B2 · उच्च मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 11

Shifting Focus: The Passive Voice

8 कुल नियम
83 उदाहरण
6 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of shifting focus to actions and results for sophisticated Portuguese communication.

  • Construct formal sentences using the 'ser' + past participle structure.
  • Identify and use the common 'se' passive found in advertisements and news.
  • Differentiate between passive and impersonal statements to ensure perfect verb agreement.
Shift the spotlight: From who did it to what happened.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

Ready to make your Portuguese sound truly authentic and sophisticated? This chapter is your gateway to mastering the passive voice, a crucial structure that lets you emphasize actions and results over the person performing them. It's how native speakers convey precision and formality, and you'll find it everywhere from news articles to everyday conversation. We'll start with the classic ser + past participle construction, learning how to shift the spotlight to the object of the action, ensuring your participles always agree! Then, you'll discover how to gracefully introduce the 'doer' of the action using por (think pelo/pela) when necessary, all while maintaining the passive emphasis. But the real star of this chapter is the versatile se passive (Voz Passiva Sintética). This is incredibly common in Portuguese, and you'll learn its secrets, especially how the verb must agree in number with the noun being acted upon. Get ready to understand signs like Vendem-se casas (Houses are sold) with perfect clarity. Finally, we'll tackle the subtle but important distinction between the passive se and the impersonal se, so you'll always know when to make your verb plural and when to keep it singular. By the end of this chapter, you won't just be learning rules; you'll be able to express yourself with greater nuance and sound incredibly natural. You'll comfortably read headlines like

A ponte foi construída
(The bridge was built) and understand nuanced impersonal statements. Get ready to elevate your Portuguese to a truly upper-intermediate level!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to transform active sentences into the analytical passive voice with correct participle agreement.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to identify the agent of the action using the correct contractions of 'por'.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to use the 'se' passive (sintética) and ensure the verb agrees with the patient noun.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to distinguish between 'se' as a passive marker and 'se' as an impersonal subject.

अध्याय गाइड

Overview

Ready to elevate your Portuguese grammar to a truly B2 level? This chapter unlocks the power of the passive voice, a crucial linguistic tool that allows you to shift emphasis from the doer of an action to the action itself or its recipient. Mastering this structure is key to sounding more authentic and sophisticated, as native speakers frequently employ it in everything from news reports to nuanced daily conversations.
Understanding the Portuguese passive voice is not just about rules; it's about gaining a deeper appreciation for how the language conveys precision and formality.
We'll explore two primary forms of the Voz Passiva in Portuguese. First, the classic analytical passive, built with the verb ser and a past participle, where you'll learn to ensure perfect agreement. Then, we dive into the highly versatile se passive (also known as the Voz Passiva Sintética), which is incredibly common and efficient.
By the end, you'll comfortably read headlines like
A ponte foi construída
(The bridge was built) and understand nuanced impersonal statements, equipping you with essential skills for upper-intermediate Portuguese language learning.

How This Grammar Works

The Portuguese passive voice fundamentally shifts the spotlight from who performs an action to what is being acted upon. The most straightforward way to form it is using ser + past participle, a rule often referred to as Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle). For example, instead of
O João escreveu o livro
(João wrote the book), you'd say
O livro foi escrito pelo João
(The book was written by João).
Crucially, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject: A carta foi escrita (The letter was written - feminine singular), Os documentos foram lidos (The documents were read - masculine plural).
To introduce the original doer of the action, Portuguese uses por or its contractions pelo/pela/pelos/pelas, a concept covered in Passive Voice: Introducing Agents with 'by' (pelo/pela). These contractions combine por with the definite articles. For instance,
A decisão foi tomada pelos diretores
(The decision was made by the directors).
If the agent is indefinite or less important, por alone can be used, but pelo/pela are very common.
The real star for B2 Portuguese learners is the Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética). This structure is incredibly prevalent, especially in signs, advertisements, and general statements. It uses the particle se immediately before the verb.
The key here is that the verb *must* agree in number with the noun being acted upon. For example,
Vendem-se casas
(Houses are sold – plural verb for plural 'houses'), and
Aluga-se apartamento
(An apartment is rented – singular verb for singular 'apartment'). This is precisely the 'Se' Passive Voice (Vendem-se casas) you'll see everywhere.
Finally, we address the critical distinction between the passive se and the impersonal se, often referred to as Passive vs. Impersonal 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal). When se is a passive particle (partícula apassivadora), the verb agrees with the direct object, which becomes the grammatical subject (e.g., Comem-se maçãs - Apples are eaten).
When se is an impersonal particle, the verb *always* remains in the third-person singular, making a general statement without a specific subject (e.g.,
Comem-se bem aqui
- One eats well here, or People eat well here). Recognizing this difference is a hallmark of advanced Portuguese grammar.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    A porta foi aberto.
    (The door was opened.)
✓ Correct:
A porta foi aberta.
(The door was opened.)
*Explanation:* The past participle in the analytical passive (ser + participle) must agree in gender and number with the subject. A porta is feminine singular, so the participle must be aberta, not aberto.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Vende-se casas. (Houses are sold.)
✓ Correct: Vendem-se casas. (Houses are sold.)
*Explanation:* In the se passive (Voz Passiva Sintética), if the item being acted upon (in this case, casas) is plural, the verb must also be plural. Casas is plural, so the verb should be vendem-se, not vende-se.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    A comida foi preparado por mim.
    (The food was prepared by me.)
✓ Correct:
A comida foi preparada por mim.
(The food was prepared by me.)
*Explanation:* Similar to mistake 1, the participle preparado must agree with A comida (feminine singular), becoming preparada.

Real Conversations

A

A

O novo projeto foi aprovado pela diretoria?
(Was the new project approved by the board?)
B

B

Sim, foi aprovado ontem à tarde, depois de muita discussão.
(Yes, it was approved yesterday afternoon, after much discussion.)
A

A

Onde se compram bilhetes para o concerto?
(Where are tickets bought for the concert?)
B

B

Vendem-se bilhetes online ou na bilheteria do teatro.
(Tickets are sold online or at the theater box office.)
A

A

Os erros foram corrigidos no relatório final?
(Were the errors corrected in the final report?)
B

B

Sim, foram todos corrigidos pela equipe de revisão.
(Yes, they were all corrected by the review team.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between Voz Passiva Analítica and Voz Passiva Sintética in Portuguese grammar?

The Voz Passiva Analítica uses ser + past participle (e.g.,

O livro foi escrito
), while the Voz Passiva Sintética uses a verb with the particle se (e.g., Escreve-se o livro).

Q

How do I know when to use pelo or por with the agent in the passive voice?

You use pelo/pela/pelos/pelas (contractions of por + definite article) when the agent is specific and defined (e.g., pela equipe). You use por alone when the agent is general, indefinite, or not accompanied by an article (e.g., por sorte).

Q

Can I always use the se passive in Portuguese?

No, the se passive is typically used with transitive verbs that have a direct object. It's less common with verbs that express states or verbs that are inherently intransitive. It's also more common in formal or impersonal contexts.

Q

How can I quickly distinguish between passive se and impersonal se?

If the verb *can* agree in number with the noun that follows it (i.e., if that noun is plural and the verb can also be plural), it's likely a passive se. If the verb *always* stays singular, even with a plural concept, it's an impersonal se. (e.g., Comem-se maçãs vs. Come-se bem aqui).

Cultural Context

The Portuguese passive voice, especially the se passive, is incredibly common in everyday life in Portugal and Brazil. You'll see signs like
Aluga-se
(For Rent) or
Proíbem-se cães
(Dogs are forbidden) everywhere. It's a hallmark of formal writing, news articles, and official announcements, lending an air of objectivity and professionalism.
While both forms of the passive exist, the Voz Passiva Sintética (se passive) is often preferred for its conciseness and natural flow, making it essential for any B2 Portuguese speaker aiming for authentic expression.

मुख्य उदाहरण (4)

1

O pedido foi cancelado pelo restaurante.

The order was cancelled by the restaurant.

पैसिव वॉइस बनाना (Ser + Participle)
2

Essas fotos foram tiradas na Bahia.

These photos were taken in Bahia.

पैसिव वॉइस बनाना (Ser + Participle)
3

Vende-se este apartamento moderno.

यह आधुनिक अपार्टमेंट बिकाऊ है।

पैसिव बनाम इंपर्सनल 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal)
4

Vendem-se ingressos para o festival.

फेस्टिवल के लिए टिकट बेचे जा रहे हैं।

पैसिव बनाम इंपर्सनल 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

⚠️

Agreement का जाल

हमेशा नए सब्जेक्ट का जेंडर चेक करो। अगर वो स्त्रीलिंग है जैसे 'comida', तो 'foi feita' होगा, 'feito' नहीं। ये B2 लेवल की सबसे आम गलती है:
A comida foi feita agora.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पैसिव वॉयस: क्रिया पर ध्यान केंद्रित करना (Voz Passiva)
⚠️

एग्रीमेंट का ध्यान रखो!

मान लो तुम कई लड़कियों को बुलाने की बात कर रहे हो, तो पार्टिसिपल का अंत बदलना मत भूलना! जैसे:
As meninas foram convidadas para o jantar.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव वॉइस: काम पर ध्यान दें (`Voz Passiva`)
💡

Check Agreement

Always check if your subject is plural or feminine. The participle must match!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव वॉइस बनाना (Ser + Participle)
⚠️

एग्रीमेंट का जाल

हमेशा याद रखना कि participle उस चीज़ से मैच करना चाहिए जिस पर काम हुआ है, न कि काम करने वाले से। जैसे:
As pizzas foram comidas.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: कर्मवाच्य: 'द्वारा' का उपयोग करके कर्ता का परिचय (pelo/pela)

मुख्य शब्दावली (6)

construir to build vender to sell anunciar to announce pelo / pela by (contraction of por + o/a) reformar to renovate descobrir to discover

Real-World Preview

newspaper

Reading the News

map-pin

Walking through Lisbon

Review Summary

  • [Subject] + [Ser] + [Past Participle (agrees with subject)]
  • [Passive Sentence] + [por + article] + [Agent]
  • [Verb 3rd person] + [se] + [Subject]
  • [Verb 3rd person singular] + [se] + [Preposition/Adverb]

सामान्य गलतियाँ

In the analytical passive, the past participle acts like an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Wrong: As casas foram vendido.
सही: As casas foram vendidas.

In the 'se' passive, 'quartos' is the subject. Since 'quartos' is plural, the verb 'alugar' must be plural.

Wrong: Aluga-se quartos.
सही: Alugam-se quartos.

To introduce the agent of the passive, use the preposition 'por' (pelo/pela), not 'para'.

Wrong: O livro foi escrito para o autor.
सही: O livro foi escrito pelo autor.

इस अध्याय के नियम (8)

1

पुर्तगाली पैसिव वॉयस: क्रिया पर ध्यान केंद्रित करना (Voz Passiva)

B2
प्रोफेशनल और सटीक लगने के लिए 'ser' और मैचिंग participle का इस्तेमाल करके फोकस ऑब्जेक्ट पर ले आओ। ser, participle, por.
O novo iPhone foi lançado ontem.
10 उदाहरण
2

पैसिव वॉइस: काम पर ध्यान दें (`Voz Passiva`)

B2
Voz Passiva का इस्तेमाल तब करो जब काम करने वाले से ज़्यादा 'काम के नतीजे' पर फोकस करना हो। तुम्हारे पास दो मुख्य तरीके हैं: ser के साथ पार्टिसिपल जोड़ना या फिर se का इस्तेमाल करना।
A foto foi postada no Instagram.
10 उदाहरण
3

पैसिव वॉइस बनाना (Ser + Participle)

B2
Use Ser + Participle to emphasize the receiver of an action, ensuring the participle agrees with the new subject.
O pedido foi cancelado pelo restaurante.
10 उदाहरण
4

कर्मवाच्य: 'द्वारा' का उपयोग करके कर्ता का परिचय (pelo/pela)

B2
जब भी तुम्हें बताना हो कि काम 'किसके द्वारा' किया गया, तो por का इस्तेमाल करो जो आर्टिकल के साथ जुड़कर pelo या pela बन जाता है।
O vídeo foi editado pelo editor profissional.
10 उदाहरण
5

पुर्तगाली में 'By' वाक्यांश (Passive Agent)

B2
पैसिव वॉइस में 'por' का इस्तेमाल करके काम करने वाले को पहचानो, बस por, pelo/pela और de का सही तालमेल बिठाना है।
A foto foi postada pela Ana no Instagram.
10 उदाहरण
6

'se' के साथ कर्मवाच्य (Voz Passiva Sintética)

B2
यहाँ संज्ञा (noun) ही असली बॉस है: अगर वो plural है, तो verb भी plural होगा। Vende-se और Vendem-se के बीच का फर्क समझो।
Vendem-se pães quentinhos aqui.
12 उदाहरण
7

'Se' पैसिव वॉयस (Vendem-se casas)

B2
बस इतना याद रखो कि वर्ब को उस चीज़ के हिसाब से बदलना है जिस पर काम हो रहा है, जैसे Vende-se एक के लिए और Vendem-se ज़्यादा के लिए।
Vendem-se carros usados em ótimo estado.
10 उदाहरण
8

पैसिव बनाम इंपर्सनल 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal)

B2
देखो, 'se' के दो मुख्य इस्तेमाल हैं। जब तुम किसी चीज़ के बारे में बात कर रहे हो जो अपने आप हो रही है, तो verb उस चीज़ के हिसाब से बदलेगा, जैसे Vendem-se। लेकिन अगर 'se' के बाद कोई preposition आ जाए, तो verb हमेशा एकवचन में रहेगा, जैसे Precisa-se de।
Vende-se este apartamento moderno.
11 उदाहरण

Next Steps

You've just added a major layer of sophistication to your Portuguese. Mastering the passive voice is a huge step toward fluency. Keep practicing those 'se' agreements!

Read a Brazilian news article and highlight all 'ser + participle' forms.

Look at online real estate listings (e.g., OLX Portugal) and find examples of 'Vende-se' or 'Aluga-se'.

Continue to: The Basics of the Subjunctive Mood

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

Precisa-se de voluntários com urgência.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Precisa-se de voluntários com urgência.
यह थोड़ा ट्रिकी है! 'Precisa' के साथ 'de' लगा है, इसलिए यह impersonal 'se' है। यहाँ verb हमेशा singular ही रहेगा, इसलिए वाक्य पहले से ही सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'se' के साथ कर्मवाच्य (Voz Passiva Sintética)

नाउन के हिसाब से सही वर्ब फॉर्म चुनें।

______-se apartamentos no centro. (Alugar)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Alugam
चूंकि 'apartamentos' बहुवचन (plural) है, इसलिए वर्ब भी बहुवचन होगा: 'Alugam-se'।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'Se' पैसिव वॉयस (Vendem-se casas)

सही कॉन्ट्रैक्शन (contraction) भरें।

A carta foi enviada ___ (por + a) diretora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
'por' + 'a' को जोड़कर 'pela' बनता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: कर्मवाच्य: 'द्वारा' का उपयोग करके कर्ता का परिचय (pelo/pela)

कई घरों के लिए बोर्ड पूरा करें।

___-se casas nesta rua. (Vender)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem
चूंकि 'casas' बहुवचन है और कोई preposition नहीं है, इसलिए 'vender' क्रिया बहुवचन होनी चाहिए (निष्क्रिय 'se')।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव बनाम इंपर्सनल 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal)

Find the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Os livros foi lido por eles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: foi lido
The subject 'livros' is plural, so it should be 'foram lidos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव वॉइस बनाना (Ser + Participle)

agreement की गलती ठीक करें।

Find and fix the mistake:

Acreditam-se em milagres nesta igreja.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Acredita-se em milagres nesta igreja.
क्रिया 'acreditar' को preposition 'em' की आवश्यकता होती है। यह इसे अव्यक्तिगत 'se' बनाता है, इसलिए क्रिया एकवचन होनी चाहिए।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव बनाम इंपर्सनल 'se' (Partícula Apassivadora e Impessoal)

सही वाक्य बनाने के लिए शब्दों को सही क्रम में रखें।

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aqui não se falam línguas estrangeiras.
नकारात्मक 'não' सर्वनाम 'se' को verb से पहले खींच लेता है। 'Línguas estrangeiras' plural है, इसलिए 'falam' का प्रयोग हुआ।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'se' के साथ कर्मवाच्य (Voz Passiva Sintética)

पैसिव सेंटेंस बनाने के लिए शब्दों को सही क्रम में रखें।

Arrange: [pelo] [vencido] [foi] [O] [atleta] [jogo]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O jogo foi vencido pelo atleta
सही स्ट्रक्चर है: सब्जेक्ट (O jogo) + हेल्पिंग वर्ब (foi) + पार्टिसिपल (vencido) + एजेंट (pelo atleta)।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पैसिव वॉइस: काम पर ध्यान दें (`Voz Passiva`)

सही preposition या contraction से खाली जगह भरें।

O projeto foi finalizado ___ equipe de marketing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
चूँकि 'equipe' स्त्रीलिंग एकवचन है, इसलिए हम 'por + a = pela' का उपयोग करते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'By' वाक्यांश (Passive Agent)

सही past participle के साथ खाली जगह भरें।

As janelas foram _______ (limpar) ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: limpas
'As janelas' स्त्रीलिंग बहुवचन है, इसलिए 'limpar' का रूप 'limpas' होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली पैसिव वॉयस: क्रिया पर ध्यान केंद्रित करना (Voz Passiva)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

Agent वो इंसान या चीज़ है जिसने असल में काम किया है। जैसे 'The cake was made by Mary' में 'Mary' एजेंट है। पुर्तगाली में इसे 'por' (pelo/pela) से जोड़ते हैं:
O bolo foi feito pela Mary.
जब तुम कोई जनरल बात कर रहे हो या साइनबोर्ड लिख रहे हो, तो 'se' यूज़ करो। अगर कोई खास काम पूरा हुआ है और तुम बताने वाले का नाम लेना चाहते हो, तो 'ser' बेहतर है: Vende-se carro.
Active वॉइस काम करने वाले पर फोकस करती है, जैसे:
O menino comeu a maçã
। Passive वॉइस काम के नतीजे पर फोकस करती है:
A maçã foi comida
।
जब तुम्हें पता न हो कि काम किसने किया, या वो बताना ज़रूरी न हो। जैसे न्यूज़ में:
O crime foi cometido
।
It is possible, but it often sounds too formal or robotic. In Brazil, the 'se' passive is preferred.
Use 'ser' for specific, formal actions. Use 'se' for general, impersonal statements.
पिछला अध्याय
Connecting Ideas with Relative Clauses
अगला अध्याय
The Basics of the Subjunctive Mood
रोडमैप पर वापस