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30 November 2009
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Le Mensuel/Language Focus

Language Focus

Verbs - Passive voice

In this section - See how sentences can be 'active or 'passive'. Compare 'the police searched the premises' and 'the premises were searched by the police' - or simply 'the premises were searched'. The last two are in the passive voice.

The passive voice is made with a form of 'être' followed by a past participle, which in writing agrees with the subject, although in speech there's no difference, e.g. 'Il y avait de véritables esclaves qui étaient méprisés et humiliés.'

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Peut-on jamais réhabiliter des enfants meurtriers?
Judging children who commit murder



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