B1IntermediateVerbs · Point 31 / 40
être + participe passé, on + verbe, Le projet est approuvé.
The passive is formed with “être” + past participle: “la transaction a été refusée”, “le projet est approuvé”, “la commande est reçue”.
| Structure | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| être | + participe passé | forms the passive voice, stresses the result |
| on | + verbe | the more natural spoken way of talking about the action |
| Le projet est approuvé. | — | present-tense passive, describes a current state |
In the passive, the participle agrees with the subject: “la transaction” → “refusée”. Both constructions are correct: the passive stresses the result, “on” stresses the action.
Examples from our dialogues 5 · 4 with audio
- Listen
Je suis désolé, la transaction a été refusée.
I am sorry, the transaction was declined.
Check The Full DialogueHandling a declined card at checkout
- Listen
Le projet est approuvé. On prépare la demande de subvention.
The project is approved. We prepare the subsidy application.
Check The Full DialogueLaunching a community project
- Listen
La confirmation veut dire que la commande est reçue, pas qu'elle est prête.
The confirmation means the order is received, not that it's ready.
Check The Full DialogueFollowing up on an online order at the desk
- Listen
Parfait. Et on a réservé une salle privée au restaurant.
Perfect. And we booked a private room at the restaurant.
Check The Full DialogueOrganizing a retirement party
Votre dossier a été envoyé hier. À l’oral, on dira plutôt : on a envoyé votre dossier hier.
Your file was sent yesterday. In speech you would rather say: we sent your file yesterday.
Common mistakes
La demande a été refusé.La demande a été refusée.
In the passive, the participle agrees with the subject: “la demande” is feminine, so “refusée”. You cannot hear the difference, but in writing it counts.
Le formulaire a été envoyé par moi.J'ai envoyé le formulaire.
When you know who did the action, the passive with “par moi” sounds heavy. Just say “j’ai envoyé”, or, if the doer does not matter, “on a envoyé le formulaire”.
Practise speaking
Les achats et commercesShopping and commerce
Shopping, paying, returning an item — the French of stores and customer service.
These dialogues use this point. They open on the dialogue page (audio, vocabulary to save).