In this chapter we will study the passive voice. The passive voice is used when the action is more important than the person/the object/the situation that does the action or when the subject is unknown. Only transitive verbs i.e. verbs requiring a direct object are used in the passive voice. In the passive voice, the subject is often omitted or dropped. When rewriting active sentences into the passive form, there are important points to consider. These are the following:
In this lesson, we will study the passive voice of the future simple. Let’s start with a simple example.
Notice that the verb in the active voice is “prendra”. It is the future simple of the verb “prendre” in the active voice. In the second sentence, the form of the verb when changed into the passive voice becomes: seront prises.
Let’s take the verb: détruire
Notice that in the active voice, the past participle of the verb agrees with the subject that precedes it, whereas in the passive voice, the past participle of the verb agrees in number and in gender with the direct object that precedes it.
Let’s take another example:
Notice that instead of “par le monde entier” by the whole world, we put “dans le monde entier” all over the world. This is because, it is more common to say “dans le monde entier” than “par le monde entier”. Remember that when the subject is impersonal, you can either skip it or change it with more common phrases.
For example:
For example:
- The direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. It is therefore placed in the beginning of the sentence.
- The form of the verb changes to the following form (the auxiliary “être” be conjugated to the tense of the verb in the active voice + past participle of the verb used in the active voice)
- The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent of the verb.
- When the subject(agent) is known, we precede it with “par” by.
- The verb in the passive voice agrees with the direct object which is placed in the beginning of the sentence.
In this lesson, we will study the passive voice of the future simple. Let’s start with a simple example.
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|
On prendra toutes les mesures nécessaires. We will take all necessary mesures. |
Toutes les mesures nécessaires seront prises. All necessary measures will be taken. |
Notice that the verb in the active voice is “prendra”. It is the future simple of the verb “prendre” in the active voice. In the second sentence, the form of the verb when changed into the passive voice becomes: seront prises.
The form of the future simple in the passive voice
The form of the verb in the future simple (AV) | The form of the verb in the future simple (PV) |
| the root of the verb + ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont | auxiliary “être” in the future simple + past participle of the verb |
Let’s take the verb: détruire
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Je détruirai | Je serai détruit(e) |
| Tu détruiras | Tu seras détruit(e) |
| Il détruira | Il sera détruit |
| Elle détruira | Elle sera détruite |
| On détruira | On sera détruit |
| Nous détruirons | Nous serons détruit(e)s |
| Vous détruirez | Vous serez détruit(e)s |
| Ils détruiront | Ils seront détruits |
| Elles détruiront | Elles seront détruites |
Notice that in the active voice, the past participle of the verb agrees with the subject that precedes it, whereas in the passive voice, the past participle of the verb agrees in number and in gender with the direct object that precedes it.
Let’s take another example:
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Un jour, le monde entier entendra la voix de ce peuple. One day, the whole world will hear this people’s voice. | Un jour, la voix de ce peuple sera entendue dans le monde entier. One day, this people’s voice will be heard all over the world. |
Notice that instead of “par le monde entier” by the whole world, we put “dans le monde entier” all over the world. This is because, it is more common to say “dans le monde entier” than “par le monde entier”. Remember that when the subject is impersonal, you can either skip it or change it with more common phrases.
The Passive voice of the furture simple in the negative form
The negative form of the future simple in the passive voice is obtained by putting the auxiliary “être” in the future simple between “ne” and “pas” then adding the past participle of the verb.For example:
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| On ne découvrira pas ma cachette. We won’t find my hiding place. | Ma cachette ne sera pas découverte. My hiding place won’t be found. |
| Ils n’avertiront pas leurs consommateurs en cas de panne d’électricité. They will not warn their clients in the event of a power failure. | Leurs consommateurs ne seront pas avertis en cas de panne d’électricité. The consummers won’t be warned in the event of a power failure. |
The Passive voice of the future simple in the interrogative form
There are three ways to ask questions in French. To avoid confusion, we will only study the passive voice of the “est-ce que” form. The interrogative form of the future simple in the passive voice is obtained by adding “est-ce que” to the sentence in the passive voice.For example:
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Est-ce qu’on découvrira ma cachette ? Will they find my hiding place? | Est-ce que ma cachette sera découverte ? Will my hiding place be found? |
| Est-ce qu’ils avertiront leurs consommateurs en cas de panne d’électricité ? Will they warn their clients in the event of a power failure? | Est-ce leurs consommateurs seront avertis en cas de panne d’électricité ? Will their clients be warned in the event of a power failure? |