Appendix H
Le Pronominal passif et impersonnel
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Autres formes de pronominaux – Pronominal passif et pronominal impersonnel |
A) Le Pronominal passif (Passive meaning using the pronominal format).
A passive idea can instantly be created for an inanimate object (a non-living thing) when it is the direct object of a main verb by simply putting the verb in the pronominal format.
In this case, the mirror pronoun can only be "se" (or "s'" before a vowel).
Consider the following ideas, and then we`ll use each one as an example of this easy procedure.
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"Construire une nouvelle autoroute." – Build a new highway. "Vendre la maison." – Sell the house. "Imposer la loi." – Impose the law. "Proclamer la bonne nouvelle." – Proclaim the good news. "Apprendre l'habileté." – Learn the skill. |
Each of these ideas can be given a passive meaning by putting the verb in the pronominal format with the mirror pronoun "se" (or "s'" before a vowel).
In the following tables, we'll look at each of the above ideas in a few of the Temps simples, Temps composés, and Temps combinés. (These verb structures are defined in Appendix A)
Temps simples (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps simples | Examples | English Meaning |
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Présent-Indicatif |
"Une nouvelle autoroute se construit." |
A new highway is being built. |
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Futur simple |
"La maison se vendra." |
The house will be sold / will get sold. (will sell) |
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Conditionnel présent |
"La loi s'imposerait." |
The law would be imposed. |
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Imparfait |
"La bonne nouvelle se proclamait." |
The good news was being proclaimed. |
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Subjonctif présent |
"Il faut que l'habileté s'apprenne." |
It is necessary that the skill be learned. |
Temps composés (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps composés | Examples | English Meaning |
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Passé composé |
"Une nouvelle autoroute s'est construite." |
A new highway was built / has been built. |
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Futur antérieur |
"La maison se sera vendue." |
The house will have sold / will have been sold / will have gotten sold. |
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Conditionnel passé |
"La loi se serait imposée." |
The law would have been imposed. |
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Plus-que-parfait |
"La bonne nouvelle s'était proclamée." |
The good news had been proclaimed. |
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Subjonctif passé |
"C'est merveilleux que l'habileté se soit apprise." |
It is wonderful / marvellous that the skill has been learned / was learned. |
Temps combinés (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps combinés | Examples | English Meaning |
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Présent continu |
"Une nouvelle autoroute est en train de se construire." |
A new highway is in the process of being / getting built. |
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Futur proche |
"La maison va se vendre." |
The house is going to sell / is going to be sold / is going to get sold. |
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Passé récent |
"La loi vient de s'imposer." |
The law has just been imposed / was just imposed. |
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Présent continu au Conditionnel présent |
"La bonne nouvelle serait en train de se proclamer." |
The good news would be in the process of being proclaimed. |
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Présent continu au Conditionnel passé |
"L'habileté aurait été en train de s'apprendre." |
The skill would have been in the process of being learned. |
B) Le Pronominal impersonnel (Passive form using the impersonal pronominal format).
There is one last pronominal format that is less often used but which displays a special elegance.
It also creates a passive idea and is always conjugated with the impersonal subject "il" and the mirror pronoun "se", or "s'" before a vowel.
Consider the following ideas, and then we`ll use each one as an example of this final pronominal procedure.
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"Construire beaucoup d'appartements dans ce quartier." – Build many aprtments in this neighbourhood. "Vendre plusieurs produits électroniques." – Sell several electronic products. "Dire des choses importantes." – Say (some) important things. "Entendre des bruits étranges." – Hear (some) strange noises. "Produire ici les meilleurs vins de la région." – Produce the best wines of the region here. |
Each of these ideas can be given a passive meaning by putting the verb in the impersonal pronominal format, using the impersonal subject "il" and the mirror pronoun "se", or "s'" before a vowel.
In the following tables, we'll look at the above ideas in a few of the Temps simples, Temps composés, and Temps combinés. (These verb structures are defined in Appendix A)
- The "il" and the "se/s'" have been underlined in each example.
Temps simples (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps simples | Examples | English Meaning |
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Présent-Indicatif |
"Il se construit beaucoup d'appartements dans ce quartier." |
Many apartments are built / are being built / are getting built in this neighborhood. |
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Futur simple |
"Il se vendra plusieurs produits électroniques." |
Several electronic products will be sold / will get sold / will sell. |
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Conditionnel présent |
"Il se dirait des choses importantes." |
(Some) Important things would be said / would get said. |
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Imparfait |
"Il s'entendait des bruits étranges." |
Strange sounds were being heard. |
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Subjonctif présent |
"Ce n'est pas surprenant qu'il se produise ici les meilleurs vins de la région." |
It is not surprising that the best wines of the region are produced / are being produced here. |
Temps composés (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps composés | Examples | English Meaning |
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Passé composé |
"Il s'est construit beaucoup d'appartements dans ce quartier." |
Many apartments have been built / have gotten built / were built in this neighborhood. |
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Futur antérieur |
"Il se sera vendu plusieurs produits électroniques." |
Several electronic products will have sold / will have been sold / will have gotten sold. |
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Conditionnel passé |
"Il se serait dit des choses importantes." |
(Some) Important things would have been said / would have gotten said. |
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Plus-que-parfait |
"Il s'était entendu des bruits étranges." |
Strange sounds had been heard. |
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Subjonctif passé |
"Ce n'est pas surprenant qu'il se soit produit ici les meilleurs vins de la région." |
It is not surprising that the best wines of the region have been produced / were produced here. |
Temps combinés (Defined in Appendix A) |
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| Temps combinés | Examples | English Meaning |
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Présent continu |
"Il est en train de se construire beaucoup d'appartements dans ce quartier." |
Many apartments are in the process of being built / are in the process of getting built in this neighborhood. |
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Futur proche |
"Il va se vendre plusieurs produits électroniques." |
Several electronic products are going to be sold / are going to get sold / are going to sell. |
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Passé récent |
"Il vient de se dire des choses importantes." |
(Some) Important things have just been said / were just said. |
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Passé récent à l'Imparfait |
"Il venait de s'entendre des bruits étranges." |
(Some) Strange sounds had just been heard. |
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Futur proche au passé |
"Il allait se produire ici les meilleurs vins de la région." |
The best wines of the region were going to be produced here. |