Impersonal / “On” Sentences
In French, on is the go-to way to make sentences impersonal, to talk about people in general, or to replace passive voice in everyday speech. This guide walks through how to use on, when to use il faut and similar expressions, and touches briefly on the passive voice.
On
Use on to mean "people in general," "we," or "they" in an informal and flexible way. On always takes third-person singular verbs, and it can stand in for more specific agents when the speaker doesn't need to name them.
Examples
Replacing Passive with On
French often uses on to turn passive ideas into active-sounding sentences that feel more natural in conversation. Instead of the passive voice, use on plus a verb to imply the agent.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☁️ On a annulé le vol ce matin. | The flight was canceled this morning. | Passive with on |
| 📧 On a envoyé les billets par email. | The tickets were sent by email. | Neutral agent |
| 🧳 On a perdu les bagages de plusieurs passagers. | Several passengers’ luggage was lost. | Focus on event |
| 🛠️ On a réparé la panneau d’affichage à l’aéroport. | The display board at the airport was repaired. | Impersonal notice |
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Il Faut and Impersonal Expressions
For general necessity or rules, use il faut plus an infinitive. Other impersonal expressions like il est nécessaire de or c’est interdit de add formality and can specify requirements. These constructions do not refer to a specific person but to people in general.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☁️ Il faut arriver tôt pour passer la sécurité. | It is necessary to arrive early to get through security. | General requirement |
| 🧴 Il faut enlever les liquides avant le contrôle. | You must remove liquids before the checkpoint. | Safety rule |
| 🗳️ Il faut composter son billet avant de monter dans le train. | You have to validate your ticket before boarding the train. | Travel instruction |
| 📢 Il faut écouter les annonces pour connaître la porte d’embarquement. | You must listen to the announcements to know the boarding gate. | Important notice |
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Passive Voice
The passive voice (être + past participle) is more common in formal writing, notices, and when the agent matters or is mentioned. Use it to emphasize the action or when the responsible party is unknown or irrelevant. For everyday speech, on is usually smoother.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☁️ Le vol a été retardé à cause du brouillard. | The flight was delayed because of the fog. | Passive report |
| 🧳 Les bagages ont été étiquetés plusieurs fois. | The luggage was tagged several times. | Process description |
| 🧑✈️ Le train a été contrôlé par des agents avant le départ. | The train was inspected by officers before departure. | Formal check |
| 🧹 Les quais ont été nettoyés pendant la pause. | The platforms were cleaned during the break. | Maintenance notice |
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Summary
Use on for generalizing and informal impersonal actions, il faut for rules and necessities, and reserve the passive voice for formal contexts or when you want to highlight or omit the agent. This approach keeps your French natural and clear.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025