What Is the Passive Voice in French?
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performs it. In English, a typical example is: “The book was read by Marie.” In French, the equivalent would be: “Le livre a été lu par Marie.” This structure shifts the focus from the doer (Marie) to the receiver of the action (the book).
How to Form the Passive Voice in French
To construct the passive voice in French, you generally follow this formula:
Subject + être (to be) conjugated + past participle + (par + agent)
Let’s break this down step by step:
- Subject: The person or thing receiving the action.
- Être: The verb “to be” is used as an auxiliary and must agree with the subject in tense and number.
- Past Participle: The main verb in its past participle form, which must agree in gender and number with the subject.
- Par + Agent: Optionally, you can indicate who performed the action using “par” (by).
Examples of Passive Voice in French
- Le gâteau a été mangé par les enfants. (The cake was eaten by the children.)
- Les portes sont fermées à 22 heures. (The doors are closed at 10 p.m.)
- La lettre sera envoyée demain. (The letter will be sent tomorrow.)
When Should You Use the Passive Voice?
Just like in English, the passive voice in French is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. It is commonly found in formal writing, news reports, academic texts, and situations where the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or implied. For example:
- Quand l’auteur est inconnu: Ce tableau a été peint au XVIIIe siècle. (This painting was painted in the 18th century.)
- Pour mettre l’accent sur l’action: Les résultats seront annoncés demain. (The results will be announced tomorrow.)
Agreement Rules in the French Passive Voice
Unlike English, French requires that the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject when used with the auxiliary verb être. For example:
- Le film a été vu. (The film was seen.)
- La chanson a été chantée. (The song was sung.)
- Les livres ont été lus. (The books were read.)
- Les fenêtres ont été ouvertes. (The windows were opened.)
Always ensure the past participle matches the subject for correct grammar.
Using “On” as an Alternative to the Passive Voice
In spoken French, the passive voice is often replaced with the active construction using the impersonal pronoun “on” (one/they/we). This is less formal and more common in everyday speech:
- Passive: Les tickets ont été vendus. (The tickets were sold.)
- Active with “on”: On a vendu les tickets. (They/we sold the tickets.)
This construction is simpler and more natural in conversation, so keep it in mind for more fluent spoken French.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect auxiliary: Always use être as the auxiliary verb in the passive voice, never avoir.
- Past participle agreement: Don’t forget to adjust the past participle for gender and number.
- Incorrect use of “par”: Use “par” to introduce the agent, but in some cases, especially with feelings or states, “de” may be used (e.g., “aimé de tous” – loved by all).
Practice Makes Perfect
To become comfortable with the passive voice in French, try converting active sentences into passive ones and vice versa. Reading French articles, listening to news reports, and practicing with AI language learning tools like Talkpal can help reinforce these structures naturally.
Conclusion
Using the passive voice in French can add variety, precision, and formality to your writing and speech. Remember to conjugate être correctly, make the past participle agree with the subject, and use “par” (or “de” in special cases) to introduce the agent. For everyday conversation, don’t hesitate to use “on” as a more natural alternative. Keep practicing, and soon the passive voice will become a natural part of your French language toolkit!
