Grade A*-A Grade C

To be able to avoid To know all the forms

the passive voice in of tre and how to
French make a past participle
 Le passif
The passive voice is the same in French
and in English. So, if you understand it in
English, you will understand in French too!

Active voice means that the subject of

the sentence is performing the action.

Passive voice, the subject does nothing!

Grade A*-A Grade C
To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Le passif
Charlotte reads the book:. Charlotte is the subject and
she is the one doing the reading: the sentence is active.

The book is read by Charlotte: The book, the subject of

the sentence is doing nothing: the sentence is passive.

Ask Who? to easily know if the sentence is active or not.

Charlotte lit le livre becomes le livre est lu par Charlotte.

Remember: with the verb to be in French, the past

participle agrees with the subject.
Grade A*-A Grade C
To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Le passif
1. The passive is used to describe things that are
done to someone or something.
2. It is formed with tre + past participle.
3. The past participle agrees with the subject.
Active voice:
Johnny Depp joue le rle de Barnabas Collins.
Johnny Depp plays the part of Barnabas Collins.
Passive voice:
Le rle de Barnabas Collins est jou par Johnny Depp.
The part of Barnabas Collins is played by Johnny Depp.

Grade A*-A Grade C

To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Le participe pass
-er verbs
Remove -er, then add
raliser ralis Le film est ralis par Tim Burton.
to direct directed The movie is directed by Tim Burton.
-ir verbs
Remove -r
choisir choisi Lacteur est choisi par le ralisateur.
To choose chosen The actor is chosen by the director.
-re verbs
Remove -re, then add u
attendre attendu Le film est attendu avec impatience.
to (a)wait (a)waited The movie is eagerly awaited.

Some verbs are irregular!!!

Grade A*-A Grade C
To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Les accords (agreements)
Singular Plural
Masculine - -s
Feminine -e -es

Les comdies franaises sont sous-titres dans les cinmas anglais.

Les films sont maintenant tlchargs sur Internet.

Angelina Jolie est accompagne de Brad Pitt sur le tapis rouge.

Le ralisateur est aid par des assistants.

Grade A*-A Grade C

To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Le film (projeter) dans beaucoup de villes.
Le film est projet dans beaucoup de villes.
Le pop-corn (vendre) lentre du cinma.
Le pop-corn est vendu lentre du cinma.
Bella Swan (mordre) par un vampire.
Bella Swan est mordue par un vampire.
Les Avengers (aimer) de tous.
Les Avengers sont aims de tous.
La critique (crire) par le journaliste.
La critique est crite par le journaliste.
 Le participe pass

In French, we can sometimes avoid the passive using:

1. Cest qui

2. The pronoun on

3. Reflexive verbs

Grade A*-A Grade C

To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle
 Cest qui
This movie is directed by Spielberg: Ce film est ralis par Spielberg.
Cest Spielberg qui ralise ce film.

The pronoun on
Pop-corn is eaten at the cinema: Le pop-corn est mang au cinma.

On mange du pop-corn au cinma.

Reflexive verbs
Pop-corn is sold with a fizzy drink: Le popcorn est vendu avec une
boisson gazeuse.
Le pop-corn se vend avec une boisson gazeuse.
Grade A*-A Grade C
To be able to avoid the To know all the forms of
passive voice in French tre and how to make a
past participle