retirer nos responsabilités. (Our responsibilities are not being taken away from us.)
Compound Tense (Passé Composé): This structure uses être as the auxiliary verb. The word order is crucial.
  • Formula: Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + être (conjugated) + vu + Infinitive (+ complement)
  • Elle s'est vu offrir le poste. (She was offered the job.)
  • Ils se sont vu refuser leur demande de visa. (They were refused their visa application.)
With Object Pronouns: If the infinitive has its own direct object that you want to pronominalize (e.g., replacing le poste with le), that pronoun precedes the infinitive, not the main verb voir. This is an advanced construction but follows the standard rule for infinitive clauses.
  • Le poste ? Elle s'est vu l'offrir. (The job? She was offered it.)
  • Ces documents ? Je me suis vu les confier hier. (These documents? I was entrusted with them yesterday.)

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing a sentence with se voir + infinitive is a methodical process. Following these steps will ensure grammatical accuracy, especially when dealing with compound tenses.
2
Step 1: Identify the Subject and Action
3
Start with the person or entity to whom the action is happening. This will be your grammatical subject. The action itself will become your infinitive.
4
Subject: le chercheur (the researcher)
5
Action: décerner un prix (to award a prize)
6
Step 2: Conjugate se voir
7
Choose the appropriate tense and conjugate voir with its reflexive pronoun.
8
Present: Le chercheur se voit...
9
Passé Composé: Le chercheur s'est vu...
10
Step 3: Add the Infinitive
11
Place the action verb in its infinitive form directly after the conjugated se voir phrase.
12
Le chercheur se voit décerner un prix.
13
Le chercheur s'est vu décerner un prix.
14
| Person | Present Tense | Passé Composé | Example (Present) |
15
|---|---|---|---|
16
| Je | je me vois | je me suis vu | Je me vois confier une mission. |
17
| Tu | tu te vois | tu t'es vu | Tu te vois refuser l'accès. |
18
| Il/Elle/On | il se voit | il s'est vu | Elle se voit attribuer les lauriers. |
19
| Nous | nous nous voyons | nous nous sommes vu | Nous nous voyons imposer de nouvelles règles. |
20
| Vous | vous vous voyez | vous vous êtes vu | Vous vous voyez retirer votre autorisation. |
21
| Ils/Elles | ils se voient | ils se sont vu | Elles se voient offrir les meilleures places. |
22
A Critical Rule: Past Participle Agreement
23
In the passé composé, the past participle vu is invariable in this specific pronominal passive construction. It never agrees with the subject, even if the subject is feminine or plural. This is a major source of errors for learners.
24
Correct: Elle s'est vu offrir des fleurs.
25
Incorrect: *Elle s'est vue offrir des fleurs.
26
Correct: Elles se sont vu refuser l'entrée.
27
Incorrect: *Elles se sont vues refuser l'entrée.
28
The grammatical reason for this is that the reflexive pronoun (se) is the direct object of the verb voir, but it is followed by an infinitive. In French grammar, when a direct object precedes a past participle but is followed by an infinitive, the participle only agrees if the direct object is the one performing the action of the infinitive. Here, elle is not the one doing the offering. She is the recipient. The true object of her "seeing" is the entire event offrir des fleurs. Because the direct object (se) does not perform the action of the infinitive, the participle vu remains invariable.

When To Use It

While grammatically sound, se voir + infinitive is not a universal replacement for all passive sentences. Its use is largely dictated by context and the specific type of verb involved. It thrives in situations where a formal transaction, decision, or communication is being conveyed.
1. Formal or Administrative Contexts:
This is the structure's natural habitat. It is extremely common in news reports, official company memos, legal documents, and administrative correspondence. It adds a layer of formal gravity to the statement.
  • L'entreprise s'est vu infliger une amende record. (The company was hit with a record fine.)
  • Le demandeur se verra notifier la décision par courrier. (The applicant will be notified of the decision by mail.)
2. Verbs of Transaction or Attribution:
The pattern almost exclusively applies to verbs where something is given to or taken from the subject. This includes concrete items, abstract concepts like roles, or intangible things like permission.
  • Positive: offrir (to offer), donner (to give), attribuer (to attribute), accorder (to grant), décerner (to award), confier (to entrust).
  • Negative: refuser (to refuse), retirer (to take away/revoke), reprocher (to reproach/criticize for), imposer (to impose).
  • Example: Le ministre s'est vu reprocher son manque de transparence. (The minister was criticized for his lack of transparency.)
3. To Emphasize the Subject's Experience:
Use this structure when you want to draw attention to the person affected by the action. It makes the sentence more about their personal journey or situation, rather than just a dry fact. It answers the question, "What happened to them?"
  • Après des années de travail, je me vois enfin promu. (After years of work, I am finally being promoted.)
4. As a Stylistic Alternative to être:
In writing, it provides an elegant variation to avoid repetitive use of the standard passive voice. It can make prose sound more dynamic and engaging. However, in very casual conversation, the impersonal on (On m'a donné le livre) is often a more frequent and simpler choice.

Common Mistakes

Given its grammatical complexity, learners are prone to several predictable errors. Being aware of these traps is the first step to avoiding them.
  1. 1Omitting the Reflexive Pronoun: The most frequent mistake. Without the pronoun, voir becomes a simple verb of perception directed at someone else.
  • Error: *Je vois offrir un poste. (Means "I see [someone] offering a job.")
  • Correction: Je me vois offrir un poste. (Means "I am being offered a job.")
  1. 1Incorrect Past Participle Agreement: As detailed earlier, learners instinctively try to make vu agree with a feminine or plural subject in the passé composé.
  • Error: *Les lauréates se sont vues décerner un prix.
  • Correction: Les lauréates se sont vu décerner un prix. (The past participle vu is invariable here.)
  1. 1Conjugating the Second Verb: The action verb must always remain in the infinitive. Only voir (or its auxiliary être) is conjugated.
  • Error: *Il se voit attribue une nouvelle tâche.
  • Correction: Il se voit attribuer une nouvelle tâche.
  1. 1Using the Wrong Auxiliary Verb: The passé composé of all pronominal verbs, including se voir, is formed with être, never avoir.
  • Error: *Je m'ai vu refuser l'entrée.
  • Correction: Je me suis vu refuser l'entrée.
  1. 1Confusing with the Literal Meaning: Learners sometimes misinterpret the structure as literal sight. Context is key to distinguishing the passive meaning from the simple reflexive act of seeing oneself.
  • Literal: Dans le miroir, je me vois. (In the mirror, I see myself.)
  • Pronominal Passive: Dans ce nouveau rôle, je me vois confier plus de responsabilités. (In this new role, I am being entrusted with more responsibilities.)

Contrast With Similar Patterns

At the B2 level, it is essential to distinguish se voir + infinitive from other passive and causative structures. Each carries a distinct nuance.
| Structure | Example | Nuance & Usage |
|---|---|---|
| se voir + inf. | Il s'est vu offrir le poste. | Perceptive Passive. The subject experiences a formal, often administrative, action. Common in professional/media contexts. It is a neutral to formal construction. |
| se faire + inf. | Il s'est fait voler son téléphone. | Causative Passive. The subject undergoes an action, often with a nuance of force, helplessness, or a negative outcome. More common in everyday speech. Se faire licencier (to get fired) is more common than se voir licencier. |
| Passive (être + pp) | Le poste lui a été offert. | Neutral/Objective Passive. The most classic and neutral form. It can sound slightly heavier or more formal. It is the only structure that easily allows for an agent: ...par le directeur. |
| on (Impersonal) | On lui a offert le poste. | Active Voice, Indefinite Subject. The default choice in spoken French to avoid the passive. It is versatile, simple, and focuses on the action itself. |
| Passive Reflexive | Ce genre de poste ne se refuse pas. | General Truth/Impersonal. Used for general statements about how things are done. The subject is typically inanimate or abstract. It means "One does not refuse this kind of job." |
Choosing between se voir offrir and se faire offrir is a question of register and connotation. Se voir feels more like a formal bestowal, whereas se faire can sometimes imply the subject arranged to be offered something (il s'est fait offrir un verre). The difference is subtle but significant for advanced speakers.

Real Conversations

Here is how se voir + infinitive appears in realistic contexts, from professional emails to news headlines.

Dialogue 1: Office Environment

C

Camille

Alors, la réunion avec la direction s'est bien passée ?
L

Lucas

Oui, très bien. Je me vois confier la gestion de tout le projet scandinave. C'est une énorme responsabilité.
C

Camille

Félicitations ! C'est mérité. Par contre, Léo s'est vu retirer l'accès au budget marketing. Apparemment, il y a eu des soucis.

Dialogue 2: Administrative Procedure

M

Manon

Des nouvelles de ta demande de naturalisation ?
A

Alex

Enfin ! Après deux ans d'attente, je me suis vu notifier par la préfecture que mon dossier était accepté. Je vais bientôt recevoir la convocation pour la cérémonie.
M

Manon

Quelle bonne nouvelle ! Moi, je me suis vu refuser ma demande de bourse d'études à cause d'un papier manquant.
E

Example 3

News Report (as heard on the radio)

Hier soir, l'écrivain célèbre s'est vu décerner le Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française pour son dernier ouvrage. En revanche, le club de football de la capitale se voit imposer un match à huis clos après les incidents du week-end dernier.

(Last night, the famous writer was awarded the Grand Prix for novels by the French Academy for his latest work. In contrast, the capital's football club is being forced to play a match behind closed doors following last weekend's incidents.)

Quick FAQ

Q: Is se voir + infinitive more formal than se faire + infinitive?

Yes, generally. se voir is associated with more official, administrative, or prestigious events. se faire is more common in everyday speech and often relates to services (se faire couper les cheveux) or negative, forceful events (se faire agresser).

Q: Why is the past participle vu invariable in the passé composé again?

Because its direct object (se, te, etc.) is followed by an infinitive, and the subject is not the one performing the action of that infinitive. The grammatical rule in this specific case calls for invariability.

Q: Can I use this construction with any verb?

No. It is limited to a specific semantic class of verbs, primarily those involving transfer or communication: offering, giving, refusing, assigning, telling, reproaching, etc. You would not say *Je me vois être regardé (I am being looked at); for that, On me regarde or Je suis regardé is used.

Q: Can I always replace the être passive with this?

No. It is a stylistic choice that adds a nuance of personal perception or experience. The standard être passive is more neutral and objective. Also, only être passive easily accommodates an agent with par. For example, Je me suis vu offrir un poste doesn't easily allow you to state who offered it.

Q: Is this structure common in everyday spoken French?

It is more characteristic of considered speech and writing. In fast, casual conversation, French speakers overwhelmingly prefer using on as an alternative to the passive voice (e.g., On m'a donné une promotion is more likely than Je me suis vu donner une promotion between close friends).

Conjugation of 'se voir' (Present Tense)

Subject Reflexive Verb Infinitive
Je
me
vois
verbe
Tu
te
vois
verbe
Il/Elle
se
voit
verbe
Nous
nous
voyons
verbe
Vous
vous
voyez
verbe
Ils/Elles
se
voient
verbe

Meanings

This construction expresses that the subject is the target of an action, often implying a lack of control or a surprising outcome.

1

Passive experience

To be the recipient of an action, often involuntary.

“Il s'est vu retirer son permis.”

“Nous nous sommes vus proposer un poste.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
S + se voir + inf
Il se voit offrir un cadeau.
Negative
S + ne + se voir + pas + inf
Il ne se voit pas offrir de cadeau.
Question
Se voir + S + inf?
T'es-tu vu offrir un cadeau?
Passé Composé
S + se voir (pc) + inf
Il s'est vu offrir un cadeau.
Imparfait
S + se voir (imp) + inf
Il se voyait offrir un cadeau.
Future
S + se voir (fut) + inf
Il se verra offrir un cadeau.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je me suis vu proposer un poste.

Je me suis vu proposer un poste. (Job offer)

Neutral
On m'a proposé un poste.

On m'a proposé un poste. (Job offer)

Informal
J'ai eu une offre de boulot.

J'ai eu une offre de boulot. (Job offer)

Slang
J'ai chopé un job.

J'ai chopé un job. (Job offer)

The Se Voir Passive Flow

Se voir

Action

  • offrir to offer
  • refuser to refuse

Result

  • passif passive
  • subi undergone
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Examples by Level

1

Je me vois aider.

I am being helped.

2

Il se voit donner un livre.

He is being given a book.

3

Nous nous voyons offrir un café.

We are being offered a coffee.

4

Elle se voit aider.

She is being helped.

1

Je me suis vu offrir un cadeau.

I was offered a gift.

2

Ils se sont vus proposer une aide.

They were offered help.

3

Elle s'est vue refuser l'entrée.

She was refused entry.

4

Nous nous sommes vus donner une chance.

We were given a chance.

1

Il s'est vu retirer son permis de conduire.

He had his driver's license revoked.

2

Elle s'est vue confier une mission importante.

She was entrusted with an important mission.

3

Nous nous sommes vus accorder une prolongation.

We were granted an extension.

4

Ils se sont vus imposer de nouvelles règles.

They were forced to follow new rules.

1

Le candidat s'est vu poser des questions difficiles.

The candidate was asked difficult questions.

2

Elle s'est vue décerner le prix Nobel.

She was awarded the Nobel Prize.

3

Ils se sont vus contraints de fermer l'entreprise.

They were forced to close the company.

4

Je me suis vu refuser l'accès au bâtiment.

I was denied access to the building.

1

Le projet s'est vu attribuer un budget conséquent.

The project was allocated a significant budget.

2

Elle s'est vue gratifiée d'une mention spéciale.

She was honored with a special mention.

3

Ils se sont vus dépossédés de leurs biens.

They were dispossessed of their property.

4

Il s'est vu infliger une amende sévère.

He was slapped with a heavy fine.

1

L'institution s'est vue investie d'une mission de service public.

The institution was vested with a public service mission.

2

Il s'est vu déchargé de ses fonctions exécutives.

He was relieved of his executive duties.

3

La proposition s'est vue opposer une fin de non-recevoir.

The proposal was met with a flat refusal.

4

Elle s'est vue conférée des pouvoirs exceptionnels.

She was granted exceptional powers.

Easily Confused

The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive) vs Être + Participe Passé

Learners mix up standard passive with 'se voir'.

The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive) vs Se faire + Infinitive

Both are passive-like.

The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive) vs Reflexive verbs

Learners think 'se voir' means 'to see oneself'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Je me suis vu mangé.

✓

Je me suis vu offrir à manger.

The infinitive must be the action received, not the action performed.
✗

Elle s'est vu offrir.

✓

Elle s'est vue offrir.

Missing agreement on 'vu'.
✗

Il s'est vu de refuser.

✓

Il s'est vu refuser.

No preposition needed before the infinitive.
✗

Je me suis vu être refusé.

✓

Je me suis vu refuser.

Redundant passive voice.

Sentence Patterns

Je me suis vu ___ un(e) ___.

Il s'est vu ___ son/sa ___.

Nous nous sommes vus ___ une ___.

Elle s'est vue ___ un ___.

Real World Usage

Job Interview common

Je me suis vu poser des questions techniques.

Legal Report very common

Le suspect s'est vu retirer son permis.

Academic Award common

Elle s'est vue décerner une médaille.

Social Media occasional

Je me suis vu offrir un voyage surprise !

Business Email common

Nous nous sommes vus accorder un délai.

Travel occasional

Je me suis vu refuser l'embarquement.

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💡

Agreement is Key

Always check if your subject is feminine or plural. 'Vu' must agree!
⚠️

Don't Overuse

This is a formal structure. Don't use it for simple actions like 'I was seen eating'.
🎯

Use for Professionalism

Use this in cover letters to describe your experience.
💬

Journalistic Style

Read French newspapers to see how this is used to report facts.

Smart Tips

Use 'se voir' to sound more professional.

On m'a donné ce projet. → Je me suis vu confier ce projet.

Use 'se voir' to show you were the victim of a decision.

Ils ont refusé mon visa. → Je me suis vu refuser mon visa.

Use 'se voir' for prestige.

Elle a gagné un prix. → Elle s'est vue décerner un prix.

Use 'se voir' for objective reporting.

Il a perdu son permis. → Il s'est vu retirer son permis.

Pronunciation

sɛ vy

Liaison

Ensure liaison between 's'est' and 'vu' if applicable, though usually 'vu' starts with a consonant.

Declarative

Il s'est vu ↘ refuser.

Neutral statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

See yourself receiving the action: 'Se voir' is the mirror, the infinitive is the gift.

Visual Association

Imagine standing in front of a mirror. You are holding out your hands, and someone is placing a box (the action) into your hands in the reflection.

Rhyme

Se voir plus l'infinitive, pour une action passive et expressive.

Story

Pierre was at the bank. He wanted a loan. He didn't get it. He told his friend: 'Je me suis vu refuser le prêt.' He felt the rejection as a weight he had to carry.

Word Web

offrirrefuseraccorderimposerconfierdécerner

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about things you were 'given' or 'denied' today using 'se voir'.

Cultural Notes

Used frequently in performance reviews to sound objective.

Used to report on legal or administrative outcomes.

Used to describe honors or degrees received.

Derived from the Old French 'se veoir', meaning to see oneself.

Conversation Starters

“

T'es-tu déjà vu proposer un poste inattendu ?

“

Qu'est-ce qu'on t'a déjà vu refuser ?

“

As-tu déjà été récompensé pour un projet ?

“

Te vois-tu confier des tâches difficiles au travail ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you were offered something you didn't expect.
Write about a rule you were forced to follow.
Describe a professional achievement using this structure.
Write about a time you were denied access to something.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'se voir'.

Elle ___ ___ offrir un cadeau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vue
Agreement with feminine subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il s'est vu refuser.
Infinitive follows 'se voir'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils s'est vus offrir un poste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont vus offrir.
Subject-verb agreement.
Transform to 'se voir' passive. Sentence Transformation

On lui a offert un prix. -> Il ___ ___ ___ un prix.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vu offrir
Correct conjugation.
Match the verb to the context. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Logical collocations.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Elle / se voir / décerner / prix

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est vue décerner un prix.
Correct structure.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

The infinitive must agree with the subject.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
The past participle 'vu' agrees, not the infinitive.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qu'est-il arrivé ? B: Il ___ ___ refuser son visa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vu
Correct past tense.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'se voir'.

Elle ___ ___ offrir un cadeau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vue
Agreement with feminine subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il s'est vu refuser.
Infinitive follows 'se voir'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils s'est vus offrir un poste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont vus offrir.
Subject-verb agreement.
Transform to 'se voir' passive. Sentence Transformation

On lui a offert un prix. -> Il ___ ___ ___ un prix.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vu offrir
Correct conjugation.
Match the verb to the context. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Refuser, 2. Offrir, 3. Confier

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Logical collocations.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Elle / se voir / décerner / prix

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est vue décerner un prix.
Correct structure.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

The infinitive must agree with the subject.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
The past participle 'vu' agrees, not the infinitive.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Qu'est-il arrivé ? B: Il ___ ___ refuser son visa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est vu
Correct past tense.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'voir'. Fill in the Blank

Tu te ___ offrir une glace.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vois
Order the words: 'They are being refused entry'. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se voient refuser l'entrée
Is this correct? 'Je me vois propose un café.' Error Correction

Correct the verb form if needed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je me vois proposer un café.
Translate to French: 'I am being invited.' Translation

I am being invited.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je me vois inviter.
Which sentence means 'She is entrusted with a secret'? Multiple Choice

Choose the best translation:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle se voit confier un secret.
Match the French to the English. Match Pairs

Match the meanings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je me vois offrir-I am offered, Tu te vois refuser-You are refused, Ils se voient inviter-They are invited
Choose the correct pronoun for 'You (plural) are awarded a prize'. Fill in the Blank

Vous ___ voyez attribuer un prix.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vous
Order the words: 'We are being offered a discount'. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous nous voyons offrir une réduction
Translate: 'He is being refused a refund.' Translation

He is being refused a refund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il se voit refuser un remboursement.
Which one uses the correct negative form? Multiple Choice

Pick the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je ne me vois pas refuser.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It is better suited for formal or professional settings.

Yes, it agrees with the subject.

No, it adds a sense of personal experience.

Then 'vu' becomes 'vus' or 'vues'.

Only verbs that make sense in a passive, receptive context.

Yes, very common in journalism and literature.

It requires mastery of agreement and nuanced passive structures.

Yes, 'Il ne s'est pas vu offrir de cadeau'.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Verse + participio

Spanish uses the participle, French uses the infinitive.

German low

Passiv mit 'werden'

German lacks this specific 'perception-passive' construction.

Japanese low

Passive form (-reru)

Japanese passive is purely morphological.

Arabic low

Passive voice (Form VII/VIII)

Arabic passive is highly structured and not based on perception verbs.

Chinese low

Bei (被) construction

Chinese 'bei' is a particle, not a verb.

English moderate

To be + past participle

English lacks a direct 'see oneself' passive equivalent.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Getting Things Done to You (se faire + infinitif)
Next
French Passive Reflexive: Saying 'It is done' (Verbes pronominaux à sens passif)

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