1. Identify the Verb Tense
* Present Tense: Use the present tense of the verb *être* (to be) + the past participle of the main verb.
* Example: *Le livre est lu par l'enfant.* (The book is read by the child.)
* Past Tense: Use the past tense of the verb *être* (to be) + the past participle of the main verb.
* Example: *La chanson a été chantée par les enfants.* (The song was sung by the children.)
* Future Tense: Use the future tense of the verb *être* (to be) + the past participle of the main verb.
* Example: *La peinture sera vendue au musée.* (The painting will be sold at the museum.)
* Other Tenses: The passive voice can also be used with other tenses, like the imperfect, conditional, and subjunctive. The pattern is the same: *être* in the appropriate tense + past participle.
2. Use the Past Participle
* The past participle of the main verb agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence.
* Example: *Les fleurs ont été arrosées.* (The flowers were watered.)
* Direct Object Pronoun: If the sentence has a direct object pronoun, place it before the auxiliary verb *être*.
* Example: *On les a vues.* (They were seen.)
3. Include "Par" (by)
* You don't always need to include "par" (by) to indicate the agent, especially if it's obvious or unimportant.
* Example: *Le pain est fait avec du blé.* (The bread is made with wheat.)
Example Sentences:
* Active: *Le professeur corrige les devoirs.* (The teacher corrects the homework.)
* Passive: *Les devoirs sont corrigés par le professeur.* (The homework is corrected by the teacher.)
* Active: *Je mange la pomme.* (I eat the apple.)
* Passive: *La pomme est mangée par moi.* (The apple is eaten by me.)
Key Points:
* The French passive voice is not as common as the active voice.
* Use the passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or the object of the action.
* If the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, you can omit "par."
* The past participle of the main verb must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Let me know if you have any more questions about the French passive voice!