B2 Sentence Structure 14 min read Medium

French Passive Reflexive: Saying 'It is done' (Verbes pronominaux à sens passif)

Use se + verb to say something 'is done' naturally, focusing on the object, not the person.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the reflexive 'se' with a third-person verb to describe actions where the agent is unknown or irrelevant.

  • Use 'se' + 3rd person singular for singular objects: 'Le français se parle ici.'
  • Use 'se' + 3rd person plural for plural objects: 'Les billets se vendent vite.'
  • The verb must be transitive and the subject must be inanimate.
Se + Verb (3rd person) + Subject

Overview

The French passive reflexive, or verbes pronominaux à sens passif, is a sophisticated and common structure used to describe an action performed on an object without naming the agent. Where in English you might say "This is eaten with bread," French often prefers a more elegant, object-focused phrasing: Ça se mange avec du pain (literally, "That eats itself with bread"). This construction is not truly reflexive; the subject isn't acting upon itself.

Instead, the reflexive pronoun se signals a passive meaning.

This structure is central to sounding natural in French, especially at a B2 level. It replaces the more cumbersome standard passive voice (être + past participle + par) when the person or thing performing the action is either unknown, unimportant, or represents people in general. You will encounter it constantly in instructions, on signs, in recipes, and in general statements about how the world works.

For instance, a sign on a door won't say La porte est fermée automatiquement par un mécanisme, but simply La porte se ferme automatiquement.

Mastering this pattern is key to moving beyond direct translation from English. It reflects a core principle of French grammar: a preference for active verb constructions and a focus on the properties inherent to an object. Understanding the passive reflexive allows you to describe processes and general truths with the fluency and conciseness of a native speaker.

It shifts the narrative focus from the doer to the deed itself.

How This Grammar Works

The linguistic principle behind the passive reflexive is the re-purposing of a reflexive structure to serve a passive function. The key is that the grammatical subject of the sentence is the patient (the receiver) of the action, not the agent (the doer). The verb, however, remains in an active voice form, conjugated to agree with this subject.
The reflexive pronoun se acts as a grammatical marker, stripping the verb of its active meaning and indicating that the subject is undergoing the action.
Consider the sentence: Le français s'apprend facilement (French is learned easily). Here, Le français is the subject. It is not doing the learning; it is being learned.
The verb s'apprend is in the active voice (third-person singular of s'apprendre), but its meaning is passive. The agent—the person learning—is completely absent from the sentence. This is the core function: to efface the agent entirely.
You cannot add par quelqu'un to this construction. If the agent is important, you must use the active voice (Les étudiants apprennent le français) or the standard passive (Le français est appris par les étudiants).
This structure primarily works with transitive direct verbs—verbs that take a direct object without a preposition (e.g., vendre quelque chose, voir quelque chose, dire quelque chose). The inanimate object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive reflexive sentence. For example, On vend ce livre partout (active with 'on') becomes Ce livre se vend partout (passive reflexive).
The focus shifts from the unspecified 'on' to the book's widespread availability.

Word Order Rules

The word order for the passive reflexive is consistent and follows the standard placement rules for pronominal verbs. The reflexive pronoun se (or s' before a vowel or silent 'h') always precedes the conjugated verb.
Affirmative Simple Tenses:
Subject + se + Verb
  • Le vin rouge se boit à température ambiante. (Red wine is drunk at room temperature.)
  • Ces détails s'oublient vite. (These details are forgotten quickly.)
Negative Simple Tenses:
The ne...pas construction wraps around the pronoun-verb block.
Subject + ne + se + Verb + pas
  • Ça ne se dit pas en public. (That isn't said in public.)
  • Les spaghettis ne se coupent pas avec un couteau en Italie. (Spaghetti is not cut with a knife in Italy.)
Compound Tenses (e.g., Passé Composé):
The auxiliary verb is always être. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Subject + se + être (conjugated) + Past Participle (agreed)
  • La décision s'est prise hier. (The decision was made yesterday.) Note the agreement: décision is feminine, so prise.
  • Tous les billets se sont vendus en une heure. (All the tickets were sold in one hour.) Note the agreement: billets is masculine plural, so vendus.
With Modal Verbs (pouvoir, devoir, etc.):
The reflexive pronoun stays attached to the infinitive.
Subject + Modal Verb (conjugated) + se + Infinitive
  • Ce problème peut se résoudre facilement. (This problem can be solved easily.)
  • Cela doit se faire avant demain. (That must be done before tomorrow.)
| Tense | Affirmative Structure | Negative Structure |
|----------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Présent | Ça se fait. | Ça ne se fait pas. |
| Passé Composé| La porte s'est ouverte. | La porte ne s'est pas ouverte. |
| Imparfait | Les gâteaux se vendaient bien. | Les gâteaux ne se vendaient pas bien. |
| Futur Simple | La vérité se saura un jour. | La vérité ne se saura jamais. |
| Conditionnel | Cela se comprendrait mieux avec un schéma. | Cela ne se comprendrait pas sans contexte. |

Formation Pattern

1
To construct a sentence using the passive reflexive, follow this precise three-step process. The subject is always in the third person (il, elle, ils, elles) or an impersonal pronoun like ça or cela.
2
1. Identify the Subject (the Patient):
3
Start with the noun or pronoun that is receiving the action. This will be the grammatical subject of your sentence.
4
Example subjects: la règle (the rule), les ordinateurs (the computers), ça (that).
5
2. Add the Third-Person Reflexive Pronoun se:
6
Place the reflexive pronoun se directly before the verb. This pronoun does not change, as the subject is always third-person in this passive construction.
7
If the verb begins with a vowel or a silent 'h', se contracts to s'. This is a mandatory liaison.
8
se + fait -> se fait
9
se + utilise -> s'utilise
10
se + écrit -> s'écrit
11
3. Conjugate the Verb and Ensure Agreement:
12
Conjugate the main verb to agree with the number (singular/plural) of the subject. In compound tenses, the past participle must also agree with the gender and number of the subject.
13
Singular Subject: La réponse se trouve à la page dix. (The answer is found on page ten.)
14
Plural Subject: Les réponses se trouvent à la fin du livre. (The answers are found at the end of the book.)
15
Compound Tense (Singular, Feminine): La loi s'est appliquée immédiatement. (The law was applied immediately.)
16
Compound Tense (Plural, Masculine): Ces mots se sont écrits il y a longtemps. (These words were written a long time ago.)
17
This pattern provides a clear, agentless alternative to the standard passive voice, adding a layer of sophistication and naturalness to your expression.

When To Use It

The passive reflexive is not just an alternative; in many contexts, it is the preferred or required form. Its use is governed by convention and the desire for impersonal, object-focused expression.
  • General Truths and Definitions: To state how things are generally done, used, or understood.
  • Le chocolat se conserve dans un endroit frais et sec. (Chocolate is kept in a cool, dry place.)
  • Un adjectif s'accorde en genre et en nombre avec le nom qu'il qualifie. (An adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.)
  • Instructions, Recipes, and Manuals: It provides a neutral, authoritative tone perfect for giving directions.
  • La pâte se laisse reposer pendant une heure. (The dough is left to rest for one hour.)
  • Le logiciel s'installe en double-cliquant sur l'icône. (The software is installed by double-clicking the icon.)
  • Public Notices and Signage: For concise, impersonal messages.
  • Les chiens ne s'admettent pas dans l'établissement. (Dogs are not permitted in the establishment.)
  • La porte se ferme à 22h. (The door is closed at 10 p.m.)
  • Idiomatic and Common Expressions: This structure is embedded in many fixed phrases you should learn as vocabulary.
  • Ça se voit. (It's obvious / It shows.)
  • Ça ne se fait pas. (That isn't done / It's improper.)
  • Ça se discute. or Ça se défend. (That's debatable / That's a valid point.)
  • Ça se peut. (That's possible / It could be.)
  • To Describe Potential or Possibility: Often used with verbs like trouver, voir, sentir.
  • Des aurores boréales se voient parfois depuis cette région. (Auroras are sometimes seen from this region.)
  • Ce genre d'article se trouve facilement sur Internet. (This kind of article is easily found on the internet.)

Common Mistakes

Learners often struggle with the passive reflexive by misapplying rules from other grammatical structures or by translating directly from their native language.
1. Forgetting the Past Participle Agreement:
In compound tenses, the past participle must agree with the subject. This is the most common error. Since the auxiliary is être, the rule is the same as for verbs of motion like aller.
  • Incorrect: ~~La lettre s'est envoyé hier.~~
  • Correct: La lettre s'est envoyée hier. (lettre is feminine singular)
  • Incorrect: ~~Les clés se sont perdu.~~
  • Correct: Les clés se sont perdues. (clés is feminine plural)
2. Trying to Add an Agent with par:
The passive reflexive is inherently agentless. Attempting to add the agent creates an ungrammatical sentence.
  • Incorrect: ~~Ce plat se prépare par ma mère.~~
  • Correct (Active Voice): Ma mère prépare ce plat. (Use this if the agent is important.)
  • Correct (Passive Reflexive): Ce plat se prépare avec des ingrédients frais. (Use this to describe the dish itself.)
3. Using It with Intransitive Verbs:
This structure only works with verbs that take a direct object. Verbs that require a preposition (à or de) cannot be used in this way.
  • Incorrect: ~~Ça se sourit.~~ (sourire is intransitive)
  • Incorrect: ~~Ça se ressemble à son frère.~~ (ressembler à)
  • Correct (using on): On ressemble souvent à ses frères et sœurs.
4. Confusing It with True Reflexive or Reciprocal Meaning:
The form is identical, but the meaning is dictated by context. A true reflexive verb implies the subject acts on itself (Le chat se lave). A reciprocal verb implies an action between subjects (Ils s'aiment). The passive reflexive applies to a subject (usually inanimate) that is being acted upon.
  • Reflexive: L'enfant se regarde dans le miroir. (The child looks at himself.)
  • Passive Reflexive: Ce film se regarde en famille. (This film is watched as a family.)

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Choosing between the passive reflexive, the true passive, and the pronoun on is a matter of nuance and register. Understanding their differences is crucial for advanced French.
| Construction | Key Characteristic | When to Use | Example |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Passive Reflexive (se ...) | Agentless, object-focused, common in speech and writing. | For general truths, instructions, or when the agent is irrelevant. | Le poisson se mange avec du vin blanc. |
| Standard Passive (être ... par) | Agent can be specified, often more formal or literary. | When the agent is important to the meaning, or to emphasize the action's result. | Le suspect a été arrêté par la police. |
| Impersonal on | Agent is an undefined person/group ("we," "they," "one"). | As a versatile, slightly more informal alternative to the passive reflexive. | En France, on mange le poisson avec du vin blanc. |
| se faire + Infinitif | Subject experiences/undergoes an action, often negative. | When something happens to someone, often implying they let it happen. | Il s'est fait voler son téléphone. |
Passive Reflexive vs. on:
These are often interchangeable, but a subtle distinction exists. On still carries the sense of an unspecified human agent. On vend des timbres ici feels like a person ("we" or "they") is actively selling.
Des timbres se vendent ici is a more neutral description of the location; it's a place where stamps are sold. The passive reflexive is slightly more detached and formal.
Passive Reflexive vs. Standard Passive (être + par):
The standard passive is essential when the agent is the key information, as in La Joconde a été peinte par Léonard de Vinci. Using a passive reflexive here would be impossible. In contrast, for a general statement like Le champagne se boit frais, using the standard passive (Le champagne est bu frais) sounds unnatural and clunky, as if translated from English.
Reserve être + participe passé for when you need to mention the agent or for specific events.

Real Conversations

1. At a Flea Market (une brocante)

- Acheteur: Excusez-moi, ce coffre en bois, il s'ouvre ? (Excuse me, this wooden chest, does it open?)

- Vendeur: Oui, mais la serrure est un peu capricieuse. Ça s'ouvre en poussant légèrement sur le côté. (Yes, but the lock is a bit tricky. It's opened by pushing slightly on the side.)

2. In the Office

- Collègue 1: J'ai un souci avec le nouveau logiciel. Mon nom d'utilisateur ne s'affiche pas correctement. (I have a problem with the new software. My username isn't being displayed correctly.)

- Collègue 2: Ah, c'est bizarre. Normalement, ça se met à jour automatiquement. Attends, je regarde. (Ah, that's weird. Normally, it updates automatically. Wait, I'll take a look.)

3. Discussing a Film

- Ami 1: Tu as vu le dernier film de science-fiction ? Il est incroyable. (Did you see the latest sci-fi movie? It's incredible.)

- Ami 2: Pas encore. C'est le genre de film qui se voit au cinéma, non ? Pour le son et l'image. (Not yet. It's the kind of film that should be seen at the cinema, right? For the sound and picture.)

4. Talking About Language

- Étudiant: Le mot "ubuesque", ça s'emploie souvent à l'oral ? (The word "ubuesque," is it used often in speech?)

- Professeur: Non, pas vraiment. Ça se lit plus que ça ne se dit. C'est assez littéraire. (No, not really. It's read more than it's said. It's quite literary.)

Quick FAQ

Q: Can this structure be used for people?

Almost never in its passive sense. This construction is reserved for inanimate objects, concepts, and ideas. If a person is the subject of a pronominal verb (e.g., il se lève), the meaning is reflexive (he gets himself up), not passive.

Q: How do I choose between the passive reflexive and on?

They are often interchangeable. Use the passive reflexive for a slightly more formal, detached, or descriptive tone (Les règles de grammaire s'apprennent par cœur). Use on for a slightly more conversational, active feel that implies an undefined human agent (On apprend les règles par cœur). When in doubt, on is a very safe and common choice.

Q: Does the past participle always agree in the passé composé?

Yes, always. With the passive reflexive, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. Think of it as a fixed rule for this specific structure: La tarte s'est bien vendue. Les gâteaux se sont bien vendus.

Q: What is the difference between ça se peut and c'est possible?

They are very close in meaning. C'est possible is a standard, neutral statement of possibility. Ça se peut is a slightly more informal, idiomatic expression that conveys a sense of "It could happen" or "It's conceivable." It is very common in Canadian French but is also widely understood and used in France.

Q: Why can't I use a verb like téléphoner with this structure?

The passive reflexive requires a verb that takes a direct object (a verbe transitif direct). Téléphoner is a verbe transitif indirect because it requires the preposition à (téléphoner à quelqu'un). The structure has no way to handle this indirect object, so a sentence like ~~Ça se téléphone au service client~~ is ungrammatical. You would need to use on: On téléphone au service client.

Passive Reflexive Formation

Subject Reflexive Pronoun Verb (3rd Person) Example
Le pain
se
vend
Le pain se vend.
Les pains
se
vendent
Les pains se vendent.
La porte
se
ferme
La porte se ferme.
Les portes
se
ferment
Les portes se ferment.

Meanings

The passive reflexive allows you to describe an action performed on an object without specifying the actor. It is the French equivalent of the English passive voice or the 'one/people' construction.

1

General Passive

Describing how something is generally done or perceived.

“La porte se ferme à clé.”

“Le pain se vend à la boulangerie.”

2

Impersonal/General Truth

Stating a general fact about human behavior or rules.

“Ici, on se parle poliment.”

“En France, on se salue avec deux bises.”

3

Market/Commercial

Describing product availability or sales.

“Ces produits se trouvent partout.”

“Les appartements se louent cher.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Passive Reflexive: Saying 'It is done' (Verbes pronominaux à sens passif)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + se + Verb
Le vin se boit frais.
Negative
Subject + ne + se + Verb + pas
Le vin ne se boit pas chaud.
Question
Se + Verb + Subject?
Le vin se boit-il frais?
Plural
Subject(pl) + se + Verb(pl)
Les vins se boivent frais.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
La porte se ferme.

La porte se ferme. (General)

Neutral
La porte se ferme.

La porte se ferme. (General)

Informal
La porte se ferme.

La porte se ferme. (General)

Slang
Ça se ferme.

Ça se ferme. (General)

Passive Reflexive Logic

Passive Reflexive

Usage

  • General General truth
  • Process How things work
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Examples by Level

1

Le français se parle ici.

French is spoken here.

1

Ce livre se lit vite.

This book is read quickly.

1

Les billets se vendent en ligne.

Tickets are sold online.

1

Ces erreurs se corrigent facilement.

These errors are easily corrected.

1

La décision se prendra demain.

The decision will be taken tomorrow.

1

Ces principes se fondent sur la logique.

These principles are based on logic.

Easily Confused

French Passive Reflexive: Saying 'It is done' (Verbes pronominaux à sens passif) vs Passive Voice

Both describe actions on objects.

Common Mistakes

✗

Il se mange le pain.

✓

Le pain se mange.

Don't use a person as the subject.
✗

Les pommes se mange.

✓

Les pommes se mangent.

Verb must agree with the plural subject.
✗

Le livre est se lit.

✓

Le livre se lit.

Don't combine 'être' and 'se'.
✗

On se vendent les billets.

✓

Les billets se vendent.

Don't use 'on' with the passive reflexive.

Sentence Patterns

___ se ___ facilement.

Real World Usage

Signage constant

Ici, les billets se vendent.

Cooking common

Le plat se prépare au four.

Social Media common

Ce produit se nettoie facilement.

Job Interview occasional

Ce projet se gérait en équipe.

Travel common

L'anglais se parle ici.

Food Delivery common

La pizza se commande en ligne.

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💡

The Magic Word 'Ça'

If you're not sure about the subject, use ça. Phrases like ça se fait or ça se dit are incredibly common.
⚠️

Don't Forget the 'Se'

Without se, the object is doing the action. Le pain vend means the bread is actually selling something!
🎯

Vowel Check

Always check the next word. Se becomes s' before a, e, i, o, u, y and most h words.

Smart Tips

Use 'se' to sound natural.

On lit le livre. → Le livre se lit.

Use the passive reflexive.

On ferme la porte. → La porte se ferme.

Use 'se'.

On respecte les règles. → Les règles se respectent.

Use 'se'.

On trouve ce produit ici. → Ce produit se trouve ici.

Pronunciation

se_t_ouvre

Liaison

Ensure liaison if the verb starts with a vowel.

Falling

Le pain se vend.

Statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'se' as a mirror: the action reflects back onto the object.

Visual Association

Imagine a book reading itself in a library. The book is the subject, and the action 'se lit' happens to it.

Rhyme

When the object takes the lead, add 'se' to the verb indeed.

Story

In a magical shop, the bread sells itself (Le pain se vend). The doors close themselves (Les portes se ferment). Everything happens without a human hand.

Word Web

sevendlitfermeparletrouve

Challenge

Find 3 objects in your room and write a sentence for each using the passive reflexive.

Cultural Notes

Used frequently in formal signage.

Similar usage, but often more casual.

Standard usage.

Derived from Latin reflexive constructions.

Conversation Starters

“

Comment se dit 'hello' en français ?

“

Est-ce que ce produit se trouve facilement ?

Journal Prompts

Describe how your favorite food is prepared using the passive reflexive.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Le pain ___ (vendre) ici.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se vend
Singular subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre se lit.
Correct conjugation.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il se mange le pain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le pain se mange.
Inanimate subject.
Transform to passive reflexive. Sentence Transformation

On vend des billets.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les billets se vendent.
Plural agreement.
Match the verb. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se lit
Contextual match.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

facilement / se / corrigent / erreurs / ces

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ces erreurs se corrigent facilement.
Word order.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Les portes (se fermer) à 20h.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se ferment
Plural agreement.
True or False? True False Rule

Can you use the passive reflexive with people?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only inanimate objects.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Le pain ___ (vendre) ici.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se vend
Singular subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le livre se lit.
Correct conjugation.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il se mange le pain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le pain se mange.
Inanimate subject.
Transform to passive reflexive. Sentence Transformation

On vend des billets.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les billets se vendent.
Plural agreement.
Match the verb. Match Pairs

Match the verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se lit
Contextual match.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

facilement / se / corrigent / erreurs / ces

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ces erreurs se corrigent facilement.
Word order.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Les portes (se fermer) à 20h.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se ferment
Plural agreement.
True or False? True False Rule

Can you use the passive reflexive with people?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only inanimate objects.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Cette chanson ___ partout en ce moment. (s'écouter)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'écoute
Translate to French. Translation

That is not said.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ça ne se dit pas.
Which one is correct for plural objects? Multiple Choice

Les journaux ___ le matin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se vendent
Match the French to English. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ça se voit | It is seen
Order the negative sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ça ne se fait pas
Fix the vowel mistake. Error Correction

Le mot se utilise souvent.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le mot s'utilise souvent.
Choose the best verb. Fill in the Blank

Le français ___ dans le monde entier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se parle
Translate: 'It is prepared quickly.' Translation

It is prepared quickly.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ça se prépare vite.
Pick the right pronoun. Multiple Choice

Comment ___ écrit ton nom ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'
Plural subject exercise. Fill in the Blank

Les secrets ___ toujours.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se savent

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Only transitive verbs.

No, 'on' implies a person.

It's a historical convention.

Yes, 'Le livre s'est lu'.

It's neutral to formal.

Use the plural verb.

No, English uses 'to be'.

Yes, 'ne se... pas'.

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

Se pasivo

None.

German low

Passiv

German doesn't use reflexive for passive.

Japanese low

Passive

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic low

Passive form

Arabic is root-based.

Chinese low

Bei

Chinese has no conjugation.

English low

Passive voice

English doesn't use reflexive for passive.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The Pronominal Passive: Being 'Seen' Doing (se voir + infinitive)
Next
It is said: French Impersonal Passive (La forme passive impersonnelle)

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