Voices in French
There are four voices, or voix, in French, compared to only two in English. The sentence contruction for the two other ones can be tricky.
H2 Active
Same as in English
Il écrit le livre.
‘He writes the book.’
H2 Passive
Same as in English
Le livre est écrit par lui.
‘The book is written by him.’
Le livre est écrit.
‘The book is written.’
H2 Le Causatif (Causative)
This feels like a construction rather than a voice but I don’t know why it’s here.
There are different types of constructions as listed below
H3 Agent only
The subject makes an agent do something
Syntax: subject + 'faire' + verb infinitive1 + agent (direct object)
Nous allons faire travailler Céline.
‘We’re going to make Céline work.’
Il fait écrire Marie le livre.
‘He makes Marie write the book.’
H3 Recipient only
The subject makes something happen to the recipient
Syntax: subject + 'faire' + verb infinitive + recipient (direct object)
Je fais brûler le jardin le samedi.
‘I have the garden burned on Saturdays.’
H3 Agent and recipient
The subject makes an agent do something to the recipient
Syntax: subject + 'faire' + verb infinitive + recipient + 'par' or 'à' + agent (indirect object)
Je fais brûler le jardin par mon fils.
or Je fais brûler le jardin à mon fils.
‘I have my son burn the garden.’
H2 Pronominal
When the action is directed back to the subject, viz. the subject is also the object (can be direct xor indirect)
Examples:
Il s’écrit.
‘He writes to himself.’
Nous nous voyons.
‘We see ourselves.’
or ‘We see each other.’2
This can also be used passively
Le livre s’écrit.
‘The book is written.’
References