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La voix passive se forme avec : be (conjugué au temps approprié) + past participle. Elle sert à mettre en relief le receveur de l'action ou quand l'agent est inconnu/sans importance. Exemples par temps : Present Simple : 'The book is written by the author.' Past Simple : 'The letter was sent yesterday.' Present Perfect : 'The road has been repaired.' Future : 'The results will be announced tomorrow.' Modal : 'The project must be completed by Friday.' Pour mentionner l'agent, on utilise 'by' : 'The painting was created by Picasso.' On omet l'agent quand il est évident, inconnu ou non pertinent. Cas particuliers : verbes avec deux objets (give, send, tell) peuvent former deux passifs différents. Ex : 'They gave her a prize' → 'She was given a prize' / 'A prize was given to her.'
Exercice 1 : Transformez à la voix passive.
1. Scientists discover new species every year.
2. The government has announced new measures.
3. They will build a new hospital in Dakar.
4. Someone broke the window last night.
5. The teacher corrects the exercises every day.
Exercice 2 : Transformez à la voix active.
1. The homework was done by the students.
2. A new law will be passed by Parliament.
When should we use the passive voice in English?
Correction
The passive voice is used: (1) when the agent is unknown ('My bike was stolen'); (2) when the agent is unimportant or obvious ('The results will be published next week'); (3) to emphasize the object/receiver of the action rather than the doer; (4) in formal and scientific writing, where impersonal style is preferred.
How do you form the passive with a modal verb?
Correction
Modal + be + past participle. Examples: 'The project must be finished by Monday.' 'This problem could be solved with more funding.' 'The form should be submitted online.' The modal does not change; 'be' stays in base form; the main verb becomes a past participle.
What is the passive form of 'They have given him a scholarship'?
Correction
Two passive versions are possible: (1) 'He has been given a scholarship' (indirect object becomes subject). (2) 'A scholarship has been given to him' (direct object becomes subject). The first is more natural in English.