Normally, the passive voice uses par (by) to introduce the agent of an action. However, when a passive sentence describes a state of being, a condition, or a physical description rather than a dynamic action, French uses de (or d') instead of par.
| The nucleus is surrounded by a membrane. | Le noyau est entouré d'une membrane. |
| The membrane is composed of a thick layer. | La membrane est composée d'une couche épaisse. |
This structure is especially common with verbs that express composition, filling, or covering:
| The cell is filled with particles. | La cellule est remplie de particules. |
| The wall is constituted of liquid. | La paroi est constituée de liquide. |
| The wall is lined with this substance. | La paroi est tapissée de cette substance. |
| The membrane is dotted with particles. | La membrane est parsemée de particules. |
| The nucleus is coated with an unknown substance. | Le noyau est revêtu d'une substance inconnue. |
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