L'actif et le passif

L'actif et le passif

1. Subject

   • When the subject is the AGENT performing the action
     • The verb is ACTIVE
       • Le garçon chante bien/ Anne a mangé mes biscuits.
   • When the subject is the recipient of the action
     • The verb is PASSIVE
       • Le garçon est respecté par tout le monde/ Anne a été bien punie
       • Usage
         • The passive can only be used with verbs which take a DIRECT OBJECT. THE direct object then becomes the SUBJECT of the passive verb.
           • Le policier observe les voleurs La dame a enfin acheté la chaise Le vieux chêne couvrait le pré
         • INDIRECT OBJECTS or NOUNS introduced by a preposition can NEVER be used as a subject in a passive sentence.
           • Anne téléphonera à l'avocat/ Nous permettons aux écoliers de traverser notre jardin/ Sa mère l'a offert à ma cousine/ On se souvient toujours de sa générosité
             • These indirect objects cannot be switched to become the subject
         • Use of impersonal 'il' in passive sentences
           • It is possible to construct a passive sentence from an active sentence which involves an INDIRECT OBJECT introduced by the preposition à
             • John is allowed to stay at the villa: Il est permis à Jena de rester à la villa
       • Translating 'is being/was being, etc' in passive sentences. In passive sentences, the verb may express:
         • an ACTION which is being done to the subject
           • English uses 'is being/ was being'
             • The gates will be opened soon/ The plan is being changes/ My car was stolen last night
           • In French the simplest method is to use an active sentence
             • When the subject is unspecified 'on' is used
               • On peignait la grille
             • 'être en train de' is available to highlight the continuous action
               • On change le plan (Le plan est en train d'être changé?)
         • a STATE which follows some action
           • English uses 'is/ was'
             • The gates will be open/ The plan is changed/ The dinner plates were cracked.
           • In French, the verb être is usually in the present or imperfect tense
             • Le plan est changé/ La grille était peinte.
       • Form
         • All passive forms have the same basic structure: some part of ÊTRE + PAST PARTICIPLE
           • In the passive, the PAST PARTICIPLE always agrees with the subject in number and gender
           • Tenses of the ÊTRE element in passive forms
             • The basic rule is that the same tense is used as in the corresponding active sentence
               • 'She was admired by everyone': (ACTIVE) Tout le monde l'admirait; (PASSIVE) Elle était admirée par tout le monde.
               • 'She was surprised by the news': (ACTIVE) La nouvelle l'a étonnée (l'étonna); (PASSIVE) Elle a été étonnée (fut étonnée) par la nouvelle
       • Other ways of expressing the passive in French
         • Active sentence
           • when the subject of the passive verb is NOT the DIRECT OBJECT of the corresponding active sentence, for example: A hammer was needed - On avait besoin d'un marteau
           • When a passive on-going ACTION is to be expressed in the present or imperfect, for example: A meal is being prepared by our neighbours - Nos voisins préparent (sont en train de préparer) un repas
         • Reflexive verb
           • Often a reflexive verb can have the value of a passive, provided that the subject of the reflexive verb is not a noun referring to a human being
             • This expression is often used - Cette expression s'emploie souvent/ That is not done - Cela ne se fait pas/ The list was composed of names - La liste se composait de noms/ That is understood - Cela se comprend
           • If the subject is a human being, the verb will have a genuine reflexive
             • Il est vendu à nos ennemis - He sold himself to our enemies/ Elles se comprennent - They understand eachother
         • A noun instead of a passive verb
           • French often uses a noun where English would have a passive verb. The following examples should be studied:
             • Ils entendedent la destruction - They can hear it being destroyed
             • Elle avait prévu l'annulation du concert - She had predicted the concert would be cancelled

2. Predicate