This AP French lesson explains French passive voice and nominalization step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French passive voice and nominalization and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: The French passive is formed with être plus a past participle that agrees with the subject, and the agent follows par. French often avoids it with on or a reflexive verb. Press style also uses nominalization, which turns verbs into nouns: augmenter becomes l’augmentation.
Level: AP French Language and Culture · Standards: AP French Language and Culture (College Board CED), Theme: Global Challenges
French passive voice and nominalization: the lesson
How do you form the passive voice?
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject. Use être in the same tense as the active verb, then the past participle, which agrees with the new subject. The old subject becomes the agent after par.
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Le maire ouvre l’école. | L’école est ouverte par le maire. |
| Passé composé | Les ONG ont distribué des vivres. | Des vivres ont été distribués par les ONG. |
| Imperfect | Un orage détruisait les récoltes. | Les récoltes étaient détruites par un orage. |
| Future | On construira un barrage. | Un barrage sera construit. |
| Subjunctive | Il faut qu’on signe le traité. | Il faut que le traité soit signé. |
Par or de?
Use par for an agent that acts: Le projet est financé par la région. Use de after verbs of feeling or state: Il est aimé de tous. — He is loved by everyone.
How do you avoid the passive in French?
French prefers an active sentence. Use on when the agent is unknown: On a signé le traité hier. Use a reflexive verb for general facts: Le français se parle dans de nombreux pays.
Common mistakes of English speakers
- Only a direct object can become the subject. “She was given a prize” is On lui a donné un prix, never Elle a été donnée un prix.
- The participle agrees: Les lois ont été adoptées.
- Do not copy English “by” after every participle; many French sentences simply use on.
What is nominalization?
Nominalization replaces a verb with its noun, which makes sentences shorter and more formal, the way press articles read.
| Verb | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| augmenter | l’augmentation | L’augmentation des prix inquiète les familles. |
| décider | la décision | La décision de fermer l’usine surprend tout le monde. |
| interdire | l’interdiction | L’interdiction du plastique réjouit les écologistes. |
| disparaître | la disparition | La disparition des forêts menace la biodiversité. |
Reading the French press
French headlines often drop the verb and the article, or use the present tense for an event that already happened: Le président signe l’accord. Expect this style in the articles of the AP French reading section.
Zoé’s tip
To spot a passive, look for être plus a participle that agrees. To nominalize, ask: what noun hides inside this verb?
Key points to remember
- Passive = être (any tense) + past participle, agreeing with the subject.
- The agent is introduced by par, or by de after verbs of feeling or state.
- French avoids the passive with on or a reflexive verb: Le français se parle ici.
- Only verbs with a direct object can become passive; “I was given a book” becomes On m’a donné un livre.
- Nominalization turns a verb into a noun and gives headlines and articles a compact style.
From Active Sentences to Press Style: frequently asked questions
How do you form the passive in French?
Conjugate être in the tense of the active verb and add the past participle, which agrees with the subject: La loi a été votée. The agent, if mentioned, follows par.
When do I use de instead of par?
Use de after verbs of feeling or state, such as aimé de, entouré de and respecté de. Use par for an agent that performs an action.
Why is the passive less common in French than in English?
French prefers on or a reflexive verb: On parle français ici or Le français se parle ici. French also cannot make an indirect object the subject.
What is nominalization in French?
It replaces a verb with its noun, such as décider becoming la décision. The result is shorter and more formal, which suits journalism and academic writing.
How do I write a French headline?
Use a noun phrase without a verb or article: Adoption d’une loi sur l’eau. Keep it short and put the key event first.