Understanding voice in French grammar is crucial for effective communication. It impacts reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French has three voices: active, pronominal, and passive. This article focuses on active and passive voices, explaining their roles and uses.
The Three Voices of French
French grammar includes three voices: active, pronominal, and passive. Each voice provides a different perspective on the action in a sentence. Understanding these voices helps improve communication skills.
The Active Voice
In the active voice, the subject performs the action. For example, “Marie lit le livre” means “Marie reads the book.” Here, Marie is the subject who performs the action of reading.
The Pronominal Voice
The pronominal voice involves reflexive verbs, where the subject performs the action on itself. For example, “Je me lave” means “I wash myself.” The subject and object are the same, showing a reflexive action.
The Passive Voice
In the passive voice, the action is performed on the subject. For example, “Le livre est lu par Marie” means “The book is read by Marie.” The focus shifts to the action’s recipient rather than the performer.
Basic Formation of the French Passive Voice
The passive voice in French is formed by using the verb “être” (to be) followed by the past participle of the main verb, with the agent of the action introduced by “par” (by).
For example:
- Active: “Marie lit le livre.” (Marie reads the book.)
- Passive: “Le livre est lu par Marie.” (The book is read by Marie.)
In this structure, “par” indicates who performed the action, and the verb agrees in gender and number with the subject.
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Making the Past Participle Agree
In the passive voice, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. This means adding endings based on whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural.
| Subject | Past Participle Ending | Example Sentence | Translation |
| Masculine Singular | No change | Le livre est lu par Marie. | The book is read by Marie. |
| Feminine Singular | Add “e” | La lettre est lue par Marie. | The letter is read by Marie. |
| Masculine Plural | Add “s” | Les livres sont lus par Marie. | The books are read by Marie. |
| Feminine Plural | Add “es” | Les lettres sont lues par Marie. | The letters are read by Marie. |
Examples of the French Passive Voice in Various Tenses
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Perfect Tense | – L’équipe a terminé le projet. (The team completed the project.) | – Le projet a été terminé par l’équipe. (The project was completed by the team.) |
| – L’artiste a chanté la chanson. (The artist sang the song.) | – La chanson a été chantée par l’artiste. (The song was sung by the artist.) | |
| Future Tense | – L’élève fera le travail. (The student will do the work.) | – Le travail sera fait par l’élève. (The work will be done by the student.) |
| – La concierge ouvrira la porte. (The janitor will open the door.) | – La porte sera ouverte par la concierge. (The door will be opened by the janitor.) | |
| Past Perfect | – Les enfants avaient mangé le gâteau. (The children had eaten the cake.) | – Le gâteau avait été mangé par les enfants. (The cake had been eaten by the children.) |
| – La serveuse avait dressé la table. (The waitress had set the table.) | – La table avait été dressée par la serveuse. (The table had been set by the waitress.) | |
| Subjunctive | – Il est important que l’expert résolve le problème. (It is important that the expert solve the problem.) | – Il est important que le problème soit résolu par l’expert. (It is important that the problem be solved by the expert.) |
| – Il est nécessaire que l’assistante accomplisse la tâche. (It is necessary that the assistant accomplish the task.) | – Il est nécessaire que la tâche soit accomplie par l’assistante. (It is necessary that the task be accomplished by the assistant.) |
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When to Use the Passive Voice in French
The passive voice is used in French for various reasons. It shifts the focus from the subject performing the action to the action itself or the receiver of the action. Here are some scenarios where the passive voice is appropriate.
Emphasize the Agent
When you want to highlight who is performing the action, the passive voice is useful.
- Example: “Le tableau a été peint par Van Gogh.” (The painting was painted by Van Gogh.)
- Here, the emphasis is on Van Gogh as the artist.
- Example: “Le discours a été écrit par le président.” (The speech was written by the president.)
- This emphasizes that the president is the one who wrote the speech.
Have an Anonymous Subject
When the subject is unknown, unimportant, or general, the passive voice helps to convey the message without specifying the agent.
- Example: “Les rues sont nettoyées tous les jours.” (The streets are cleaned every day.)
- It is not important who cleans the streets, just that they are cleaned daily.
- Example: “La décision a été prise hier.” (The decision was made yesterday.)
- The focus is on the decision itself rather than who made it.
- Example: “Une nouvelle école sera construite ici.” (A new school will be built here.)
- The emphasis is on the construction of the school, not on who will build it.
Converting Passive to Active Voice in French
To convert a passive sentence into an active one, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Passive Sentence Components
- Recognize the subject, the verb, and the agent (introduced by “par” or “de”) in the passive sentence.
2. Switch the Positions
- Change the agent of the passive sentence to become the subject of the active sentence.
- The original subject of the passive sentence becomes the object in the active sentence.
3. Adjust Verb Conjugation
- Conjugate the verb to match the new subject in the active voice.
- Ensure that the verb agrees with the new subject in tense and number.
Examples:
- Passive: “Le livre est lu par Marie.”
Active: “Marie lit le livre.” - Passive: “La lettre a été écrite par Paul.”
Active: “Paul a écrit la lettre.” - Passive: “Les chansons seront chantées par l’artiste.”
Active: “L’artiste chantera les chansons.” - Passive: “Les devoirs avaient été corrigés par le professeur.”
Active: “Le professeur avait corrigé les devoirs.”
When Possible, Avoid the Passive Voice and Use…
In French, the passive voice can sometimes make sentences less clear or more complex. There are several alternatives to using the passive voice that can simplify and clarify your sentences.
A Construction Using “Se”
The passive reflexive construction using “se” can be a good alternative to the passive voice. It makes the sentence active while still showing that the action happens to the subject.
- Example: “Le pain se vend ici.” (Bread is sold here.)
- Example: “Ce livre se lit facilement.” (This book reads easily.)
“On” as Another Way to Maintain an Anonymous Subject
Using “on” (one/they) can help keep the subject anonymous without resorting to the passive voice. This construction is common in French and makes sentences more conversational.
- Example: “On nettoie les rues tous les jours.” (They clean the streets every day.)
- Example: “On a pris la décision hier.” (They made the decision yesterday.)
“C’est” to Emphasize the Subject and Avoid Using an Agent
Using “c’est” (it is) can highlight the subject and avoid the need for an agent, making the sentence more direct and focused.
- Example: “C’est Marie qui lit le livre.” (It is Marie who reads the book.)
- Example: “C’est Paul qui a écrit la lettre.” (It is Paul who wrote the letter.)
Conclusion
Understanding and using active and passive voices in French enhances communication. Practice both voices in various contexts to improve fluency. Knowing when to use each voice is crucial. For a structured approach to mastering French grammar, consider enrolling in La Forêt French Class.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between active and passive voice in French?
Ans: In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “Marie lit le livre” – Marie reads the book). In the passive voice, the action is performed on the subject (e.g., “Le livre est lu par Marie” – The book is read by Marie). Understanding both voices is essential for fluency.
2. Can you learn French easily in passive?
Ans: Learning French in the passive voice can be challenging due to its complexity and agreement rules. However, with structured lessons from Laforet’s French class, you can master the passive voice and other grammar aspects effectively. Active practice and guided learning will ease your language journey.
