6.1.4

Imperfect Passive Voice

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Imperfect Passive Voice

To form the imperfect passive, use the imperfect tense of 'être' followed by a past participle. The passive is usually only used in the 'il/elle' and the 'ils/elles' forms.

Step 1 - imperfect tense of 'etre'

Step 1 - imperfect tense of 'etre'

  • J'étais - I was/used to be.
  • Tu étais - you (singular) were/used to be.
  • Il/elle/on était - he/she/one was/used to be.
  • Nous étions - we were/used to be.
  • Vous étiez - you (plural/formal) were/used to be.
  • Ils/elles étaient - they were/used to be.
Step 2 - add past participle

Step 2 - add past participle

  • Le devoir était fait - the homework was being done.
  • La plage était appréciée - the beach used to be well-liked.
  • Les tartes étaient faites - the tartes were being made.
  • Les lettres étaient écrites - the letters were being written.
Examples of passive sentences

Examples of passive sentences

  • James Bond était joué par Sean Connery.
    • James Bond was being played by Sean Connery.
  • La viande était cuisinée par mon père.
    • The meat was being cooked by my dad.
  • Les tartes étaient détesté de tout le monde
    • The tarts were being hated by everyone.
  • Les gateaux étaient préparés par lui.
    • The cakes were being prepared by him.

Imperfect Passive Voice

To form the passive, use the imperfect tense of 'être' followed by a past participle. The passive is usually only used in the 'il/elle' and the 'ils/elles' forms.

1) Imperfect tense of 'être'

1) Imperfect tense of 'être'

  • J'étais - I was/used to be.
  • Tu étais - you were/used to be.
  • Il/elle/on était - he/she/one was/used to be.
  • Nous étions - we were/used to be.
  • Vous étiez - you were/used to be.
  • Ils/elles étaient - they were/used to be.
2) Add past participle

2) Add past participle

  • Le devoir était fait - the homework was being done.
  • La plage était appréciée - the beach used to be well-liked.
  • Les tartes étaient faites - the tarts were being made.
  • Les lettres étaient écrites - the letters were being written.
Examples of passive sentences

Examples of passive sentences

  • James Bond était inteprété par Sean Connery.
    • James Bond was being played by Sean Connery.
  • La viande était cuisinée par mon père.
    • The meat was being cooked by my dad.
  • Les tartes étaient détestées de tout le monde
    • The tarts were being hated by everyone.
  • Les gâteaux étaient préparés par lui.
    • The cakes were being prepared by him.
Jump to other topics
1

Identity & Culture

1.1

Me, my family and friends

1.1.1Describing Yourself1.1.2Physical Appearance1.1.3Personality1.1.4Friends1.1.5Opinions on Friends1.1.6Relationships1.1.7Family1.1.8Other Family Members1.1.9Me, My Friends & My Family - Listening1.1.10Pets1.1.11Style & Fashion1.1.12Shopping for Clothes1.1.13Materials1.1.14Exam-Style Questions - Pets
1.2

Time

1.2.1What Time Is It?1.2.2Time of Year1.2.3Day, Year1.2.4Past1.2.5Future1.2.6Present1.2.7Time Expressions
1.3

Technology in Everyday Life

1.3.1Social Media1.3.2Social Media - Listening1.3.3Mobile Technology1.3.4Mobile Technology - Listening1.3.5The Internet1.3.6Exam-Style Questions - The Internet
1.4

Free-Time Activities

1.4.1In Your Free-Time1.4.2Music1.4.3Music - Listening1.4.4Cinema1.4.5TV1.4.6Cinema & TV - Listening1.4.7Food1.4.8Eating Out1.4.9Opinions on Food1.4.10Fruits1.4.11Vegetables1.4.12Other Food1.4.13Meat1.4.14Fish1.4.15Food - Listening1.4.16Sport1.4.17Why Do You Play Sport?1.4.18Different Sports1.4.19Exam-Style Questions - Sport1.4.20Exam-Style Questions - Thierry Henry
1.5

Festivals in French-Speaking Countries

1.5.1Festivals & Customs1.5.2Festivals in French-Speaking Countries - Listening
2

Areas of Interest

2.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

2.1.1Where Do You Live?2.1.2What, Which, Where?2.1.3Daily Routine2.1.4Pocket Money2.1.5Home2.1.6Rooms of the House2.1.7In Your House2.1.8Shopping2.1.9What is There in Your Region?2.1.10Good Weather2.1.11Bad Weather2.1.12Directions2.1.13Exam-Style Questions - Directions
2.2

Social Issues

2.2.1Charity2.2.2Healthy Living2.2.3Unhealthy Living2.2.4Illness2.2.5The Environment2.2.6Priorities2.2.7Exam-Style Questions - The Environment2.2.8Poverty & Homelessness2.2.9Social Issues
2.3

Travel & Tourism

2.3.1Holidays2.3.2Accommodation2.3.3Going on Holiday2.3.4Tourism2.3.5Masculine Countries2.3.6Feminine Countries2.3.7Exam-Style Questions - Travel & Tourism
3

Study & Employment

3.1

My Studies

3.1.1School3.1.2School Routine3.1.3School Life3.1.4'Y' & 'En'3.1.5Exam-Style Questions - School Life3.1.6Further Education
3.2

Employment

3.2.1Jobs3.2.2Career3.2.3Job Applications3.2.4Reasons Why3.2.5Learning a Language
4

Common Tenses

4.1

Present Tense

4.1.1Regular ER Verbs4.1.25 Common ER Verbs4.1.3Regular IR Verbs4.1.45 Common IR Verbs4.1.5Regular RE Verbs4.1.65 Common RE Verbs4.1.7Reflexive Verbs4.1.8Irregular ER Verbs - Aller4.1.9Stem-Changing Verbs4.1.10Irregular IR Verbs Like 'Partir'4.1.11Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'vrir'4.1.12Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'enir'4.1.13Irregular IR Verbs With No Pattern4.1.14Modal Irregular IR Verbs4.1.15Irregular RE Verbs4.1.16Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern4.1.17ER Present Participles4.1.18IR Present Participle4.1.19RE Present Participle4.1.20Irregular Present Participles4.1.21Avoir4.1.22Être
4.2

Perfect Tense

4.2.1Perfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs4.2.2Perfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs4.2.3Perfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs4.2.4Irregular Past Participles4.2.5Irregular Past Participles 24.2.6Être ER Verbs4.2.7Être IR Verbs4.2.8Être RE Verbs4.2.9Irregular Être - 'Venir'4.2.10Irregular Être - 'Naître' & 'Mourir'4.2.11Perfect Infinitive - Using Avoir4.2.12Perfect Infinitive - Using Être
4.3

Imperfect Tense

4.3.1Imperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs4.3.2Imperfect Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs4.3.3Imperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs4.3.4Imperfect Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs4.3.5Imperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs4.3.6Imperfect Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs4.3.7Imperfect Tense - Irregular ER Verbs4.3.8Imperfect Tense - Irregular IR Verbs4.3.9Imperfect Tense - Irregular RE Verbs4.3.10Imperfect Tense - Être
4.4

Imperfect vs Perfect

4.4.1Which One to Use?
4.5

Future Tense

4.5.1Future Tense - Regular ER Verbs4.5.2Future Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs4.5.3Future Tense - Regular IR Verbs4.5.4Future Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs4.5.5Future Tense - Regular RE Verbs4.5.6Future Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs4.5.7Immediate Future4.5.8Future Tense - Irregulars
5

Advanced Tenses

5.1

Conditional Tense

5.1.1Conditional Tense - Regular ER Verbs5.1.2Conditional Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs5.1.3Conditional Tense - Regular IR Verbs5.1.4Conditional Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs5.1.5Conditional Tense - Regular RE Verbs5.1.6Conditional Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs5.1.7Conditional Tense - Irregulars
5.2

Pluperfect Tense

5.2.1Pluperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs5.2.2Pluperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs5.2.3Pluperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs5.2.4Pluperfect Tense - Être ER5.2.5Pluperfect Tense - Être IR & RE5.2.6Pluperfect Tense - Irregular Être
5.3

Present Subjunctive

5.3.1Present Subjunctive - Regular ER Verbs5.3.2Present Subjunctive - Regular IR Verbs5.3.3Present Subjunctive - Regular RE Verbs5.3.4Present Subjunctive - Two-Stem Irregulars5.3.5Present Subjunctive - Complete Irregulars5.3.6Present Subjunctive - Using the Subjunctive5.3.7Present Subjunctive - Imperative
6

Extra Grammar

6.1

The Passive Voice

6.1.1Present Passive Voice6.1.2Perfect Passive Voice6.1.3Future Passive Voice6.1.4Imperfect Passive Voice6.1.5Avoiding the Passive6.1.6Making the Passive Active
6.2

Pronouns

6.2.1Subject Pronouns6.2.2Direct Object Pronouns6.2.3Indirect Object Pronouns6.2.4Reflexive Pronouns6.2.5Indefinite Pronouns6.2.6'Y' & 'En'6.2.7Me, Him, Them6.2.8Stressed Pronouns6.2.9Relative Pronouns6.2.10'Ça' & 'cela'6.2.11'Celui'6.2.12Possessive Pronouns
6.3

Asking Questions

6.3.1What, Which, Where?6.3.2How, When?6.3.3'Est-ce que...'
6.4

Nouns

6.4.1The, A6.4.2Some, Any6.4.3Masculine6.4.4Feminine6.4.5Masculine Plurals6.4.6Feminine Plurals6.4.7Irregular Plurals
6.5

Prepositions

6.5.1In, To, Of6.5.2Verbs That Use 'A' or 'De'6.5.3For6.5.4Other Prepositions6.5.5Locational Prepositions6.5.6More Prepositions6.5.7Prepositional Phrases
6.6

Adverbs

6.6.1Adding 'ment'6.6.2Exceptions6.6.3Good, Badly, Fast
6.7

Quantifiers & Intensifiers

6.7.1A Lot, Less, More6.7.2Less and Less
6.8

Adjectives

6.8.1Adjectives Must Agree6.8.2Irregular Agreements6.8.3No Pattern Irregulars6.8.4Position of Adjectives: After the Noun6.8.5Position of Adjectives: Before the Noun6.8.6Position of Adjectives: Changing Meanings6.8.7Comparative Adjectives6.8.8Superlative Adjectives6.8.9Good, Better, Best6.8.10Demonstrative Adjectives6.8.11Indefinite Adjectives
6.9

Negative

6.9.1'Ne...pas'6.9.2Other Negatives6.9.3Two Verbs6.9.4Infinitives
6.10

Conjunctions

6.10.1But, And6.10.2Then, So6.10.3Because, While6.10.4However, For Example6.10.5Abbreviations

Practice questions on Imperfect Passive Voice

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    'Les gâteaux étaient préparés par lui', ça veut dire quoi en anglais?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which of these are not in the imperfect passive?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Complete the following sentence: <br>Les pommes [...] par lui.Multiple choice
  4. 4
    How do you say 'you were' in French?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    How do you say 'my homework used to be finished by 6pm'?Multiple choice
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Future Passive Voice

Avoiding the Passive