C1 · Avanzado Capítulo 8

Achieving Objectivity in Writing

5 Reglas totales
52 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of professional detachment to communicate with authority and academic precision in Portuguese.

  • Employ impersonal structures to remove subjective bias.
  • Apply the 'se' particle to create sophisticated passive voice constructions.
  • Utilize formal research terminology for data-driven presentations.
Elevate your voice to professional authority.

Lo que aprenderás

Ready to take a monumental leap in your Portuguese journey? This chapter is a game-changer! We're diving into what truly transforms your Portuguese from 'good' to 'great': achieving objectivity in writing. Here, you'll learn to move beyond personal opinions like 'I think...' to express yourself with the unbiased authority of a seasoned professional. What specifically will you master? You'll conquer impersonal expressions such as É preciso (it's necessary) and É importante (it's important), lending a professional and authoritative tone to your communication. We'll delve deep into the formal passive voice with se, understanding how to transform subjects into objects for an impeccably neutral and academic style. You'll identify and expertly use impersonal verbs like Haver in formal contexts, giving your words significant weight. You'll even learn how to employ formal phrases for data presentation, saying 'it was observed' instead of 'I saw.' Why is this crucial? Imagine writing a vital business report in Portuguese, presenting at a scientific conference, or engaging in a high-level discussion where conveying information with authority, precision, and undeniable objectivity is paramount. This chapter provides the exact tools you need to achieve just that. By the end, you won't just be a good Portuguese speaker; you'll be able to present information like a master, manage complex discussions, and articulate your thoughts in any professional or academic setting with unparalleled credibility and power. Ready to elevate your Portuguese to truly sophisticated heights? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Transform subjective opinions into objective, formal statements.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your journey to mastering C1 Portuguese grammar! This guide is designed to elevate your writing from merely good to truly exceptional, focusing on the art of achieving objectivity. As you progress in Portuguese grammar, moving beyond personal opinions and subjective statements becomes essential, especially in professional and academic contexts.
This chapter will equip you with the tools to express yourself with the unbiased authority of a seasoned professional. You’ll learn to master impersonal expressions like É preciso (it’s necessary) and É importante (it’s important), lending a powerful, authoritative tone to your communication. We’ll delve deep into the formal passive voice with se, understanding how to transform subjects into objects for an impeccably neutral and academic style.
By the end, you'll not only understand these complex structures but also wield them to present information, manage discussions, and articulate thoughts with unparalleled credibility. This is your gateway to advanced Portuguese writing, preparing you for high-level discourse in any setting.

How This Grammar Works

Achieving objectivity in C1 Portuguese writing hinges on several key grammatical structures that shift focus from the speaker to the information itself. First, Impersonal Expressions like É preciso (it’s necessary) and É importante (it’s important) are fundamental. They present a statement as a general truth or an objective requirement, rather than a personal belief.
For example, instead of
Eu acho que devemos agir
(I think we should act), you'd say,
É preciso agir
(It's necessary to act), which carries more weight. Similarly,
É importante considerar todos os ângulos
(It's important to consider all angles) conveys an objective truth.
Next, the Formal & Academic Passive (The 'Se' Particle) is crucial. This construction, often called the impersonal or passive se, removes the agent from the action, making the statement general and objective. It’s formed by adding se to the verb, which then agrees with the noun it refers to.
For instance,
Vendem-se carros aqui
(Cars are sold here / One sells cars here) focuses on the action of selling cars, not who is doing the selling. This is widely used in official documents and academic papers.
We also explore Portuguese Formal Impersonal Verbs, particularly Haver. In formal contexts, haver is used impersonally to mean there is/are, as in
Há muitas razões para essa conclusão
(There are many reasons for this conclusion). This contrasts with the more informal ter, often used in spoken Portuguese.
Finally, Formal Research Phrases: Presenting Data Like a Pro are essential for academic and professional reporting. Phrases such as
Observou-se que...
(It was observed that...),
Verificou-se que...
(It was verified that...), or
Constatou-se que...
(It was found that...) allow you to present findings objectively, attributing the observation to a general process rather than a specific individual. For example,
Verificou-se que os dados são consistentes
(It was verified that the data are consistent) lends credibility and formality to your report.
Mastering these tools will significantly enhance your ability to write with authority and precision.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu acho que é necessário mais investigação.
(I think that more investigation is necessary.)
✓ Correct: É necessário mais investigação.
(More investigation is necessary.)
*Explanation:* The first version is subjective, starting with Eu acho (I think). The correct version uses the impersonal expression É necessário to present the statement as an objective fact or requirement, lending more authority and formality to the writing.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Os problemas resolvem-se facilmente.
(The problems solve themselves easily.)
✓ Correct: Os problemas resolvem-se facilmente.
(The problems are easily solved / One easily solves the problems.)
*Explanation:* While the Portuguese sentence looks the same, the common mistake is interpreting the se as reflexive (solve themselves) instead of the impersonal/passive se. The correct understanding is that the problems *are solved* by an unspecified agent, which is the objective and formal use of the se particle.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Tem muitas opções disponíveis.
(It has many options available.)
✓ Correct: Há muitas opções disponíveis.
(There are many options available.)
*Explanation:* In formal and academic Portuguese writing, haver is the correct impersonal verb to express existence (there is/are). While ter is frequently used impersonally in informal spoken Portuguese, it should be avoided in C1-level objective writing.

Real Conversations

A

A

Para o novo regulamento, é preciso que todos os departamentos estejam alinhados. (For the new regulation, it's necessary that all departments are aligned.)
B

B

Concordo. É importante que a comunicação seja clara e eficiente. (I agree. It's important that the communication be clear and efficient.)
A

A

No último estudo, verificou-se uma correlação significativa entre as variáveis. (In the last study, a significant correlation between the variables was verified.)
B

B

Interessante. Observou-se alguma divergência nos resultados preliminares? (Interesting. Was any divergence observed in the preliminary results?)

Quick FAQ

Q

How can I make my Portuguese writing sound more formal and less personal, especially at a C1 level?

To achieve a C1 level of objectivity, focus on using impersonal expressions like É preciso and É importante, the formal se passive voice, and impersonal verbs such as haver for existence. Also, incorporate formal research phrases like Observou-se que....

Q

What's the main difference between using se for reflexivity and for objectivity/passivity in Portuguese grammar?

When se is reflexive, it indicates the subject performs an action on itself (Ele lavou-se - He washed himself). When used for objectivity or passivity, se indicates an action without specifying the agent, or that an action is performed on an object, making the sentence impersonal (Vendem-se casas - Houses are sold).

Q

Is it ever acceptable to use ter instead of haver to mean there is/are in formal Portuguese writing?

While ter is very common in informal spoken Portuguese to mean there is/are (Tem muita gente), in formal and academic writing, haver (e.g., Há muita gente) is the correct and preferred choice for expressing existence impersonally.

Q

Besides É preciso and É importante, what are some other common impersonal expressions for formal Portuguese writing?

Other useful impersonal expressions include É necessário (it's necessary), É fundamental (it's fundamental), É evidente que (it's evident that), Convém (it's advisable), and Urge (it's urgent).

Cultural Context

In both European and Brazilian Portuguese, these objective structures are highly valued in academic, scientific, legal, and business contexts. While informal conversation might lean towards simpler, more personal phrasing (e.g., Eu acho or Tem), mastering these impersonal forms is crucial for conveying credibility and authority in any professional written communication. They demonstrate a sophisticated command of the language, signaling a high level of linguistic proficiency and an understanding of the nuances expected in formal discourse.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

É fundamental que verifiquem o link antes da call no Zoom.

Es fundamental que verifiquen el enlace antes de la llamada de Zoom.

Expresiones Impersonales: Cómo sonar profesional (É preciso, É importante)
2

Diz-se que o algoritmo do TikTok mudou novamente esta semana.

Se dice que el algoritmo de TikTok cambió de nuevo esta semana.

Expresiones Impersonales: Cómo sonar profesional (É preciso, É importante)
3

Observou-se uma tendência de queda nos preços durante o último trimestre.

Se observó una tendencia a la baja en los precios durante el último trimestre.

Pasiva Formal y Académica (La Partícula 'Se')
4

Vendem-se casas antigas no centro histórico por preços acessíveis.

Se venden casas antiguas en el centro histórico a precios accesibles.

Pasiva Formal y Académica (La Partícula 'Se')
5

Observa-se um aumento significativo no engajamento das redes sociais.

Se observa un aumento significativo en la interacción en redes sociales.

Objetividad en portugués: Escritura impersonal y formal (se)
6

Concluiu-se que o software necessita de uma atualização imediata.

Se concluyó que el software necesita una actualización inmediata.

Objetividad en portugués: Escritura impersonal y formal (se)
7

`Diz-se` que o mercado irá estabilizar no próximo trimestre.

Se dice que el mercado se estabilizará en el próximo trimestre.

Verbos impersonales formales en portugués (Haver, Se)
8

`Trata-se de` uma questão de ética profissional.

Se trata de una cuestión de ética profesional.

Verbos impersonales formales en portugués (Haver, Se)

Consejos y trucos (4)

🎯

Sube de nivel tu C1

Si estás escribiendo un ensayo formal, cambia el típico 'É necessário' por algo más elegante:
Torna-se imperativo que verifiquemos os dados.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expresiones Impersonales: Cómo sonar profesional (É preciso, É importante)
⚠️

La zona de peligro del 'De'

¡Ojo! Si ves la preposición 'de' justo después del verbo, el plural queda prohibido. Se dice Precisa-se de amigos, nunca Precisam-se de amigos.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasiva Formal y Académica (La Partícula 'Se')
🎯

Olvida el 'Eu acho'

En nivel C1, el 'Eu acho' suena muy básico. Prueba con algo como:
Subentende-se que a estratégia será eficaz.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Objetividad en portugués: Escritura impersonal y formal (se)
⚠️

La trampa del plural con 'Haver'

Incluso los nativos fallan aquí; nunca digas 'Haviam' cuando signifique existir, mantén siempre el singular.
Havia muitos interessados na vaga de emprego.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos impersonales formales en portugués (Haver, Se)

Vocabulario clave (5)

imprescindível essential/indispensable constatar to observe/verify inexistente nonexistent imparcialidade impartiality evidenciar to highlight/prove

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Business Reporting

Review Summary

  • É + [adjective] + [infinitive]
  • Verb (3rd person) + se
  • Houve (impersonal)

Errores comunes

The verb 'haver' in the sense of 'to exist' is impersonal and should not be pluralized.

Wrong: Houveram muitos problemas.
Correcto: Houve muitos problemas.

Avoid personal pronouns like 'Eu' in formal writing; use impersonal structures instead.

Wrong: Eu penso que é necessário.
Correcto: É necessário que se analise...

When using the passive 'se', the verb must agree with the object (casas).

Wrong: Se vende casas aqui.
Correcto: Vendem-se casas aqui.

Next Steps

You have made incredible progress. Your professional Portuguese is now reaching a level that commands respect!

Write a formal summary of a news article.

Continue to: Professional Correspondence and Etiquette

Práctica rápida (10)

¿Qué frase está correctamente formateada para un informe formal?

Elige la opción más profesional:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Precisa-se de novas ideias.
'Precisa-se' usa el 'se' impersonal para crear un tono objetivo, ideal para informes formales.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos impersonales formales en portugués (Haver, Se)

Encuentra y corrige el error en esta frase formal.

Tratam-se de documentos confidenciais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Trata-se de documentos confidenciais.
La expresión 'Tratar-se de' siempre se conjuga en la 3ª persona del singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos impersonales formales en portugués (Haver, Se)

¿Cuál de estas frases es más objetiva para un informe?

Elige la opción profesional:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Observou-se um crescimento acentuado nas vendas este mês.
La segunda opción usa el 'se' impersonal y la nominalización ('crescimento'), que es el estándar C1.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Objetividad en portugués: Escritura impersonal y formal (se)

Selecciona el verbo formal más apropiado.

___-se que a maioria dos participantes preferiu a opção B.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Observou
'Observou-se' es la forma impersonal estándar para reportar hallazgos. 'Viu' y 'Olhou' son demasiado informales.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Frases de investigación formal: presenta datos como un profesional

Selecciona la oración con la concordancia verbal correcta.

¿Cuál es gramaticalmente correcta para un sujeto plural?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem-se carros usados.
Como 'carros' es plural, el verbo debe ser 'Vendem' (plural).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasiva Formal y Académica (La Partícula 'Se')

Corrige el error de concordancia en esta frase formal.

Find and fix the mistake:

Aluga-se apartamentos de luxo nesta área.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Alugam-se apartamentos de luxo nesta área.
Dado que 'apartamentos' es plural, 'Aluga' debe pasar a ser 'Alugam'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasiva Formal y Académica (La Partícula 'Se')

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta del subjuntivo.

É provável que eles ___ (chegar) atrasados para o jantar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cheguem
Después de 'É provável que', siempre debemos usar el Presente de Subjuntivo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expresiones Impersonales: Cómo sonar profesional (É preciso, É importante)

Encuentra el error en este letrero.

Find and fix the mistake:

É proibida estacionar nesta área privada.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É proibido estacionar nesta área privada.
En expresiones impersonales seguidas de infinitivo, el adjetivo 'proibido' debe ser masculino singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expresiones Impersonales: Cómo sonar profesional (É preciso, É importante)

Corrige el registro de esta oración.

O estudo quer mostrar como a internet funciona.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O estudo visa demonstrar o funcionamento da internet.
Cambiamos 'quer mostrar' por 'visa demonstrar' para elevar el registro al nivel profesional.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Frases de investigación formal: presenta datos como un profesional

Completa el espacio con la forma plural correcta del verbo.

___-se funcionários com experiência em marketing digital.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Procuram
Como 'funcionários' es plural, el 'se' pasivo requiere que el verbo 'procurar' esté en plural: 'Procuram-se'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Objetividad en portugués: Escritura impersonal y formal (se)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

¡Para nada! Las expresiones que indican juicios de valor siempre piden subjuntivo. Decir
É bom que você vai
suena fatal para un nativo.
Depende del artículo. Usa É proibido entrada (sin artículo) o É proibida a entrada (con artículo femenino definido).
Poder, puedes, pero suena muy subjetivo. La tradición académica prefiere Analisou-se para sugerir que los hechos hablan por sí solos.
Gramaticalmente sí, debería ser Vendem-se casas. Aun así, es tan común en carteles informales que se entiende, aunque en un nivel C1 debes evitarlo.
Es convertir verbos en sustantivos. En lugar de decir 'Analizamos los datos' (verbo), dices
A análise dos dados
(sustantivo). Suena mucho más experto.
¡Ni se te ocurra! 'A gente' es muy informal. Para ser formal, usa el impersonal se o la voz pasiva.
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