Unit 1 · Lesson 2
Formal Grammar
Government French is dense because it uses three specific structures constantly: passive voice, nominalization, and complex relative pronouns. Master these and long bureaucratic sentences become readable.
The three patterns
Passive voice — 'La décision a été prise par…'
Nominalization — procéder → la procédure
Complex relatives — dont, lequel, auxquelles
Impersonal constructions
Il convient de… → It is appropriate to…
Il y a lieu de… → There are grounds to…
Il est à noter que… → It is to be noted that…
Structures in context
Every card shows the structure in a real government sentence. Flip to see the English and the explanation.
Formal grammar: passive, nominalization, connectors
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French
La décision a été prise par le comité.
tap to flip
English
The decision was taken by the committee.
Passive voice: être + past participle. The actor (comité) comes after 'par'. Government texts use passive constantly: it avoids assigning personal responsibility.
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Match the pairs
Match each formal phrase to its English equivalent.
Formal grammar phrases
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Click a French word, then click its English match.
Breaking down a real government sentence
“Il convient de noter que les mesures auxquelles il est fait référence ont été approuvées sous réserve de la conformité aux lignes directrices établies par le Conseil du Trésor.”
Il convient de noter que → It should be noted that
les mesures auxquelles il est fait référence → the measures referred to (auxquelles = à + lesquelles)
ont été approuvées → were approved (passive, passé composé)
sous réserve de la conformité → subject to compliance
aux lignes directrices établies par le Conseil du Trésor → with the guidelines established by the Treasury Board
Full meaning: It should be noted that the measures referred to were approved subject to compliance with the guidelines established by the Treasury Board.
Apply the grammar
Test yourself on passive voice, relative pronouns, and formal impersonal constructions.
Formal grammar quiz
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'La recommandation _____ par le sous-ministre.' Which passive construction is correct?
Formal grammar mastered.
Next: writing government documents: the phrases, formulas, and structures for the SLE writing test.