📝 How to Form the Passive Voice in French (Rules and Examples)

The passive voice (la voix passive) is used when the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the action, not the doer. It’s common in formal writing, newspapers, or when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

This guide explains how to form the passive voice in French, step by step, with examples and key rules.

---

1. Reminder: Active vs Passive Voice

• Active voice: The subject does the action.

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

• Passive voice: The subject receives the action.

  • La leçon est expliquée par le professeur. → The lesson is explained by the teacher.

👉 In French, the passive voice is built with être + past participle.

---

2. Formula for the Passive Voice

👉 Subject + être (conjugated) + past participle + par + agent (doer)

📌 Example:

• 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.

---

3. Agreement of the Past Participle

The past participle in the passive voice agrees in gender and number with the subject.

• Le livre est écrit par Victor Hugo. → The book is written by Victor Hugo.

• La lettre est écrite par Marie. → The letter is written by Marie.

• Les lettres sont écrites par Marie. → The letters are written by Marie.

---

4. Passive Voice in Different Tenses

Just conjugate être in the needed tense, and add the past participle.

Present tense

• La maison est vendue. → The house is sold.

Passé composé

• La maison a été vendue. → The house was sold.

Futur simple

• La maison sera vendue. → The house will be sold.

Imparfait

• La maison était vendue chaque année. → The house was sold every year.

---

5. The Preposition par vs de

• Use par when the action is done by someone/something.

  • Le livre est écrit par un auteur célèbre. → The book is written by a famous author.

• Use de with verbs expressing feelings or states.

  • Il est aimé de tous. → He is loved by everyone.

---

6. When to Use the Passive Voice

✅ Use it when:

• You don’t know who does the action:

  • La banque a été cambriolée. → The bank was robbed.

• You want to emphasize the result, not the doer:

  • La décision a été prise. → The decision was made.

---

7. Alternatives to the Passive Voice

In spoken French, the passive voice can sound heavy. People often use:

1. On + active voice

   • On a volé ma voiture. → Someone stole my car.

2. Reflexive verbs (se construction)

   • Ça se dit souvent. → That is often said.

---

8. Examples in Sentences

• La porte est ouverte par le gardien. → The door is opened by the guard.

• Les billets seront vendus demain. → The tickets will be sold tomorrow.

• La vérité a été révélée. → The truth was revealed.

• Il est respecté de tous. → He is respected by everyone.

---

✅ Quick Recap

• Passive voice = être + past participle (+ par/de).

• Past participle agrees with the subject.

• Conjugate être in the correct tense.

• Use par for doer, de for feelings/states.

• In everyday French, people often prefer on + active voice or reflexive verbs.

---

🎯 Practice Exercise

Turn these active sentences into passive voice:

1. Le professeur corrige les copies.

2. Les enfants lisent le livre.

3. Marie a préparé le repas.

4. On vend la maison.

5. Le chanteur interprétera la chanson.

Answers:

1. Les copies sont corrigées par le professeur.

2. Le livre est lu par les enfants.

3. Le repas a été préparé par Marie.

4. La maison est vendue.

5. La chanson sera interprétée par le chanteur.

---

Conclusion

The passive voice in French is built with être + past participle, and the participle must agree with the subject. While it’s important in writing, in spoken French you’ll often hear alternatives like on + active voice or reflexive forms.

👉 Pro tip: Practice by transforming simple sentences from active to passive. This helps you master both forms and understand French grammar more deeply.

---

TAGS: passive voice in French, French grammar passive, how to form passive French, passive voice examples French, French beginner grammar rules