The passive voice

Kurz erklärt

The passive voice focuses on the person or thing affected by an action rather than on who performs it. In French, the original object becomes the subject, and the verb is formed with être and a past participle. The person or thing performing the action can be introduced by par, but is often omitted when it is unknown or unimportant.

Bildung

subject + conjugated form of être + past participle (+ par + agent). The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject: La porte est fermée; les magasins sont fermés.

Verwendung

• To emphasize the result or recipient of an action
• To report an action when the agent is unknown or unimportant
• To mention the agent with par when that information matters

Beispiele

• Le courrier est distribué chaque matin. — The mail is delivered every morning.
• Cette photo a été prise par mon frère. — This photo was taken by my brother.
• Les résultats seront publiés demain. — The results will be published tomorrow.

Typischer Fehler

❌ La lettre a été envoyé hier.

✅ La lettre a été envoyée hier.

Unlike in English, the French past participle in a passive construction agrees with the subject. Since lettre is feminine singular, envoyé becomes envoyée.

Merke

Conjugate être in the required tense, then make the past participle agree with the subject. Use par only when the agent is relevant.