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Constructions passives
The best-known passive construction is the passive voice, which has a verb performing on a subject (e.g., he is seen), in comparison to the active voice, where the subject performs the action (he sees). But did you know that French has several other passive constructions that are just as important to recognize and use? Take a look at these links for detailed lessons and more examples.
Passive Voice
Être + past participle
| La glace est mangée en été. | Ice cream is eaten in the summer. | |
| Rien n’a été fait. | Nothing was done. |
Passive Infinitive
À + infinitive
| La glace est à manger en été. | Ice cream is to be eaten in the summer. | |
| Il n’y avait rien à faire. | There was nothing to do / to be done. |
Passive Reflexive
Se + conjugated verb
| La glace se mange en été. | Ice cream is eaten in the summer. | |
| Rien ne s’est fait. | Nothing was done. |
Reflexive Causative
Se faire + infinitive
| La glace se fait manger en été. | Ice cream gets eaten in the summer. | |
| Rien ne s’est fait faire. | Nothing got done. |
Indefinite Subject Pronoun
On + conjugated verb
| On mange la glace en été. | Ice cream is eaten in the summer. | |
| On n’a rien fait. | Nothing got done. |
Related lessons
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