You saw in Day 16 how on + an active verb is a useful alternative when a passive construction is grammatically impossible. It is also used more widely, even when a passive would be grammatically possible. For example: On a arrêté les cambrioleurs (as an alternative to: Les cambrioleurs ont été arrêtés). [The burglars have been arrested.] However, remember that you cannot use on in the following cases:

When the action is not performed by a human being. For example:

La ville a été inondée. [The town was flooded.]

When the agent, human or non-human, is specified:

La lettre a été tapée par la secrétaire. [The letter was typed by the secretary.] L’arbre a été touché par la foudre. [The tree was struck by lightning.] Without translating the following, indicate which sentences could be translated into French using on + active verb (Yes) and which could not (No).

I had the sun in my eyes and was momentarily blinded.

He is said to be dangerously ill.

He was seen leaving at midnight.

The house was struck by lightning.

When the agent is specified, and it is therefore not possible to use on + active verb, a good option is to turn the sentence round into an active sentence. For example: Le directeur lui a demandé de partir. [She was asked by the director to leave.] 112Translate the following into French, turning the sentences round and using an active verb in each case.