Passive Voice For Intermediate learners
What is the Passive Voice (la voix passive) in French?
In French, the passive voice (la voix passive) is used when the focus is on the action or the result, rather than on who performs the action. Instead of emphasizing the person or thing doing the action (the agent), the passive voice emphasizes what is acted upon.
This structure is very similar to English and is commonly used in formal writing, news, descriptions, and explanations, especially when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
Compare:
Le chef prépare le repas. (la voix active)
The chef prepares the meal. (active voice)
Le repas est préparé par le chef. (la voix passive)
The meal is prepared by the chef. (passive voice)
In the passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the new sentence.
Which Verbs Can Form the Passive Voice
In French, only verbs that take a direct object (les verbes transitifs directs) can be used in the passive voice. This is because the direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Verbs that do not have a direct object (intransitive verbs or verbs followed by à or de) cannot normally be used in the passive voice.
Il ferme la porte. → La porte est fermée.
Elle parle à son ami. → no passive form is used
Basic Structure
Subject (receiver of the action) + être (conjugated) + past participle + par / de + agent
The verb être is always used as the auxiliary.
The past participle agrees with the new subject in gender and number.
The agent (the doer) is usually introduced by par.
Passive Voice in the Present Tense
The structure is être in the present tense + past participle.
Le gardien ferme la porte. → La porte est fermée par le gardien.
The guard closes the door. → The door is closed by the guard.
La femme ferme les fenêtres. → Les fenêtres sont fermées.
The woman closes the windows. → The windows are closed.
The agent (par le gardien) can be omitted if it is obvious or unimportant.
Passive Voice in the Past (passé composé)
The structure is être in the passé composé + past participle.
Le directeur a signé le document. → Le document a été signé par le directeur.
The director signed the document. → The document was signed by the director.
Even in the past, the auxiliary is still être.
Ils ont signé les contrats. → Les contrats ont été signés.
They signed the contracts. → The contracts were signed.
Agreement Rules in the Passive Voice
Because the passive voice always uses être, the past participle must agree with the subject. This agreement rule is the same as with être in the passé composé.
La lettre est écrite. (singular feminine)
The letter is written.
Les lettres sont écrites. (plural feminine)
The letters are written.
Le rapport a été terminé. (singular masculine)
The report was finished.
Les rapports ont été terminés. (plural masculine)
The reporst were finished.
Using Par and De with the Agent
Par is used when the agent actively performs the action. (most common)
Le livre est écrit par l'auteur.
The book is written by the author.
Le voleur a été arrêté par la police.
The thief was arrested by the police.
De is used mainly with verbs of feeling, opinion, or description. (less common)
Il est respecté de tous.
He is respected by everyone.
Elle est aimée de ses amis.
She is loved by her friends.
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