The Passive (I)
The passive is the active inverted: to form the passive the direct
object becomes the subject and the subject becomes the object. Lets
see an example:
| Active Form |
Passive Form |
| Je lis un livre |
Le livre est lu par moi |
| I read the book |
The book is read by me |
|
|
| The direct object of
the active sentence (a book) becomes the subject of the passive
sentence. Whilst the subject of the active sentence, becomes the
object of the passive sentence. |
|
|
| Ma femme prépare le repas |
Le repas est préparé par ma femme |
| My mum prepares the food |
The food is prepared by my mum.
|
|
|
| The direct object of
the active sentence (le repas) becomes the subject of the passive
sentence. Whilst the subject of the active sentence (Ma femme),
becaomes the object of the pssive sentence. |
The passive is used when you want to emphasize the object of the
sentence. For example in the sentences "Je lis un livre"
and "Le livre est lu par moi", the emphasis falls on the
different elements of the sentence. In the first, you emphasize the
subject more (It's 'I' and not another person that reads the book),
whilst in the second the emphasis is on the direct object (It's 'the
book' and nothing else that I am reading).
Every active form has its equivalent passive form. For example:
| |
Active Form |
Passive Form |
| Present Simple |
Je mange une orange |
L'orange est mangée par moi |
| Imperfect |
Je mangeais une orange |
L'orange était mangée par moi |
| Present Perfect |
J'ai mangé une orange |
L'orange a été mangée par moi |
The passive is formed with the auxiliary verb "être" in
the same tense as the main verb of the active sentence, followed by
the participle of the main verb. This participle agrees in gender
and number with the subject of the passive sentence:
| Le biscuit est mangé
par moi |
The biscuit is eaten by me. |
| La pomme est mangée par moi |
The apple is eaten by me. |
| Les biscuits sont mangés par moi |
The biscuits are eaten by me. |
| Les pommes sont mangées par moi |
The apples are eaten by me. |
VOCABULARY
le mariage
| Wedding |
Noce (f) |
Honeymoon |
Lune de miel (f) |
| Marriage |
Mariage (m) |
Godfather |
Parrain (m) |
| Friend |
Ami(e) |
Godmother |
Marraine (f) |
| Widow/widower |
Veuf / veuve |
Bouquet |
Bouquet (m) |
| Separated |
Séparé(e) |
Divorced |
Divorcé(e) |
| Fiance |
Fiancé(e) |
Single |
Célibataire (m/f) |
| Witness |
Témoin (m) |
Wedding march |
Marche nuptiale(f) |
| Bridesmaid |
Dame d'honneur(f) |
Lover |
Amant(e) (m/f) |
| Husband |
Mari (m) |
Woman |
Femme (f) |
| Couple |
Couple (m) |
Morning coat |
Jaquette (f) (d'homme) |
| Ring |
Anneau de mariage (m) |
|
|
