Accueil > Grammaire > Verbes > Passive Le Passif est la voix, qui, au contraire de l'actif, permet de mettre en sujet l'élément qui subit l'action du verbe. Il se forme avec l'auxiliaire 'be' et le participe passé du verbe. Celui qui fait l'action peut être indiqué par un complément d'agent introduit par 'by' : Nature is polluted (by man). La nature est polluée (par l'homme). Conjugaison : Le passif se conjugue avec l'auxiliaire be conjugué + le verbe au participe passé. Il peut donc s'employer à tous les temps, et aussi après les auxiliaires modaux. Was nature so polluted in the past? = La nature était-elle si polluée dans le passé ? Nature has not been polluted here. = La nature n'a pas été polluée ici. Nature is being polluted here. = La nature est en train d'être polluée ici. Nature will be more polluted in the future. = La nature sera plus polluée à l'avenir. Nature would be less polluted, if we were careful. = La nature serait moins polluée, si nous faisions attention. They want not to be polluted. = Ils veulent ne pas être pollués. Being polluted is not inevitable. = Etre pollué n'est pas inévitable. Le passif est plus utilisé en anglais qu'en français, car non seulement il traduit le passif français, mais aussi beaucoup de structures qu'on ne traduira souvent en français que par une voix active commençant par "on", ou employant un verbe pronominal. Par exemple, en anglais, au contraire du français, un verbe suivi d'une préposition peut se conjuguer au passif : He is often talked to. = On lui parle souvent. Beaucoup de verbes pronominaux français se traduiront par un passif anglais: I am called Nancy. = Je m'appelle Nancy. Passive is more often used in English. = Le passif s'emploie plus souvent en anglais. Avec les verbes qui, à l'actif, peuvent être suivis de deux compléments, le sujet de la phrase passive sera plutôt l'objet indirect que l'objet direct, au contraire du français. Phrase active : Peter gave Mary this book. = Peter donna à Mary ce livre. Phrase passive à partir de l'objet indirect: Mary was given this book by Peter. (Il n'existe pas de traduction littérale en français : Mary a reçu ce livre de Peter.) Phrase passive à partir de l'objet direct: This book was given to Mary by Peter. = Ce livre fut donné à Mary par Peter. (forme bien plus rare en anglais). Autres emplois : Tell something to someone (dire quelquechose à quelqu'un): Mary was told this story. On raconté cette histoire à Mary. Show something to someone (montrer quelquechose à quelqu'un): Mary was shown the solution. On montra la solution à Mary. Send something to someone (envoyer quelquechose à quelqu'un): Mary was sent a letter. On envoya une lettre à Mary. Forgive someone for something (Pardonner quelquechose à quelqu'un): Mary was forgiven for her mistakes. On pardonna ses erreurs à Mary. Lend something to someone (prêter quelquechose à quelqu'un): Mary was lent a pen. On prêta un stylo à Mary. De même, une grande partie des verbes suivis d'une proposition en to + V : ask : Mary was asked to do this. On demanda à Mary de faire ceci. tell: Mary was told to do this. On dit a Mary de faire ceci. expect: Mary was expected to do this. On s'attendait à ce que Mary fasse ceci. teach: Mary was taught to do this. On apprit à Mary à faire ceci. make: Mary was made to do this. On fit faire ceci à Mary. (voir la traduction de faire faire) see: Mary was seen to do this. On vit Mary faire ceci. hear: Mary was heard to do this. On entendit Mary faire ceci. Exercises 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the passive: 1.Many animals (protect) (1)___________________ by Greenpeace. 2.(paper recycle) (2)_______________________ in France? 3.Lead-free petrol (not use) (3)___________________ by many drivers. 4.Many elephants (kill) (4)___________________ in Africa every year. 5.A lot of species (massacre) (5)_____________________________ since 1900. 6.The damage (never pay) (6)_________________________ by the polluter. 7.Too much litter (dump) (7)___________________________ here in 1970. 8.These creams (test) (8)___________________ ____________________on animals in the past. 9.(this hole - dig) (9)_______________________ by my dog last week? 10.The horses (not ride) (10)_______________ _______________________ yesterday. 2. Compléter le paragraphe en mettant le verbe au passif et au bon temps (utiliser des formes pleines): This building is Barford Hall. It (1)____________________ (build) in 1827 and today it (2)____________________ (regard) as the finest Georgian building in the country. A number of changes (3)____________________ (make) since it (4)____________________ (build), but the front of the building (5)____________________ (not change). Today the Hall (6)____________________ (own) by Bardale Council, and for the last ten years it (7)____________________ (use) as a home for Bardford Arts Centre. At the moment a smart art gallery (8)____________________ (build) behind the Hall. 7. Translate the sentences using the passive. 1- On l'a trouvé dans le jardin. It ____________________________________. 2- On lui dira. He _________________________________. 3-On m'a donné une montre. ______________________________ a watch. 4- On parle anglais ici. _____________________________ here. 5- On a donné une radio à Paul. Paul ____________________________________. 6- On vous montrera la lettre. _________________________________ the letter. 7- On leur a prêté de l'argent. ________________________________________. 8- Cette pièce a été écrite par Bernard Shaw. This play _________________________________ Bernard Shaw. 9- Il a été renversé par une voiture. ________________________________________. 10- Le nouvel hôpital sera inauguré par la reine. (open) ___________________________________. 11- On lui a envoyé un télégramme de la part de la reine. ____________________________________ ______________________on behalf of the Queen. 12- On lui a montré plus d'appartements. _______________________________ more flats. 13- On dira toute la vérité à Julie. ___________________________ the whole truth. 14- On lui a demandé de chanter. He _____________________________________ . 15- On m'a dit de me taire. _______________________________ to shut up. 8. Translate the sentences using the passive. 1- On nous attend à 8h. ________________________________________. 2- On m'a donné ce billet. ________________________________________. 3- On ne l'a pas vu partir. ________________________________________. 4- On vous autorise à conduire. ________________________________________. 5- On parle anglais ici. ________________________________________. 6- On considère Joan Baez comme une chanteuse formidable. ________________________________________. 7- Cette lettre aurait dû être postée hier. ________________________________________. 8- Un hôpital est en cours de construction près du parc. ________________________________________. 9- Donnera-t-on des fleurs à Sheila pour son anniversaire? _____________________________ ________________________________________? 10- On sait que les infirmières sont mal payées. ________________________________________. 11- On a dû l'emmener au commissariat de police.( forte supposition) ________________________________________. 12- On le dit malade. ________________________________________. 13- On avait pénétré par effraction dans la maison. ________________________________________. 14- Il se peut qu'on l'ait kidnappée. ________________________________________. 15- Il est demandé aux visiteurs de ne pas toucher les tableaux. _____________________________________ _____________________________the paintings. 3.Mettre ces phrases au passif. 1- Lots of people visit the Statue of Liberty. (1)_____________________________________. 2- Ferries bring visitors to the island. (2)_____________________________________. 3- Everybody knows the famous statue. (3)_____________________________________. 4- Bartholdi designed the Statue. (4)______________________________________. 5- Eiffel built it. (5)______________________________________. 6- Many people have seen the Statue. (6)______________________________________. 7- Doctors told immigrants if they could enter the country. (7)_______________________________ ________________ if they could enter the country. 4. Mettre ces phrases au passif. (Ne pas indiquer le complément d'agent introduit par "by") 1- Someone has cut out the words out of the Times. _____________________________________________. 2- A man followed Dr. Watson. _____________________________________________ . 3- Sir Charles left a lot of money to Sir Henry. _____________________________________________ . 4- Dr. Mortimer brought Sir Henry to Sherlock Holmes's place. _____________________________________________. 5- Holmes asked him lots of questions. _____________________________________________. 6- The police arrested the suspect. _____________________________________________. 5. Rewrite the following paragraph focusing on the places damaged by tourism. Make them the subject of each sentence: Six million people visited Hawaï last year. ______________________________________________________last year. You can no longer find deserted beaches there. ______________________________________________________no longer _________________________________________________there. People have transformed the footpaths in the Lake District into trenches. ______________________________________________________in the Lake District _________________________________________________. The breath and body heat of the visitors are damaging the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. _____________________________________________________. The tourists'feet will have completely eroded the floor of Notre Dame in a few decades. ______________________________________________________completely _______________________________________by the tourists' feet in a few decades. 6. Put these sentences into the passive if possible, or into the active. Use the simple past. 1- the American colonies - rule - Britain ___________________________________________. 2- the colonies - win - their independence - 1783 ___________________________________________. 3- Washington - become - president - 1789 ___________________________________________. 4- Louisiana - buy - from France ___________________________________________. 5- gold - discover - California ___________________________________________. 6- the Civil War - win - the North ___________________________________________. 7- Black people - want - equal rights ___________________________________________. 8- Kennedy - shoot - 1963 _______________________________. A hospital is being built near the parc English is spoken here He hasn't been seen leaving He is said to be ill He must have been taken to the police station I've been given this ticket Joan Baez is thought to be a fantastic singer Nurses are known to be badly paid She may have been kidnapped The house had been broken into This letter should have been posted yesterday Visitors are asked not to touch We're expected at 8 Will Sheila be given some flowers for her birthday You're allowed to drive ----------Clef---------- Translate these sentences into English: Traduire ces phrases en mettant le verbe au passif. 1- On nous attend à 8h. We're expected at 8. 2- On m'a donné ce billet. I've been given this ticket. 3- On ne l'a pas vu partir. He hasn't been seen leaving. 4- On vous autorise à conduire. You're allowed to drive. 5- On parle anglais ici. English is spoken here. 6- On considère Joan Baez comme une chanteuse formidable. Joan Baez is thought to be a fantastic singer. 7- Cette lettre aurait dû être postée hier. This letter should have been posted yesterday. 8- Un hôpital est en cours de construction près du parc. A hospital is being built near the parc. 9- Donnera-t-on des fleur à Sheila pour son anniversaire? Will Sheila be given some flowers for her birthday? 10- On sait que les infirmières sont mal payées. Nurses are known to be badly paid. 11- On a dû l'emmener au commissariat de police.( forte supposition) He must have been taken to the police station. 12- On le dit malade. He is said to be ill. 13- On avait pénétré par effraction dans la maison. The house had been broken into. 14- Il se peut qu'on l'ait kidnappée. She may have been kidnapped. 15- Il est demandé aux visiteurs de ne pas toucher les tableaux. Visitors are asked not to touch the paintings . English is spoken has been found in the garden has been given a radio He has been run down by a car He has been sent a telegram He has been shown I've been given I've been told Julie will be told 's been asked to sing The new hospital will be opened by the Queen They've been lent some money was written by will be told You'll be shown ----------Clef---------- Translate 1- On l'a trouvé dans le jardin. It has been found in the garden. 2- On lui dira. He will be told. 3-On m'a donné une montre. I've been given a watch. 4- On parle anglais ici. English is spoken here. 5- On a donné une radio à Paul. Paul has been given a radio. 6- On vous montrera la lettre. You'll be shown the letter. 7- On leur a prêté de l'argent. They've been lent some money. 8- Cette pièce a été écrite par Bernard Shaw. This play was written by Bernard Shaw. 9- Il a été renversé par une voiture. He has been run down by a car. 10- Le nouvel hôpital sera inauguré par la reine. (to open ) The new hospital will be opened by the Queen. 11- On lui a envoyé un télégramme de la part de la reine. He has been sent a telegram on behalf of the Queen. 12- On lui a montré plus d'appartements. He has been shown more flats. 13- On dira toute la vérité à Julie. Julie will be told the whole truth. 14- On lui a demandé de chanter. He 's been asked to sing . 15- On m'a dit de me taire. I've been told to shut up. Black people wanted equal rights Gold was discovered in California Kennedy was shot in 1963 Louisiana was bought from France The American colonies were ruled by Britain The Civil War was won by the North The colonies won their independence in 1783 Washington became president in 1789 ----------Clef---------- Passive or active ? Put these sentences into the passive if possible, or into the active. Use the simple past. 1- the American colonies - rule - Britain The American colonies were ruled by Britain. 2- the colonies - win - their independence - 1783 The colonies won their independence in 1783. 3- Washington - become - president - 1789 Washington became president in 1789. 4- Louisiana - buy - from France Louisiana was bought from France. 5- gold - discover - California Gold was discovered in California. 6- the Civil War - win - the North The Civil War was won by the North. 7- Black people - want - equal rights Black people wanted equal rights. 8- Kennedy - shoot - 1963 Kennedy was shot in 1963. be found Deserted beaches can eroded have been transformed into trenches Hawaï was visited by six million people The floor of Notre Dame will have been The footpaths The frescos of the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by the breath and body heat of the visitors ----------Clef---------- Passif Rewrite the following paragraph focusing on the places damaged by tourism. Make them the subject of each sentence: Six million people visited Hawaï last year. Hawaï was visited by six million people last year. You can no longer find deserted beaches there. Deserted beaches can no longer be found there. People have transformed the footpaths in the Lake District into trenches. The footpaths in the Lake District have been transformed into trenches. The breath and body heat of the visitors are damaging the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. The frescos of the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by the breath and body heat of the visitors. The tourists'feet will have completely eroded the floor of Notre Dame in a few decades. The floor of Notre Dame will have been completely eroded by the tourists' feet in a few decades. Dr. Watson was followed He was asked lots of questions Sir Henry was brought to Sherlock Holmes's place Sir Henry was left a lot of money The suspect was arrested The words have been cut out of the Times ----------Clef---------- Passif1 Mettre ces phrases au passif. (Ne pas indiquer le complément d'agent introduit par "by") 1- Someone has cut out the words out of the Times. The words have been cut out of the Times. 2- A man followed Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson was followed . 3- Sir Charles left a lot of money to Sir Henry. Sir Henry was left a lot of money . 4- Dr. Mortimer brought Sir Henry to Sherlock Holmes's place. Sir Henry was brought to Sherlock Holmes's place. 5- Holmes asked him lots of questions. He was asked lots of questions. 6- The police arrested the suspect. The suspect was arrested. Immigrants were told by doctors It was built by Eiffel The famous statue is known by everybody The Statue has been seen by many people The Statue of Liberty is visited by lots of people The Statue was designed by Bartholdi Visitors are brought to the island by ferries ----------Clef---------- Passif Mettre ces phrases au passif. 1- Lots of people visit the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is visited by lots of people. 2- Ferries bring visitors to the island. Visitors are brought to the island by ferries. 3- Everybody knows the famous statue. The famous statue is known by everybody. 4- Bartholdi designed the Statue. The Statue was designed by Bartholdi. 5- Eiffel built it. It was built by Eiffel. 6- Many people have seen the Statue. The Statue has been seen by many people. 7- Doctors told immigrants if they could enter the country. Immigrants were told by doctors if they could enter the country. has been used has not been changed have been made is being built is owned is regarded was built was built ----------Clef---------- Barford Hall Compléter le paragraphe en mettant le verbe au passif et au bon temps (utiliser des formes pleines): The building at the top of the High Street is Barford Hall. It was built (build) in 1827 and today it is regarded (regard) as the finest Georgian building in the country. A number of changes have been made (make) since it was built (build), but the front of the building has not been changed (not change). Today the Hall is owned (own) by Bardale Council, and for the last ten years it has been used (use) as a home for Bardford Arts Centre. At the moment a smart art gallery is being built (build) behind the Hall. are killed are protected have been massacred is never paid is not used Is paper recycled was dumped Was this hole dug were not ridden were tested ----------Clef---------- Passive Put the verbs in brackets into the passive: 1.Many animals (protect) are protected by Greenpeace. 2.(paper recycle) Is paper recycled in France? 3.Lead-free petrol (not use) is not used by many drivers. 4.Many elephants (kill) are killed in Africa every year. 5.A lot of species (massacre) have been massacred since 1900. 6.The damage (never pay) is never paid by the polluter. 7.Too much litter (dump) was dumped here in 1970. 8.These creams (test) were tested on animals in the past. 9.(this hole - dig) Was this hole dug by my dog last week? 10.The horses (not ride) were not ridden yesterday. Conjugaison de call au passif à l'affirmative (pour les autres formes, cliquer sur le titre du temps) Simple Present Present Perfect Present Be + ing I am called I have been called I am being called he is called he has been called he is being called we are called we have been called we are being called you are called you have been called you are being called they are called they have been called they are being called Simple Past Past Perfect Past Be + ing I was called I had been called I was being called he was called he had been called he was being called we were called we had been called we were being called you were called you had been called you were being called they were called they had been called they were being called Simple Present : Forme affirmative Forme négative Forme interrogative complète contractée complète contractée affirmative I am called I'm called I am not called I'm not called am I called? am I not called? aren't I called? he is called he's called he is not called he isn't / he's not is he not is he called? called called? we are called we're called we are not we aren't / we're are we called not called called? are we not called? aren't we called? you are called you're called you are not you aren't / are you called you're not called called? are you not called? aren't you called? they are they're they are they aren't / are they not aren't they are they nég.complète nég. contractée isn't he called? called called not called they're not called called? called? called? Simple Past : Forme affirmative Forme négative complète complète contractée affirmative nég.complète nég. contractée I was called I was not called I wasn't called was I called? was I not called? wasn't I called? he was called he was not called he wasn't called was he called? was he not called? wasn't he called? we were called we were not called we weren't called were we called? were we not called? weren't we called? you were called you were not called you weren't called were you called? were you not called? weren't you called? they were called they were not called they weren't called were they called? were they not called? weren't they called? Forme interrogative Present Perfect : Forme affirmative Forme négative Forme interrogative complète contractée complète contractée affirmative nég. contractée I have been called I've been called I have not been called I've not been called Have I been called? Haven't I been called? he has been called he's been called he has not been called he's not been called Has he been called? Hasn't he been called? we have been called we've been called we have not been called we've not been called Have we been called? Haven't we been called? you have you've been you have not you've not been been called been called called called Have you been called? Haven't you been called? they have they've been they have not they've not been been called been called called called Have they been called? Haven't they been called? Present Be + ing : Forme affirmative complète Forme négative Forme interrogative contractée complète contractée affirmative I'm being I am not being I'm not being Am I being I am being called called called called called? nég. contractée Aren't I being called? he is being called he's being he is not being he's not Is he being called called being called called? Isn't he being called? we are being called we're being called we are not being called we're not Are we being being called called? Aren't we being called? you are being called you're being called you are not being called you're not Are you being being called called? Aren't you being called? they are being called they're being called they are not being called they're not Are they being being called called? Aren't they being called?