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French Passive Voice

How to conjugate the passive voice in French

By , About.com Guide

The passive voice is formed with the conjugated verb être + the past participle. The past participle has to agree with the subject, not the agent, in gender and number, just like être verbs in the passé composé (more about agreement):

   Le livre est écrit par des lycéens.
   The book is written by high schoolers.

   La vaisselle est faite par Henri.
   The dishes are done by Henri.

   Les enfants sont nourris par Luc.
   The kids are fed by Luc.

To use the French passive voice in any other tense or mood, just conjugate être accordingly:
 
 Active voicePassive voice
présentAnne fait la tarte.
Anne makes the pie.
La tarte est faite par Anne.
The pie is made by Anne.
 
passé composé   Anne a fait la tarte.
Anne made the pie.
La tarte a été faite par Anne.
The pie was made by Anne.
 
imparfaitAnne faisait la tarte.
Anne was making the pie.
La tarte était faite par Anne.
The pie was being made by Anne.
 
futurAnne fera la tarte.
Anne will make the pie.
La tarte sera faite par Anne.
The pie will be made by Anne.
 
subjonctifJe veux qu'Anne fasse la tarte.  
I want Anne to make the pie.
Je veux que la tarte soit faite par Anne.
I want the pie to be made by Anne.
 
et cetera
 
Note that the passive voice always has one more verb than the active voice.
 
Using and avoiding the passive voice
 
Passive voice quiz

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