Passive voice and agent — use it independently in context

Passive voice and agent: progressive explanation, topic-specific examples, guided exercises and a corrected assessment.

Duration: 25 minPrerequisites: passif-agent-manipulerPass mark: 80%

1. Objective

By the end, you will reuse “Passive voice and agent” in a sentence or situation of your own.

2. Discover

Read the examples for “Passive voice and agent — use it independently in context” as language you might use today. What clue helps you choose the right structure?

3. Understand

To produce a passive sentence, choose an action where the result matters more than the person doing it. Make that element the subject, use “être + past participle”, and add the agent only if useful.

Mon ordinateur a été réparé par un technicien.Le contrat sera relu par l’avocate.Les invitations sont envoyées par le secrétariat.La porte a été ouverte par le gardien.Cette enquête est menée par une équipe indépendante.Les photos seront prises par un professionnel.

Watch out

Start with the subject and time reference. Only then choose the tense or verb form: word-for-word translation often leads to the wrong tense.

4. Guided practice

5. Independent practice

6. Write / speak

Write three sentences you could genuinely say or send. Change the subject, context and at least one lexical element.

7. Check your learning

8. Remember

To produce a passive sentence, choose an action where the result matters more than the person doing it.

Download worksheet (PDF)

9. Now I can…

I can recognise “Passive voice and agent” in a new example.
I can justify my choice and create an example.