Compound tenses and the infinitive
In compound tenses two participles follow each other: first été, then the participle of the main verb. This is how the passive works in the futur antérieur, the conditionnel passé and the subjonctif passé. The infinitive has a passive too, simple and past.
construire in the passive
| Form | Passive | English |
|---|---|---|
| Futur antérieur | le pont aura été construit | will have been built |
| Conditionnel passé | le pont aurait été construit | would have been built |
| Subjonctif passé | que le pont ait été construit | that the bridge has been built |
| Infinitif | être construit | to be built |
| Infinitif passé | avoir été construit | to have been built |
le pont … (the bridge)
Le rapport aura été rendu avant lundi.
The report will have been handed in before Monday.
Sans cette erreur, le contrat aurait été signé hier.
Without this mistake, the contract would have been signed yesterday.
Je suis content que le dossier ait été accepté.
I am glad the file has been accepted.
Ce plat peut être préparé la veille.
This dish can be prepared the day before.
Elle regrette d'avoir été oubliée.
She regrets having been forgotten.
The impersonal passive
Formal announcements often use il as the subject, followed by être + participle and a clause with de or que. The participle stays unchanged, because il gives it nothing to agree with. This also allows an indirect object in the passive: I was told that … is Il m'a été dit que ….
Il a été décidé de reporter la réunion.
It was decided to postpone the meeting.
Il m'a été répondu que le dossier était incomplet.
I was told that the file was incomplete.
Il lui a été interdit de quitter le pays.
He was forbidden to leave the country.
se faire and se voir + infinitive
In spoken French, se faire + infinitive replaces the passive when something happens to a person. The affected person is the subject, usually something unpleasant. In the passé composé it takes être, and fait stays unchanged. English often uses get: he got his bike stolen.
Il s'est fait voler son vélo.
He had his bike stolen.
Elle s'est fait renverser par une voiture.
She got hit by a car.
Ils se sont fait licencier en janvier.
They got laid off in January.
Elle s'est fait offrir un voyage par ses parents.
Her parents gave her a trip.
More formal is se voir + infinitive, especially when something is granted or refused. Likewise s'entendre + infinitive when someone is told something. Both correspond to English was refused … / was told ….
Elle s'est vu refuser le visa.
She was refused the visa.
Il s'est vu attribuer le premier prix.
He was awarded first prize.
Je me suis entendu dire que c'était trop tard.
I was told it was too late.
