CEFR B1
What you will learn
- Interpret on as people in general, an unidentified agent or colloquial nous while keeping the verb singular.
- Build the passive in several tenses and decide whether the text focuses on the agent, action or affected entity.
Before you start
- Recognise the vocabulary and forms shown in this lesson’s key idea and paradigm.
The idea
“On” and the passive can describe the same event but organise information differently: one keeps an action with an implicit human agent, while the other turns the affected entity into the subject.
“On” is always a third-person singular grammatical subject: “on parle”, “on va”, “on a fermé”. It can mean people in general, an unidentified person or colloquial “nous”. Context, not the verb form, identifies the referent.
When “on” stands for a known group, an adjective or participle can show its number and gender: two women can say “on est arrivées”. The auxiliary remains singular —“on est”— even though the participle is plural.
The passive uses “être” in the required tense plus a participle agreeing with the subject: “la route est fermée”, “la passerelle a été réparée”. When relevant, the agent is normally introduced by “par”.
Choice depends on focus. “On a fermé la route” foregrounds the action and leaves the responsible people implicit. “La route a été fermée” presents the road and its state or an administrative fact. French also has pronominal constructions such as “ça se fait”, so do not translate every impersonal-looking form automatically with “on”.
Working paradigm
| Focus | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| acción/personas implícitas | on + verbe actif singulier | on a réparé la passerelle |
| entidad afectada | sujet + être + participe | la passerelle a été réparée |
| agente relevante | passif + par + agent | la passerelle a été réparée par des bénévoles |
| grupo conocido | on + verbe singulier + accord du prédicat | Lina et moi, on est arrivées |
The verb form with on does not change; visible agreement may appear in a predicate adjective or participle.
How it sounds
- La passerelle a été réparée par des bénévoles.The new focus is “la passerelle”. The tense is the perfect: “a été”. “Passerelle” is feminine singular: “réparée”. The agent is informative and stays with “par”.
Check objective 1Another case
A proposed answer is “parlent” for this case: “Ici, on parlent français et italien.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “parlons” for this case: “Ici, on parlons français et italien.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: parle — On is a third-person singular subject even when it includes many people.
On is a third-person singular subject even when it includes many people.
Answer: parle — On is a third-person singular subject even when it includes many people.
On is a third-person singular subject even when it includes many people.
Check objective 2Another case
A proposed answer is “ont réparé” for this case: “Des techniciennes ont réparé les machines. → Les machines ont réparé par des techniciennes.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “sont été réparées” for this case: “Des techniciennes ont réparé les machines. → Les machines sont été réparées par des techniciennes.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: ont été réparées — Passive perfect: “ont été” plus feminine plural participle “réparées”.
Passive perfect: “ont été” plus feminine plural participle “réparées”.
Answer: ont été réparées — Passive perfect: “ont été” plus feminine plural participle “réparées”.
Passive perfect: “ont été” plus feminine plural participle “réparées”.
When it doesn't hold
What breaks the rule, said out loud. Hiding it is what makes you feel cheated in the exam.
- Action with implicit agentOn a fermé la route.
- Result or announcementLa route a été fermée.
- Habitual property with seCe tissu se lave facilement.
What your own language pushes you to say
Wrong On sont arrivées à midi.
Right On est arrivées à midi.
When on represents several women, the participle may be feminine plural, but the verb remains third-person singular. A plural referent does not make the grammatical subject plural.
Challenge: apply both rules
Solve both cases and justify each choice: 1) Una propuesta responde «parlent» a este caso: «Ici, on parlent français et italien.». Elige la única forma válida. 2) Una propuesta responde «ont réparé» a este caso: «Des techniciennes ont réparé les machines. → Les machines ont réparé par des techniciennes.». Elige la única forma válida.
Answer available without interaction
- Interpret on as people in general, an unidentified agent or colloquial nous while keeping the verb singular.
- Build the passive in several tenses and decide whether the text focuses on the agent, action or affected entity.
Answer: parle · ont été réparées
On is a third-person singular subject even when it includes many people. Passive perfect: “ont été” plus feminine plural participle “réparées”.
Curriculum alignment and sources
- CEFR B1 · understand the main points of clear messages on familiar matters, handle common situations and produce simple connected text. · Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Companion Volume
- French-specific reference descriptions used to cross-check B1 forms; they are not a universal school curriculum. · Reference Level Descriptions · French
- El MCER sirve de referencia, pero la norma estatal no asigna B1.1/B1.2 a cursos. La secuencia del catálogo es editorial. · Real Decreto 217/2022, currículo básico de ESO
- Las fuentes oficiales distinguen recorridos. Este paquete no publica una equivalencia universal B1→ano. · Organização curricular · Francês · iniciação e continuação
- La fuente reutilizada fija A1 al final del primer ciclo para esta materia y no acredita B1 en un curso italiano concreto. · Decreto 9 dicembre 2025, n. 221 · nuove Indicazioni nazionali
Continue along this corridor
Practise this: on, the French way to be impersonalFrench subjunctive: forms, triggers and contrast with the indicativePast participle agreement: auxiliary, object and positionReported speech: person, tense and viewpointSi clauses: real, imagined and past conditionsSpoken and written French: adapting register