LESSON 38

ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE VOICE

OBJECTIFS DE LA LEÇON
Le château de Versailles a été construit au XVIIe siècle. Les célèbres jardins qui l’entourent ont été
aménagés par André le Nôtre et sont très appréciés des visiteurs.

1. to learn the difference between the active and the passive voice
2. to learn how to transform one voice into the other

NIVEAU
C1 - niveau autonome (advanced)

VOIX ACTIVE
Le lion attrape la gazelle.
The lion catches the gazelle.

The subject of the sentence performs the action described by the verb. In this example, le lion is
the subject.

VOIX PASSIVE
La gazelle est attrapée par le lion.
The gazelle is caught by the lion.

The passive voice is used to emphasise the person or the object affected by the action.

The passive voice is composed of the auxiliary être + participe passé and usually followed by par
or de and the agent (that is, the one doing the action to the subject).

La gazelle est attrapée par le lion.

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Le lion is the agent.

As always when using the verb être in a compound tense, the past participle agrees in gender and
number with the subject.

La gazelle est attrapée par le lion.

Please note that in French, we use the passive voice far less than in English.

Below are are some example sentences of active and passive voice in different tenses.

PRÉSENT
Le chat mange la souris.
The cat eats the mouse.

La souris est mangée par le chat.

The mouse is eaten by the cat.

PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
Le chat a mangé la souris.
The cat has eaten the mouse.

La souris a été mangée par le chat.

The mouse was eaten by the cat. (has been eaten)

IMPARFAIT
Le chat mangeait la souris.
The cat was eating the mouse.

La souris était mangée par le chat.

The mouse was being eaten by the cat.

FUTUR SIMPLE
Le chat mangera la souris.
The cat will eat the mouse.

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 La souris sera mangée par le chat.
The mouse will be eaten by the cat.

CONDITIONNEL PRÉSENT
Le chat mangerait la souris.
The cat would eat the mouse.

La souris serait mangée par le chat.

The mouse would be eaten by the cat.

PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT
Le chat avait mangé la souris.
The cat had eaten the mouse.

La souris avait été mangée par le chat.

The mouse had been eaten by the cat.

FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR
Le chat aura mangé la souris.
The cat will have eaten the mouse.

La souris aura été mangée par le chat.

The mouse will have been eaten by the cat.

CONDITIONNEL PASSÉ
Le chat aurait mangé la souris.
The cat would have eaten the mouse.

La souris aurait été mangée par le chat.

The mouse would have been eaten by the cat

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PASSÉ SIMPLE
Le chat mangea la souris.
The cat ate the mouse.

La souris fut mangée par le chat.

The mouse was eaten by the cat.

PASSÉ ANTÉRIEUR
Le chat eut mangé la souris.
The cat ate the mouse.

La souris eut été mangée par le chat.

The mouse was eaten by the cat.

EXCEPTIONS
Though in English two structures are possible in the passive voice, in French, there is only one way
to put a sentence in the passive voice.

Nous avons donné un livre au garçon.

We gave a book to the boy.

In this example, livre is the direct object, garçon is the indirect objet.

The passive voice in English would be either 'a book was given to the boy' or 'the boy was given a
book'. However, in French, you can only use one structure.

Un livre a été donné au garçon.

A book was given to the boy.

You cannot say: le garçon a été donné un livre.

In French, the indirect object cannot become the subject of the action.

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AUTRES STRUCTURES
Please note that the voix passive is not so frequent in French. Instead, French uses other
structures.

On + verb in the active form

On a construit ce château en 1160.

This castle was built in 1160.

On parle anglais dans cet hôtel.

English is spoken in this hotel.

Reflexive pronoun se (especially to describe a general, widespread truth or occurrence).

Cette tâche s’effectue en 10 minutes.

This task is done in 10 minutes.

En général, le pain se mange frais.

In general, bread is eaten fresh.

PRATIQUE 1
Put these sentences in the passive form (try to identify the tense first).

1. Charlotte a mangé la glace.

Charlotte ate the ice-cream.

2. Les enfants faisaient la vaisselle après les repas.

The children were doing the dishes after the meal.

3. Tout le monde l’aime.

Everybody loves him.

4. Les enfants raconteraient l’histoire.

The children would tell the story.

5. David nourrira les chats en notre absence.

David will feed the cats during our absence.

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PRATIQUE 2
Put these sentences in the active form (try to identify the tense first).

1. Le fromage est mangé par la souris.

The cheese is eaten by the mouse.

2. La fleur sera plantée par le jardinier.

The flower will be planted by the gardener.

3. Le gâteau a été mangé par les enfants.

The cake has been eaten by the children.

TRADUCTION DE LA PHRASE
Le château de Versailles a été construit au XVIIe siècle. Les célèbres jardins qui l’entourent
ont été aménagés par André le Nôtre et sont très appréciés du public.
The palace of Versailles was built in the 17th century. The famous gardens around it were
designed by André le Nôtre and are much appreciated by the public.

RÉPONSES 1
1. La glace a été mangée par Charlotte.
The ice-cream has been eaten by Charlotte.

2. La vaisselle était faite par les enfants après le repas.

The dishes were being done by the children after the meal.

3. Il est aimé de tout le monde.

He is loved by everybody.

4. L’histoire serait racontée par les enfants.

The story would be told by the children.

5. Les chats seront nourris par David en notre absence.

The cats will be fed by David during our absence.

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RÉPONSES 2
1. La souris mange le fromage.
The mouse is eating the cheese.

2. Le jardinier plantera la fleur.

The gardener will plant the flower.

3. Les enfants ont mangé le gâteau.

The children have eaten the cake.

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