French passive voice: être + past participle
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French passive voice: être + past participle
In the passive, the person or thing receiving an action becomes the subject. Conjugate être for the tense and agree the past participle with that subject. Par often introduces the agent.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
Present passive
Les repas sont préparés par notre équipe.
The meals are prepared by our team.
Past passive
La fenêtre a été réparée hier.
The window was repaired yesterday.
Common mix-ups
The participle agrees with the feminine plural subject lettres.
The letters are sent.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in French before opening the example.
The houses were built in 1990. Use the passive and passé composé.
Show one possible answer
Les maisons ont été construites en 1990.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
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Related grammar
Grammar references
Practice French grammar in context
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