What is the French Passive Voice?
In French, just like in English, we sometimes want to focus on the action or the thing receiving the action, not the person doing it. You can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
In this lesson, we’ll look at how to use the French passive voice in many different tenses. You’ll see clear examples with English translations, and I’ll explain each one step by step.
The French passive voice is used when the subject receives the action instead of doing it.
Active voice:
Les étudiants font l’exposition.
The students make the exhibition.
Passive voice:
L’exposition est faite par les étudiants.
The exhibition is made by the students.
Scroll down for a free downloadable lesson guide to help you master this topic.
How to Form the French Passive Voice
The passive voice is formed with:
ÊTRE (conjugated in the appropriate tense) + past participle of the main verb.
Optional: par + agent (the person or thing doing the action)
French Passive Voice Examples In Different Tenses
Present Tense
L’exposition est faite par les étudiants.
The exhibition is made by the students.
Être in the present + fait (past participle of “faire”)
Used for current or habitual actions.
Passé Composé
La décision a été prise par le directeur.
The decision was made by the principal.
Avoir in present + été + pris(e)
Used for completed past actions.
Imparfait
Le gâteau était préparé chaque dimanche par ma grand-mère.
The cake was (being) prepared every Sunday by my grandmother.
Être in the imperfect + préparé
Used for repeated or ongoing actions in the past.
Futur Simple
Les devoirs seront corrigés demain par le professeur.
The homework will be corrected tomorrow by the teacher.
Être in the future + corrigés
Action that will happen in the future.
Conditionnel Présent
Le projet serait accepté par le comité.
The project would be accepted by the committee.
Être in the conditional + accepté
Hypothetical action or condition.
Plus-que-parfait
Le document avait été signé par le maire.
The document had been signed by the mayor.
Avoir in the imperfect + été + signé
Action completed before another past action.
Futur Antérieur
La lettre aura été envoyée avant midi.
The letter will have been sent before noon.
Avoir in the future + été + envoyée
Action that will be completed before another future event.
Subjonctif Présent
Je veux que la vérité soit dite.
I want the truth to be told.
Être in the subjunctive + dit
Used for expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or necessity.
Agreement of the Past Participle
In the passive voice, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject.
Les lettres sont écrites. (feminine plural)
Le contrat a été signé. (masculine singular)
When to Use the Passive Voice
Use the passive when the agent (doer of the action) is unknown, obvious, or not important. In the following examples, we don’t need to say who arrested them:
Le voleur a été arrêté.
The thief was arrested.
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