6.1.5

Avoiding the Passive

Test yourself

Making it Impersonal

The passive voice is mainly used in literature - it's not used in everyday French. You can avoid using the passive by making the sentence impersonal.

Illustrative background for Using 'on'Illustrative background for Using 'on' ?? "content

Using 'on'

  • 'On' is a very common way of making a sentence impersonal.
  • Cette lettre a été écrite en 1998 \rightarrow On a écrit cette lettre en 1998.
    • This letter has been written in 1998 \rightarrow This letter was written in 1998.
  • Le dessert est servi après le plat principal \rightarrow On sert le dessert après le plat principal.
    • Dessert is served after the main course \rightarrow One serves the dessert after the main course.
Illustrative background for Using 'se'Illustrative background for Using 'se' ?? "content

Using 'se'

  • This is called the passive reflexive. You place a 'se' in front of a verb that is not normally reflexive to show a passive nature.
  • La pomme est mangée froide \rightarrow La pomme se mange froide.
    • Apple is eaten cold.
  • Ce film est souvent vu \rightarrow Ce film se voit souvent.
    • This film is often watched.

Jump to other topics

1Identity & Culture

2Areas of Interest

3Study & Employment

4Common Tenses

4.1Present Tense

4.2Perfect Tense

4.3Imperfect Tense

4.4Imperfect vs Perfect

4.5Future Tense

5Advanced Tenses

6Extra Grammar

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