00:00 28/05/2020
The direct object of the main verb becomes the apparent subject
of the verb in a passive sentence. The true subject, also called
the “agent,” is usually introduced by par.
[But often, as in English, the “agent” is not mentioned.]
A few verbs require de instead : for example,
redouter :
craindre :
obéir :
suivre :
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Changes in a sentence when it goes from direct to indirect speech.
1. Quotation marks or French guillemets, direct punctuation (exclamation points,
question marks), and colloquial expressions that can only belong to spoken language
disappear,
2. The object and subject pronouns must be changed to follow the logic of the
sentence,
maintenant : à ce moment-là.
ici : là.
demain : le lendemain.
hier : la veille.
la semaine prochaine : la semaine suivante.
la semaine dernière : la semaine précedente
Both in French and in English, when the introductory verb is in the present the
verbs in the dependent clause do not change, except for the
imperative that changes to an infinitive.