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Lesson 46 – The Passive voice in French

  1. theory
    construction
    use
    exceptions
  2. exercises 🔥
  3. comments

Theory

a) definition

sentence in which the subject is not the one doing the action, but becomes the direct or indirect object complement instead

b) construction

« être » verb + past participle

Il a été observé toute la soirée. 

He was observed all evening.

 

Vous étiez appréciées par la communauté. 

You were appreciated by the community. 

 c) use
subject is receiving the action

Il est poursuivi par une girafe à trois têtes. 

He is (being) chased by a three-headed giraffe. 


d) exceptions
intransitive verbs don’t work in the passive voice

il surfe il est surfé 

reminder : transitive & intransitive verbs
transitive verbs take a direct object

example : Je mange une girafe à trois têtes.
intransitive verb don’t take a direct object
example : Je mange.

 2a. when the unexpressed agent that does the action is a person, the sentence structure changes …

Les animaux sont mangés par le monsieur.
Le monsieur les mangent. 

 2b. … or the indefinite pronoun “on” is used …

J’ai été répondu rapidement.
On m’a répondu rapidement. 

 2c. … and in general statements, the passive subject of reflexive verbs becomes active …

Cela est fait chaque semaine.
Cela se fait chaque semaine. 

 

Exercises

Results

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#1. They were followed ...

#2. She is questionned by the grammar police

#3. The passive form of " Nous dormons !" ...

#4. One answer is correct

#5. One answer is correct

Terminer

 

Comments