Breakdown of Le secret se garde depuis longtemps.
longtemps
for a long time
garder
to keep
le secret
the secret
se
himself, herself, themselves (reflexive)
depuis
since/for
Questions & Answers about Le secret se garde depuis longtemps.
Why is se garde used here instead of est gardé?
This sentence uses the pronominal passive. In French, when an inanimate object or concept like Le secret is the subject, it is very common to use the reflexive pronoun se with the third-person verb instead of the standard passive voice. Even though it literally looks like the secret 'keeps itself,' it translates to 'is kept.'
The translation says 'has been kept,' but se garde is in the present tense. Why the mismatch?
This is a classic rule when using depuis (for/since). When a situation started in the past and is still continuing in the present, French uses the present tense. English uses the present perfect ('has been kept'), but French treats it as a present reality: the secret is currently being kept, and this has been going on for a long time.
Can I use this same structure if a person is being guarded?
Generally, no. The pronominal passive is reserved for inanimate things or concepts. If you used a person as the subject with se garde, a French speaker would interpret it as a true reflexive action meaning the person 'protects himself' or 'keeps himself safe,' rather than a passive 'is being guarded.'
Would it be wrong to just say Le secret est gardé depuis longtemps?
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