The passive in French

Read more about how to use The passive in French.
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The passive

The passive is formed with the conjugated verb ĂȘtre + the past participle of the main verb. Être is conjugated into the same tense as that of the active form.

Le chat mange la souris. (mange = prĂ©sent de l’indicatif) → La souris est mangĂ©e par le chat. (est = prĂ©sent de l’indicatif) The cat is eating the mouse. (mange = (indicative) present) → The mouse is being eaten by the cat.(est = (indicative) present)
Le chat a mangĂ© la souris. (a mangĂ© = passĂ© composĂ©) → La souris a Ă©tĂ© mangĂ©e par le chat. (a Ă©tĂ© = passĂ© composĂ©) The cat ate the mouse. (a mangĂ© = passĂ© composĂ©) → The mouse was eaten by the cat. (a Ă©tĂ© = passĂ© composĂ©)
Le chat mangera la souris. (mangera = futur simple) → La souris sera mangĂ©e par le chat. (sera = futur simple) The cat will eat the mouse. { (mangera = future) → The mouse will be eaten by the cat. (sera = future)

In the passive form, the past participle agrees with the subject.

 Le chat mangera la souris. → La souris sera mangĂ©e par le chat. The cat will eat the mouse. → The mouse will be eaten by the cat.
Le chat mangera les souris. → Les souris seront mangĂ©es par le chat. The cat will eat the mice. → The mice will be eaten by the cat.

Note: The passive form is only used for verbs which aren't followed by a preposition. Examples: ouvrir une porte (to open a door), manger une glace (to eat an ice cream), lire un livre (to read a book), acheter des fruits (to buy fruit), etc. These verbs can't be used in the passive: parler Ă  (to speak to), avoir besoin de (to need), partir pour (to leave for), etc.

Solange a achetĂ© 12 pommes → 12 pommes ont Ă©tĂ© achetĂ©es par Solange (on dit acheter quelque chose) Solange bought 12 apples → 12 apples were bought by Solange (we say acheter quelque chose)
Fabienne parle à Bertrand → pas de forme passive possible, car on dit parler à quelqu'un Fabienne is speaking to Bertrand → no passive form possible, we say parler à quelqu'un

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