passive

• Qualifie une personne ou une chose qui ne manifeste pas d'activité, ne participe pas ou ne réagit pas ; également utilisé en grammaire pour décrire une forme verbale où le sujet subit l'action.

Describes a person or thing that is not active, not participating, or not reacting; also used in grammar to describe a verb form where the subject receives the action.

1. Not active or participatingB1formal

   Accepting or allowing what happens without active response or resistance.

   passif (qui ne réagit pas)

   • He remained passive during the argument.
   • She took a passive role in the group project.
   • Passive behavior can sometimes be mistaken for agreement.

   Synonymesapatheticcompliantdocileidleinactiveinertsubmissiveunresponsiveyielding

   Antonymesactiveassertiveinvolvedparticipatingresponsive

2. Grammar: passive voiceB2formal

   Describing a verb form where the subject receives the action rather than performs it.

   Voix passive

   • The sentence 'The cake was eaten by the boy' uses the passive voice.
   • In passive constructions, the agent is often omitted.
   • The teacher explained how to form the passive tense.

   Antonymesactive

• Nom désignant la voix grammaticale ou la forme verbale dans laquelle le sujet subit l'action, ou un état d'inaction, de soumission ou de passivité.

A noun referring to a grammatical voice or form in which the subject of the verb is the recipient of the action, or a state of being inactive or submissive.

1. Grammar: passive voiceB2formal

   The form of a verb used when the subject is affected by the action, rather than performing it.

   Voix passive

   • In English, the passive is formed with 'to be' and a past participle.
   • The passive is often used in scientific writing.
   • She prefers to write in the passive for formal reports.

   Synonymespassive voice

   Antonymesactive