On m'a donné un livre: when French avoids the passive

French often says on instead

English uses the passive to hide who did something. French prefers an active verb with on (someone, people):

• On m'a volé mon sac. - My bag was stolen (literally, someone stole my bag from me).
• Ici, on parle français. - French is spoken here.
• On a annulé le concert. - The concert has been cancelled.

For general truths, French also turns the verb reflexive with se:

• Ça ne se dit pas. - That is not said.
• Le vin blanc se boit frais. - White wine is drunk chilled.

Keep the être passive for when you name the doer, or for formal writing. More ways round it are on avoiding the passive.

I was given a book: no passive

Only a direct object can become the subject of a French passive. In donner un livre à quelqu'un, the book is the direct object; the person, after à, is the indirect one.

123

1. 1on
2. 2un livre
3. 3me

On m'a donné un livre (I was given a book): on (1) gives, un livre (2) is the direct object, and me (3) receives it, the indirect object. Only the book could become a passive subject.

English makes the receiver the subject (I was given a book). French cannot, so use on:

The book itself can be the subject, in a formal register: Un livre m'a été donné. - A book was given to me.

Mistakes English speakers make