🗣️ How to Form the Active Voice in French?

In French grammar, the active voice (la voix active) is the most common way to build sentences. It focuses on the subject who performs the action. Unlike the passive voice, which emphasizes the receiver, the active voice highlights the doer.

This guide will explain what the active voice is, how to form it in French, and give plenty of examples.

---

1. What Is the Active Voice?

👉 The active voice is when the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb.

• Le professeur explique la leçon. → The teacher explains the lesson.

• Marie écrit une lettre. → Marie writes a letter.

Here, the subject (le professeur, Marie) is the one doing the action.

---

2. Formula for Active Voice

👉 Subject + Verb + Object (optional)

📌 Examples:

• Je mange une pomme. → I eat an apple.

• Ils regardent la télévision. → They watch TV.

• Nous lisons. → We read. (no object)

---

3. Active Voice in Different Tenses

The active voice can be used in all French tenses.

Present tense

• Je parle français. → I speak French.

Passé composé

• J’ai lu ce livre. → I read this book.

Futur simple

• Nous voyagerons demain. → We will travel tomorrow.

Imparfait

• Elle écrivait chaque jour. → She used to write every day.

---

4. Why Use the Active Voice?

✅ The active voice is:

• The default structure in French.

• Clearer and simpler than the passive voice.

• Used in both spoken and written French.

---

5. Comparing Active and Passive Voice

• Active: Le chat mange la souris. → The cat eats the mouse.

• Passive: La souris est mangée par le chat. → The mouse is eaten by the cat.

👉 Notice: active = focus on who does the action. Passive = focus on what receives the action.

---

6. Examples of Active Voice Sentences

• Paul conduit la voiture. → Paul drives the car.

• Les enfants jouent dans le jardin. → The children play in the garden.

• Nous apprenons le français. → We are learning French.

• Elle prépare un repas délicieux. → She is preparing a delicious meal.

• Je vais écrire une lettre. → I am going to write a letter.

---

✅ Quick Recap

• Active voice = subject does the action.

• Formula = Subject + Verb (+ Object).

• It can be used in all tenses.

• Preferred in everyday French because it’s simple and clear.

---

🎯 Practice Exercise

Rewrite these sentences in the active voice (they are in passive form):

1. La lettre est écrite par Marie.

2. La maison a été vendue par Paul.

3. Le repas sera préparé par le chef.

4. La chanson est chantée par les enfants.

5. Le livre est lu par les étudiants.

Answers:

1. Marie écrit la lettre.

2. Paul a vendu la maison.

3. Le chef préparera le repas.

4. Les enfants chantent la chanson.

5. Les étudiants lisent le livre.

---

Conclusion

The active voice in French is the standard way to form sentences: the subject performs the action of the verb. It is direct, simple, and used in everyday speech and writing. By practicing with subjects, verbs, and objects, you’ll naturally get comfortable with building French active sentences.

👉 Pro tip: When in doubt, stick to the active voice — it’s always the clearest way to express yourself.

---

TAGS: active voice in French, French grammar active vs passive, how to form active sentences French, French beginner grammar, French subject verb object