Mastering the Passive Voice in French: Forming and Using It Correctly
Introduction
The passive voice is a fundamental structure in French that allows speakers to shift the focus of a sentence from the subject performing the action to the recipient of the action. While often avoided in everyday conversation, it is widely used in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts. Understanding the passive voice enhances both comprehension and writing skills, allowing learners to express themselves with greater precision.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we help students master French grammar structures like the passive voice through expert instruction and engaging exercises. In this guide, we’ll break down the formation, usage, and common pitfalls of the passive voice in French.
What Is the Passive Voice in French?
In the active voice, the subject performs the action:
Le professeur corrige les devoirs. (The teacher corrects the homework.)
In the passive voice, the recipient of the action becomes the subject, and the verb is conjugated using être + past participle:
Les devoirs sont corrigés par le professeur. (The homework is corrected by the teacher.)
The passive voice is useful when:
The agent (doer of the action) is unknown or irrelevant.
The focus should be on the result rather than the person performing the action.
How to Form the Passive Voice in French
The passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb être followed by the past participle of the main verb. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
1. Structure of the Passive Voice:
Subject + être (conjugated) + past participle (+ par + agent)
2. Passive Voice in Different Tenses:
TenseActive VoicePassive VoicePrésentIl écrit une lettre. (He writes a letter.)Une lettre est écrite par lui. (A letter is written by him.)Passé ComposéElle a réparé la voiture. (She repaired the car.)La voiture a été réparée par elle. (The car was repaired by her.)Futur SimpleIls construiront un pont. (They will build a bridge.)Un pont sera construit par eux. (A bridge will be built by them.)
3. Agreement of the Past Participle
Since être is used as the auxiliary, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject:
Les fenêtres sont ouvertes. (The windows are open.)
Les erreurs ont été corrigées. (The mistakes have been corrected.)
4. Omitting the Agent
Often, the agent (par + person) is omitted when it is unknown or unimportant:
Le problème a été résolu. (The problem has been solved.)
Une décision sera prise bientôt. (A decision will be made soon.)
When to Use the Passive Voice in French
The passive voice is commonly used in:
Formal and academic writing
News articles
Official documents
However, the passive voice is less common in spoken French, where the active voice or an alternative construction is preferred:
Instead of Un pont sera construit par eux., it is more natural to say Ils vont construire un pont. (They are going to build a bridge.)
Instead of Les devoirs sont corrigés par le professeur., use Le professeur corrige les devoirs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with the Passive Voice
Incorrect use of "être":
❌ La voiture a eu réparée. (Incorrect)
✅ La voiture a été réparée. (Correct – être is needed, not avoir.)
Forgetting past participle agreement:
❌ Les lettres ont été envoyé. (Incorrect)
✅ Les lettres ont été envoyées. (Correct – envoyées agrees with les lettres.)
Overusing the passive voice:
While grammatically correct, excessive passive voice usage can make writing sound unnatural. French often favors the active voice or reflexive structures.
Practical Tips for Mastering the Passive Voice
Practice rewriting active sentences in the passive voice.
Listen to news reports and academic texts to see how the passive voice is used.
Use mnemonic devices to remember agreement rules (Les participes passés s’accordent avec être).
Try exercises where you convert active to passive sentences.
How Our French Classes Can Help
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we provide:
Interactive grammar lessons
Personalized feedback
Real-world conversation practice
Our courses are designed to help learners confidently use complex grammar structures like the passive voice.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Mastering the passive voice in French allows for more sophisticated and nuanced expression. While it is commonly used in formal writing, understanding its correct usage and alternatives in spoken French is crucial.
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