français · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
The passive voice
Promote the receiver of an action with être plus an agreeing past participle.
Understand the choice
The passive is useful when the result or affected entity matters more than the actor. The tense sits on être, while the participle carries gender and number agreement with the new grammatical subject.
Core rule: Form the passive with conjugated être + past participle agreeing with the subject; par usually introduces the agent.
Notice it in context
Le nouveau pont sera inauguré par la maire en septembre.
The new bridge will be inaugurated by the mayor in September.
Sera makes the passive future; inauguré agrees with masculine singular pont; par introduces the agent.
Les candidatures sont examinées chaque lundi.
Applications are reviewed every Monday.
Sont is present and examinées agrees with feminine plural candidatures.
Cette décision a été prise sans consultation.
This decision was made without consultation.
A été carries passé composé; prise is the irregular feminine participle of prendre.
What to remember
- On + active verb is often more natural than a passive in conversation.
- Par identifies an action’s agent; de appears with some state-like verbs such as être aimé de.
Common trap: Do not agree the participle with the agent. It agrees with the passive subject: les candidatures sont examinées.