B1 Sentence Structure 20 min read Medium

French Passive Voice: How to say 'is done' (La voix passive)

The passive voice highlights the action's recipient by combining être with a past participle that matches the subject.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the action, using 'être' + past participle.

  • The object of the active sentence becomes the subject: 'Le chat mange la souris' -> 'La souris est mangée'.
  • The verb 'être' must match the tense of the original active verb.
  • The past participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject.
Object + être + past participle + (par + agent)

Overview

Mastering the French passive voice, la voix passive, is a significant step towards achieving nuanced and formal expression. Unlike the active voice, which highlights the subject performing an action (e.g., Le chien mange la croquette. – The dog eats the kibble.), the passive voice shifts emphasis. It focuses on the recipient of the action or the action itself, making it invaluable for objective reporting, academic writing, and official communications.

Understanding its structure allows you to articulate thoughts with greater precision and formality, moving beyond casual conversational French.

While English often employs the passive voice, French generally prefers active constructions or alternative impersonal forms in everyday speech. However, in formal contexts, the voix passive is indispensable. Your ability to correctly identify and construct passive sentences signals an intermediate (B1) proficiency, enabling you to comprehend and produce more complex sentence structures found in advanced texts and discussions.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the French passive voice transforms an active sentence by reorienting its grammatical focus. For this transformation to occur, the active sentence must contain a transitive verb with a direct object. Intransitive verbs, which do not take a direct object (e.g., aller – to go, dormir – to sleep), cannot form a passive construction because there's no object to become the new subject.
This is a fundamental linguistic constraint: if an action cannot be 'done to something,' it cannot be expressed passively.
The transformation involves three essential elements: the new subject, the auxiliary verb être, and the past participle of the main verb, optionally followed by an agent phrase. The verb être is crucial; it carries the original active verb's tense and mood. This consistency ensures the action's temporal relationship remains unchanged.
For instance, if the active verb was in the passé composé, être will also be conjugated in the passé composé (a été). Critically, the past participle must always agree in gender and number with the new subject because it functions adjectivally with être. This agreement is a mandatory rule and a common point of error for learners.
The original subject of the active sentence, if its presence is necessary for clarity or emphasis, becomes the agent in the passive construction. This agent is introduced by either par or de. The choice between these prepositions is not arbitrary; it depends on the nature of the action or the relationship between the subject and the agent.
This distinction adds a layer of nuance to French passive constructions. Consider the active sentence Le président a signé le traité. (The president signed the treaty.). Here, le traité (the direct object) becomes the new subject, être is conjugated in the passé composé (a été), and signé is the past participle, agreeing with le traité (masculine singular, so no change).
Le président becomes the agent with par, yielding Le traité a été signé par le président. (The treaty was signed by the president.). This example demonstrates the structural and thematic shift.

Word Order Rules

Converting an active sentence to the passive voice fundamentally rearranges its elements, shifting the emphasis from the doer of the action to the receiver. Understanding this systematic rearrangement is key to constructing grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate passive sentences.
In an active sentence, the standard word order is:
Subject (performer of the action) + Verb (the action) + Direct Object (receiver of the action)
  • Example: L'architecte conçoit le bâtiment. (The architect designs the building.)
  • L'architecte (Subject)
  • conçoit (Verb)
  • le bâtiment (Direct Object)
When transformed into the passive voice, the direct object of the active sentence ascends to the subject position. The original subject, if retained, is demoted to an optional agent phrase. The new structure becomes:
New Subject (original Direct Object) + Auxiliary Verb être (conjugated in the original verb's tense) + Past Participle (of the main verb, agreeing with the new subject) + (par/de + Agent) (original Subject, if specified)
  • Example: Le bâtiment est conçu par l'architecte. (The building is designed by the architect.)
  • Le bâtiment (New Subject – originally the Direct Object)
  • est (Auxiliary Verb être, present tense)
  • conçu (Past Participle of concevoir, agreeing with le bâtiment – masculine singular)
  • par l'architecte (Agent Phrase – originally the Subject)
Observe how le bâtiment now occupies the prominent subject slot, receiving the thematic focus. The performer, l'architecte, is either relegated to a prepositional phrase or omitted entirely if their identity is unknown or unimportant. This structural change inherently redirects the informational weight of the sentence, highlighting the outcome or the entity affected rather than the cause.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing the French passive voice is a precise process relying on correct être conjugation and strict past participle agreement. This methodical approach guarantees grammatical accuracy across all tenses.
2
Steps for Passive Voice Formation:
3
Identify the Direct Object of your active sentence. This noun or pronoun will become the new subject of the passive sentence.
4
Active: Le public applaudit les artistes. (The public applauds the artists.)
5
Determine the Tense and Mood of the main verb in the active sentence. The auxiliary verb être in your passive construction must be conjugated in this exact tense and mood to maintain the original temporal context.
6
Active verb: applaudit (present indicative)
7
Conjugate être to match the identified tense/mood, and crucially, make it agree with the new subject (the original direct object).
8
New Subject: Les artistes (masculine plural). être in present: sont.
9
Form the Past Participle of the main verb from the active sentence. This form remains consistent, irrespective of être's tense.
10
Past participle of applaudir: applaudi.
11
Ensure Past Participle Agreement: This is non-negotiable. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject. Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, and -es for feminine plural.
12
New Subject: Les artistes (masculine plural). Past participle: applaudis.
13
Introduce the Agent (Optional): If the original subject (the agent) is retained, introduce it with par or de. Position this phrase at the end of the sentence.
14
Original Subject: Le public. Agent phrase: par le public.
15
Combining these steps, Le public applaudit les artistes. becomes Les artistes sont applaudis par le public. (The artists are applauded by the public.)
16
Here's a table illustrating passive voice formation across common tenses:
17
| Tense | Active Example | Passive Transformation | Translation |
18
| :-------------------- | :----------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ |
19
| Présent | Les ouvriers construisent la route. | La route est construite par les ouvriers. | The road is built by the workers. |
20
| Passé Composé | Quelqu'un a volé ma montre. | Ma montre a été volée. | My watch was stolen. |
21
| Imparfait | Le guide montrait les ruines. | Les ruines étaient montrées par le guide. | The ruins were being shown by the guide. |
22
| Futur Simple | Ils enverront le colis demain. | Le colis sera envoyé demain. | The package will be sent tomorrow. |
23
| Conditionnel Présent | On trouverait une solution. | Une solution serait trouvée. | A solution would be found. |
24
| Plus-que-parfait | Tu avais déjà lu ce livre. | Ce livre avait déjà été lu par toi. | This book had already been read by you. |
25
| Futur Antérieur | Les juges auront prononcé la sentence. | La sentence aura été prononcée par les juges. | The sentence will have been pronounced by the judges. |
26
| Subjonctif Présent | Il faut qu'il répare la fenêtre. | Il faut que la fenêtre soit réparée par lui. | It is necessary that the window be repaired by him. |
27
Choosing par vs. de for the Agent:
28
The distinction between par and de to introduce the agent is a subtle yet crucial aspect of French style and meaning. It reflects the nature of the action and the relationship between the new subject and the agent.
29
par: This is the more common preposition, used when the agent performs a direct, physical, or deliberate action upon the new subject. It denotes active agency and a concrete involvement.
30
La voiture a été conçue par un ingénieur français. (The car was designed by a French engineer.)
31
Le roman est écrit par un auteur inconnu. (The novel is written by an unknown author.)
32
Use par when you can easily imagine the agent doing something to the object.
33
de: This preposition is reserved for situations where the agent expresses a state, an emotion, a feeling, or a description, rather than a direct, concrete action. It implies a less active, more abstract, or inherent influence. Verbs commonly taking de include those related to emotions, perceptions, and static conditions:
34
aimer (to love), connaître (to know), respecter (to respect), estimer (to esteem), surprendre (to surprise), craindre (to fear), haïr (to hate).
35
Verbs indicating surrounding or filling:
36
entourer (to surround), couvrir (to cover), remplir (to fill).
37
Il est aimé de tous. (He is loved by everyone.)
38
La pièce était remplie de fumée. (The room was filled with smoke.)
39
Le guide est suivi de près par les touristes. (The guide is closely followed by the tourists.)
40
If you can rephrase the passive sentence into an active one where the original subject performs a distinct, dynamic action, par is generally correct. If the original subject describes a state or an influence affecting the new subject, de is more idiomatic. The choice often comes down to whether the agent is seen as actively doing the verb or merely being the source/cause of a state.

When To Use It

While French often prefers alternatives, the passive voice serves specific, crucial communicative functions, lending formality, objectivity, and precise emphasis. Its appropriate use is a hallmark of B1-level proficiency.
  • For Formality and Objectivity: The passive voice imparts an impersonal and objective tone, making it ideal for formal writing, official documents, scientific reports, and journalism. It allows you to present facts or events without explicitly identifying the agent, thus emphasizing the action or its result over the doer.
  • La loi a été votée hier à l'Assemblée Nationale. (The law was voted yesterday in the National Assembly.)
  • Des mesures de sécurité renforcées ont été mises en place. (Reinforced security measures have been put in place.)
  • When the Agent is Unknown, Unimportant, or Obvious: If you don't know who performed an action, if their identity is irrelevant to the message, or if it's generally understood, the passive voice is the most natural choice. It allows you to focus on the event.
  • Mon vélo a été volé la nuit dernière. (My bike was stolen last night. – The thief is unknown.)
  • L'électricité est coupée à cause des travaux. (The electricity is cut off because of the works. – The agent is the utility company, which is understood.)
  • To Emphasize the Action or Recipient: By positioning the original direct object as the new subject, the passive voice places thematic importance on the entity undergoing the action. This is effective when the impact or outcome is more significant than the cause.
  • Les victimes ont été transportées à l'hôpital. (The victims were transported to the hospital. – Focus on the victims' condition.)
  • Le projet sera financé par des fonds européens. (The project will be funded by European funds. – Focus on the funding source and the project's future.)
  • In Legal, Administrative, and Technical Contexts: These domains frequently employ the passive voice to maintain neutrality, generalize information, or state regulations without personal bias. Instructions, procedures, and technical specifications often leverage this construction.
  • Le document doit être soumis avant la date limite. (The document must be submitted before the deadline.)
  • Ce produit est fabriqué selon les normes internationales. (This product is manufactured according to international standards.)
While highly useful in these specific contexts, be mindful that excessive use of the passive voice in informal settings can sound overly formal, stiff, or even unnatural to a native French speaker. Developing an intuition for when to employ it, and when to opt for more common alternatives, is a clear sign of advanced proficiency.

Common Mistakes

Navigating the French passive voice presents several challenges, leading to recurrent errors among learners. Recognizing these pitfalls and understanding their linguistic roots is crucial for accurate and idiomatic usage.
  • Incorrect Auxiliary Verb (Using avoir instead of être): This is perhaps the most frequent error, often stemming from direct transfer from English. In French, the auxiliary verb for the passive voice is always être, irrespective of the tense of the original active verb or whether that active verb used avoir or être for its compound tenses. Learners mistakenly substitute avoir when conjugating in compound tenses.
  • Incorrect: La décision a eu prise. (Incorrectly using avoir for the auxiliary of être)
  • Correct: La décision a été prise hier. (The decision was made yesterday.)
  • Why it's wrong: The passive structure is built on être. In compound tenses, it's être conjugated in that tense (e.g., a été for passé composé), followed by the past participle. Avoir has no role in the passive auxiliary chain.
  • Forgetting Past Participle Agreement: This mistake is pervasive. When être is the auxiliary, the past participle must always agree in gender and number with the new subject. This is a strict rule that often gets overlooked, especially for irregular participles or when the new subject is plural or feminine.
  • Incorrect: La lettre est écrit. (La lettre is feminine singular, écrit is masculine singular)
  • Correct: La lettre est écrite. (The letter is written.)
  • Incorrect: Les portes ont été fermé. (Les portes is feminine plural, fermé is masculine singular)
  • Correct: Les portes ont été fermées. (The doors were closed.)
  • Why it's wrong: The past participle functions as an adjective describing the new subject, hence requiring full agreement. It's a common area for error due to the varying forms.
  • Incorrect Choice of Agent Preposition (par vs. de): Learners frequently default to par for all agents, failing to apply the specific rule for de with verbs expressing states, emotions, or abstract influences. This results in grammatically correct but unidiomatic sentences.
  • Incorrect: Elle est aimée par tous. (While comprehensible, de is significantly more natural here.)
  • Correct: Elle est aimée de tous. (She is loved by everyone.)
  • Why it's wrong: Aimer describes a state of being loved, not a direct, physical action performed by tous. De conveys this abstract influence.
  • Attempting to Passivize Intransitive Verbs: A foundational error is trying to apply the passive structure to verbs that do not take a direct object. This inevitably leads to ungrammatical constructions, as there is no object to promote to the subject position.
  • Incorrect: Il est venu par Jean. (from Jean est venu.)
  • Correct: (No passive form for venir. The equivalent is Jean est arrivé. or Quelqu'un est venu le chercher.)
  • Why it's wrong: Venir is intransitive. The sentence Jean est venu cannot be made passive because Jean is the subject, and there's no direct object for venir to act upon.
  • Overuse of the Passive Voice: While not a grammatical error per se, excessive use of the passive voice in French can make your speech or writing sound stiff, unnatural, and overly formal, especially in conversational contexts. French favors more active and dynamic phrasing.
  • Rather than: La pizza a été commandée.
  • Prefer (in conversation): On a commandé la pizza. (The pizza was ordered. / Someone ordered the pizza.)
  • Why it's wrong: It's grammatically correct, but on or pronominal verbs are often more idiomatic and common in casual French, reflecting a preference for brevity and directness.
Avoiding these common pitfalls requires diligent practice, a solid understanding of auxiliary verb usage, and careful attention to agreements. Being aware of these typical errors can significantly improve your accuracy and naturalness in French.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

French offers several constructions that fulfill similar functions to the passive voice – primarily de-emphasizing the agent or highlighting the action's recipient – but do so with different grammatical structures and nuances. Mastering these alternatives is crucial for natural, idiomatic French, as native speakers often prefer them in informal contexts.
  1. 1The Impersonal On Construction:
  • This is the most common and versatile alternative, especially in spoken and informal written French. On is an indefinite pronoun, meaning one, we, they, or people in general, effectively replacing an unspecified or generalized agent. Grammatically, on always takes a third-person singular verb.
  • Passive: Des rumeurs ont été propagées. (Rumors were spread.)
  • On construction: On a propagé des rumeurs. (Someone/people spread rumors.)
  • Passive: Les lois sont respectées. (The laws are respected.)
  • On construction: On respecte les lois. (People respect the laws.)
  • Distinction: The on construction is grammatically active, preserving the subject-verb dynamic. It offers a less formal, more conversational tone than the explicit passive voice, making it a go-to choice for avoiding agent specification.
  1. 1The Se Passive (Pronominal Passive or Middle Voice):
  • This construction uses a reflexive pronoun (se or its variants me, te, nous, vous) with a transitive verb. It's used primarily when the action is performed on an inanimate object, and the agent is either obvious, irrelevant, or generic. It suggests that the action is inherent to the object or occurs naturally, often translatable as 'gets done' or 'is done'.
  • Formation: Subject + se + verb conjugated in the active voice (but with passive meaning).
  • Passive: Ce produit est vendu partout. (This product is sold everywhere.)
  • Se Passive: Ce produit se vend partout. (This product sells everywhere. / This product is sold everywhere.)
  • Passive: Les erreurs sont facilement corrigées. (Errors are easily corrected.)
  • Se Passive: Les erreurs se corrigent facilement. (Errors correct themselves easily. / Errors are easily corrected.)
  • Distinction: The se passive highlights the capacity of the subject to undergo the action. It's grammatically active but semantically passive, often preferred for natural processes, general truths, or capabilities. It cannot be used with an explicit par or de agent phrase.
  1. 1The Se faire + Infinitive Construction (Causative Passive):
  • This structure implies that the subject causes an action to be done to themselves or has something done to them, often with a subtle nuance of misfortune or agency. It's typically used when the subject is affected by an action initiated by someone else. The se faire part is conjugated, and the main verb remains in the infinitive.
  • Formation: Subject + se faire + Infinitive.
  • Example: Il s'est fait voler son portefeuille. (He had his wallet stolen. / His wallet was stolen (from him).)
  • Example: Elle s'est fait faire une nouvelle coupe de cheveux. (She had a new haircut.)
  • Distinction: This emphasizes the subject's experience of the action, often with a personal impact. It's more dynamic than the se passive and can sometimes imply the subject allowed or facilitated the action, even if undesirable. It's very common in spoken French.
Choosing between these alternatives and the true passive voice depends on context, desired formality, and the specific emphasis you wish to convey. The active voice and its alternatives generally offer more dynamic and concise expression in French, making them frequent choices over the more formal passive voice.

Real Conversations

In contrast to its prevalence in English, the explicit voix passive is notably less common in everyday French conversations. While grammatically correct, its frequent use can sound overly formal or stiff. Native speakers typically opt for more dynamic and concise alternatives, especially in informal settings like texting, social media, or casual chats. However, the passive voice remains essential in specific formal domains.

- Formal Contexts (News, Reports, Official Announcements): You'll routinely encounter the passive voice in news articles, official reports, academic papers, and public announcements. Here, its impersonal and objective tone is valued.

- Le nouveau musée a été inauguré ce matin. (News report: The new museum was inaugurated this morning.)

- Les résultats de l'étude seront publiés prochainement. (Academic context: The study results will be published soon.)

- Informal Alternatives in Practice: In casual conversation, the impersonal on or the se passive are preferred when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or generally understood.

- Instead of: Mon sac a été oublié. (Too formal for casual loss)

- You'll hear: On a oublié mon sac. (My bag was forgotten. / Someone forgot my bag.)

- Instead of: Les réservations sont faites en ligne. (Slightly formal)

- You'll hear: Les réservations se font en ligne. (Reservations are made online.)

- Expressing Misfortune with se faire: For unfortunate events, se faire + infinitive is a natural fit.

- Instead of: Mon téléphone a été volé. (More neutral)

- You'll hear: Je me suis fait voler mon téléphone. (I had my phone stolen.)

Consider this brief exchange reflecting these preferences:

- Alice: Tu sais si la réunion a été reportée ? (Do you know if the meeting was postponed? – Passive, common for official events)

- Bruno: Oui, on l'a reportée à la semaine prochaine. (Yes, it was postponed to next week. – On preferred for common action)

- Alice: Ah d'accord. J'espère que le dossier se prépare bien alors. (Okay. I hope the file is being prepared well then. – Se passive, for a process)

This shows how French speakers naturally gravitate towards active or quasi-passive structures in dialogue, reserving the full voix passive for when its formal weight is genuinely needed. Observing these patterns in real French media will significantly enhance your intuitive understanding.

Quick FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about the French passive voice, helping to solidify your understanding.
  • Can any verb be put into the passive voice?
  • No. Only transitive verbs that take a direct object can form a passive construction. Intransitive verbs (e.g., venir, dormir, aller) cannot, as there is no direct object to become the new subject. This is a fundamental rule.
  • Is the auxiliary verb always être?
  • Yes, always. Regardless of the original active verb's auxiliary (avoir or être for compound tenses), the passive voice always uses être as its auxiliary. This is a crucial distinction from English to be and to get auxiliaries.
  • Do I always use par for the agent?
  • No. While par is common for direct, physical actions, de is used for agents expressing states, emotions, feelings, or abstract influences (e.g., être aimé de). Pay attention to the type of verb and the nature of the action.
  • Is the French passive voice used as frequently as the English passive voice?
  • Generally, no. French speakers often prefer the active voice, the impersonal on construction, or the se passive (pronominal passive) in everyday speech. The full voix passive is primarily reserved for more formal, objective, or specific contexts like news, academic writing, or official reports.
  • What is the trickiest part of forming the passive voice?
  • For most learners, the trickiest aspects are consistently applying past participle agreement (it must agree in gender and number with the new subject) and correctly choosing between par and de for the agent. Incorrect auxiliary verb choice (avoir instead of être) is also a very common error.
  • Why should I learn the passive voice if alternatives exist?
  • Learning the passive voice is essential for reading and understanding formal French texts (newspapers, academic articles, official documents). It also allows you to express ideas with greater formality, objectivity, and precision when needed, expanding your communicative range beyond basic conversational French. It's a key component of intermediate (B1) and advanced proficiency.

Passive Voice Conjugation (Verb: Manger)

Tense Active Passive
Present
Il mange
Il est mangé
Passé Composé
Il a mangé
Il a été mangé
Imparfait
Il mangeait
Il était mangé
Futur Simple
Il mangera
Il sera mangé
Conditionnel
Il mangerait
Il serait mangé
Plus-que-parfait
Il avait mangé
Il avait été mangé

Meanings

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence undergoes the action rather than performing it.

1

Focus on action

Highlighting the result or the object affected.

“Le rapport est terminé.”

“La décision a été prise.”

2

Agent unknown

When the doer is irrelevant or unknown.

“La banque a été cambriolée.”

“Le livre a été écrit en 1920.”

3

Formal politeness

Softening a request or statement.

“Votre demande sera traitée rapidement.”

“Le paiement est accepté.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Passive Voice: How to say 'is done' (La voix passive)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
S + être + PP
Le pain est mangé.
Negative
S + ne + être + pas + PP
Le pain n'est pas mangé.
Interrogative
Être + S + PP ?
Le pain est-il mangé ?
Agent
S + être + PP + par + agent
Le pain est mangé par lui.
Plural
S (pl) + sont + PP (s)
Les pains sont mangés.
Feminine
S (f) + est + PP (e)
La pomme est mangée.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Le rapport a été finalisé.

Le rapport a été finalisé. (Work environment)

Neutral
Le rapport est fini.

Le rapport est fini. (Work environment)

Informal
J'ai fini le rapport.

J'ai fini le rapport. (Work environment)

Slang
Le rapport est plié.

Le rapport est plié. (Work environment)

Passive Voice Components

Passive Voice

Auxiliary

  • être to be

Main Verb

  • participe passé past participle

Agent

  • par by
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Examples by Level

1

Le livre est lu.

The book is read.

2

La porte est fermée.

The door is closed.

3

Le travail est fini.

The work is finished.

4

La pomme est mangée.

The apple is eaten.

1

Le film a été vu par tout le monde.

The movie was seen by everyone.

2

Les fenêtres sont ouvertes par le vent.

The windows are opened by the wind.

3

La lettre sera envoyée demain.

The letter will be sent tomorrow.

4

Le dîner est préparé par mon père.

Dinner is prepared by my father.

1

Cette décision a été prise lors de la réunion.

This decision was taken during the meeting.

2

Les règles doivent être respectées.

The rules must be respected.

3

Le projet a été abandonné par l'équipe.

The project was abandoned by the team.

4

Ces maisons ont été construites en 1950.

These houses were built in 1950.

1

Il est craint que la situation ne s'aggrave.

It is feared that the situation will worsen.

2

Les mesures ont été jugées insuffisantes.

The measures were judged insufficient.

3

La loi sera votée par le parlement.

The law will be voted on by parliament.

4

Le suspect a été arrêté par la police.

The suspect was arrested by the police.

1

La question a été longuement débattue par les experts.

The question was debated at length by the experts.

2

Ces traditions sont transmises de génération en génération.

These traditions are passed down from generation to generation.

3

Le contrat a été signé sous réserve de modifications.

The contract was signed subject to modifications.

4

L'œuvre a été admirée par les critiques d'art.

The work was admired by art critics.

1

La thèse a été soutenue avec brio devant le jury.

The thesis was defended brilliantly before the jury.

2

Les fondements de la société ont été ébranlés par la crise.

The foundations of society were shaken by the crisis.

3

L'accord a été ratifié par les deux parties.

The agreement was ratified by both parties.

4

La décision a été prise à l'unanimité par le conseil.

The decision was taken unanimously by the council.

Easily Confused

French Passive Voice: How to say 'is done' (La voix passive) vs Passive vs. 'On'

Both can express an impersonal action.

French Passive Voice: How to say 'is done' (La voix passive) vs Passive vs. Reflexive

Reflexive verbs often look passive.

French Passive Voice: How to say 'is done' (La voix passive) vs Passive vs. Active

Learners often use passive when active is clearer.

Common Mistakes

✗

Le livre a lu.

✓

Le livre est lu.

Missing the auxiliary 'être'.
✗

Le livre est lire.

✓

Le livre est lu.

Using infinitive instead of past participle.
✗

La pomme est mangé.

✓

La pomme est mangée.

Missing feminine agreement.
✗

Le livre est lu par il.

✓

Le livre est lu par lui.

Using subject pronoun instead of object pronoun.
✗

Le travail a été fait par moi.

✓

Le travail a été fait par moi.

Grammatically correct but awkward; 'J'ai fait le travail' is better.
✗

Il est mangé le pain.

✓

Le pain est mangé.

Incorrect word order.
✗

Les fleurs sont arrosé.

✓

Les fleurs sont arrosées.

Missing plural agreement.
✗

La décision a été prise par on.

✓

La décision a été prise par quelqu'un.

'On' cannot be used after 'par'.
✗

Il est été fait.

✓

Il a été fait.

Double auxiliary error.
✗

La porte est fermée par la clé.

✓

La porte est fermée avec la clé.

Using 'par' for instruments instead of 'avec'.
✗

Le problème est été résolu.

✓

Le problème a été résolu.

Incorrect auxiliary tense.
✗

La maison est construite en 1990.

✓

La maison a été construite en 1990.

Using present instead of past for historical events.
✗

Il est craint qu'il vient.

✓

Il est craint qu'il vienne.

Passive construction requires subjunctive.
✗

La loi est votée par le parlement.

✓

La loi sera votée par le parlement.

Contextual tense error.

Sentence Patterns

Le ___ est ___ par le ___.

La décision a été ___ par le ___.

Les ___ sont ___ par les ___.

Le travail sera ___ par ___.

Real World Usage

News Report very common

Le suspect a été arrêté.

Job Interview common

Le projet a été mené par moi.

Academic Writing very common

La théorie a été démontrée.

Texting occasional

Le message est envoyé.

Food Delivery App common

Votre commande est préparée.

Travel common

Votre vol est annulé.

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🎯

Avoid Clutter

In casual French, use 'on' or the active voice instead of passive to sound more natural. 'On a volé mon vélo' (Someone stole my bike) sounds better than 'Mon vélo a été volé'.
⚠️

Agreement Alert

Always check the gender of your new subject. 'La lettre' is feminine, so it's 'envoyée'. 'Les messages' is masculine plural, so it's 'envoyés'.
💡

Par vs De

Use 'de' for feelings. If you love someone, they are 'aimé de vous'. If you hit someone with a car, they are 'renversé par une voiture'.

Smart Tips

Use the passive voice to maintain objectivity.

J'ai fini le rapport. → Le rapport a été finalisé.

Omit the agent to sound more precise.

Quelqu'un a volé mon vélo. → Mon vélo a été volé.

Use the passive voice for step-by-step instructions.

On coupe les légumes, on les cuit. → Les légumes sont coupés, puis ils sont cuits.

Use the passive voice to vary your sentence structure.

Il a fait le travail. Il a envoyé le rapport. → Le travail a été fait par lui. Le rapport a été envoyé.

Pronunciation

mangé [mɑ̃ʒe] vs mangés [mɑ̃ʒe]

Agreement

The 'e' in 'mangée' is silent, but the 's' in 'mangés' is linked to the next word.

Formal statement

Le rapport | est terminé ↘

Falling intonation for finality.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'BE-PAST': BE (être) + PAST (participle).

Visual Association

Imagine a statue. It doesn't do anything; things are done to it. The statue is 'being' acted upon.

Rhyme

Pour le passif, c'est très simple, prends 'être' et le participe, et n'oublie pas l'accord, pour que ce soit fort !

Story

The chef (active) cooks the meal. The meal (passive) is cooked by the chef. The meal sits on the table, waiting to be eaten.

Word Web

êtreparparticipepassifaccordagent

Challenge

Find a news article and rewrite 3 sentences from active to passive.

Cultural Notes

The passive voice is highly valued in administrative and academic French to maintain neutrality.

Similar to France, but slightly more frequent use of 'se faire' as a passive alternative.

Standard French rules apply, often used in formal government communication.

Derived from Latin 'passivus', meaning 'capable of suffering or receiving'.

Conversation Starters

“

Comment le projet a-t-il été géré ?

“

La décision a-t-elle été prise ?

“

Le livre a-t-il été lu par beaucoup de gens ?

“

La réunion est-elle annulée ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a historical event using the passive voice.
Write a formal email about a project status.
Describe how a meal is prepared in a restaurant.
Discuss a recent news headline.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct passive form.

Le livre ___ (lire) par les étudiants.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est lu
Agreement with 'le livre' (masculine singular).
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La pomme est mangé par lui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pomme est mangée par lui.
Need feminine agreement and object pronoun.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le travail est fini.
Correct auxiliary and agreement.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Marie mange la pomme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pomme est mangée par Marie.
Correct structure.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

The passive voice uses 'avoir' as the auxiliary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
The passive voice always uses 'être'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: La réunion est annulée ? B: Oui, elle ___ par le patron.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est annulée
Agreement with 'elle'.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

le / par / est / mangé / gâteau / le / enfant

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le gâteau est mangé par l'enfant.
Correct word order.
Sort the sentences. Grammar Sorting

Which is passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La souris est mangée par le chat.
Passive structure.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct passive form.

Le livre ___ (lire) par les étudiants.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est lu
Agreement with 'le livre' (masculine singular).
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

La pomme est mangé par lui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pomme est mangée par lui.
Need feminine agreement and object pronoun.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le travail est fini.
Correct auxiliary and agreement.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Marie mange la pomme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pomme est mangée par Marie.
Correct structure.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

The passive voice uses 'avoir' as the auxiliary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
The passive voice always uses 'être'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: La réunion est annulée ? B: Oui, elle ___ par le patron.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: est annulée
Agreement with 'elle'.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

le / par / est / mangé / gâteau / le / enfant

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le gâteau est mangé par l'enfant.
Correct word order.
Sort the sentences. Grammar Sorting

Which is passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La souris est mangée par le chat.
Passive structure.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Conjugate 'être' in the present tense. Fill in the Blank

Les résultats ___ publiés demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sont
Fix the tense of 'être'. Error Correction

Le gâteau est mangé hier soir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le gâteau a été mangé hier soir.
Translate to French using the passive voice. Translation

The book was written by a famous author.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre a été écrit par un auteur célèbre.
Order the words for a future passive sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le projet sera fini bientôt
Choose the correct past participle. Multiple Choice

La décision a été ___ ce matin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: prise
Match the active sentence to its passive version. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Marie lit le livre | Le livre est lu par Marie
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition. Fill in the Blank

Le jardin est entouré ___ fleurs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Identify the error in the auxiliary verb. Error Correction

La maison a été vendue par l'agent.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aucune erreur
Translate to French. Translation

The songs are sung by the choir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les chansons sont chantées par la chorale.
Which one is passive voice? Multiple Choice

Select the passive sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le chat est poursuivi par le chien.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be used in the passive voice.

French speakers prefer active constructions or the impersonal 'on' for better flow.

Use 'par' for most agents. 'De' is used with verbs of emotion or state (e.g., 'aimé de tous').

Yes, it is generally considered formal and is best for professional or academic writing.

Yes, 'Le travail sera fait par moi' is perfectly correct.

You can omit the 'par' phrase entirely: 'Le travail est fait'.

Rarely. It sounds too stiff for casual texting.

Yes, it must agree in gender and number with the new subject.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Voz pasiva (ser + participio)

Spanish 'se' passive is more common than French 'être' passive.

German moderate

Passiv (werden + Partizip II)

German uses 'werden' (to become) while French uses 'être' (to be).

Japanese low

Ukemigata (verb + reru/rareru)

Japanese passive often implies the subject is inconvenienced.

Arabic low

Majhul (internal vowel change)

Arabic uses morphological change, not a separate auxiliary.

Chinese low

Bei-construction (被)

Chinese uses a particle, not an auxiliary verb.

English high

Passive voice (to be + past participle)

English uses the passive voice much more frequently than French.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Causative: Having Things Done (Faire + Infinitive)
Next
Avoiding the Passive Voice (on, se, se faire)

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