C1 Sentence Structure 12 min read Medium

Forming Passive Infinitives in Portuguese (ser + particípio)

The passive infinitive shifts focus to the receiver of an action and requires strict gender and number agreement.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ser' + past participle to describe an action that needs to be performed on a subject.

  • Use 'ser' + past participle after modal verbs: 'O relatório precisa ser enviado.'
  • Ensure the participle agrees in gender and number with the subject: 'As cartas devem ser escritas.'
  • Use this structure to maintain focus on the object rather than the agent.
Subject + [Modal/Verb] + ser + Particípio (agreed)

Overview

The passive infinitive in Portuguese, formed by ser + the past participle (ser + particípio), represents a cornerstone of advanced grammatical expression. This construction shifts the thematic focus of a sentence from the agent performing an action to the patient or recipient of that action. It allows for the expression of an action as a potentiality, a necessity, or a general state without explicitly naming the agent.

Mastering this structure is pivotal for C1 learners, enabling greater precision, formality, and stylistic flexibility in both spoken and written Portuguese.

Linguistically, the passive infinitive suppresses the active agent, making it either grammatically unexpressed or relegated to an optional por phrase. This is particularly useful when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally omitted to maintain objectivity or conciseness. For instance, Os documentos precisam ser assinados. (The documents need to be signed.) emphasizes the need for signature, not who performs it.

This construction is ubiquitous in formal discourse, legal texts, academic writing, and journalistic reports, where objectivity and a focus on the action's outcome are paramount. Its nuanced application distinguishes an advanced learner from intermediate speakers, demonstrating a sophisticated command of Portuguese syntax and rhetorical strategy.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the passive infinitive functions by transforming an active clause into a passive one within an infinitive structure. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action: Eu vou lavar o carro. (I am going to wash the car.). When this action needs to be expressed without an active agent, or with the patient as the subject, the passive infinitive comes into play: O carro precisa ser lavado. (The car needs to be washed.).
Here, o carro (the car) is the grammatical subject, but it receives the action of lavar (to wash). The verb ser acts as the auxiliary verb for the passive voice, indicating that the subject undergoes the action. The past participle (lavado) carries the semantic meaning of the action.
This structure reflects a fundamental linguistic principle known as valence reduction or demotion of agent. The original agent (Eu in the active sentence) is either completely removed from the syntactic structure or introduced as an optional agente da passiva (agent of the passive) preceded by por or de (e.g., O carro precisa ser lavado por mim.). The participle, acting adverbially or adjectivally in its past form, agrees in gender and number with the grammatical subject that is receiving the action.
This agreement is non-negotiable and crucial for grammatical correctness, mirroring the behavior of adjectives modifying nouns. For example, A porta precisa ser fechada. (The door needs to be closed.) – fechada agrees with porta (feminine singular).
Furthermore, the passive infinitive, particularly the Personal Passive Infinitive, allows for disambiguation of the logical subject in complex sentences. While the impersonal infinitive (ser) is common when the agent is truly generic or understood, the personal form (seres, serem, etc.) is employed when the logical subject of the infinitive is distinct from the main clause's subject and is plural or pronoun-specific. Eles esperam serem informados. (They hope to be informed.) clearly indicates that eles are the ones to be informed, providing greater precision than a generic ser informado.
This specific agreement within the infinitive clause is a unique characteristic of Portuguese and a hallmark of C1 proficiency.

Word Order Rules

Understanding the precise word order of the passive infinitive is essential for constructing grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate sentences. The basic structure is remarkably consistent, though pronoun placement and negation introduce minor complexities.
Fundamental Pattern:
| Element | Position | Example (Impersonal) | Example (Personal) |
| :--------------- | :------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ |
| Trigger | Initial | É necessário | Eles esperam |
| Preposition | Initial | Para | A fim de |
| Pronoun (if any) | Pre-ser (BP) / Post-ser (EP) | Não nos deixar ser vencidos. (BP) | Para se ser respeitado. (EP) |
| Auxiliary ser | Second | ser | serem |\
| Past Participle | Third | respeitado | respeitados |\
| Adverb/Complement | Final | É necessário ser respeitado sempre. | Eles esperam serem respeitados pelo menos. |
Detailed Considerations:
  • Triggering Element: The passive infinitive is typically preceded by a main verb (e.g., precisar, querer, dever, esperar), an impersonal expression (e.g., é importante, é necessário), or a preposition (e.g., para, sem, ao, apesar de). This preceding element governs the use of the infinitive.
  • Ela deseja ser vista. (She wishes to be seen.)
  • É fundamental ser transparente. (It is fundamental to be transparent.)
  • Apesar de serem criticados, eles persistiram. (Despite being criticized, they persisted.)
  • Pronoun Placement: Personal pronouns (direct or indirect objects, or reflexive pronouns) generally precede the entire infinitive construction in Brazilian Portuguese (proclisis) and, more formally, can follow ser in European Portuguese (enclisis) or even be mesoclitic in specific future/conditional contexts, though less common with infinitives. However, with prepositions, enclisis (after ser) is common in both variants.
  • BP: Eles não querem nos ser enviados. (They don't want them to be sent to us.) - less common, usually rephrased
  • EP (formal): Para se ser compreendido. (In order to be understood.)
  • More commonly, the pronoun attaches to the main verb: Ele não os quer ser visto. (Incorrect). Rather, Ele não quer ser visto por eles. (He doesn't want to be seen by them.) - often avoids awkward pronoun placement.
  • With se as an impersonal subject, it almost always precedes ser or attaches to the main verb: Pode-se ser feliz. (One can be happy.).
  • Negation: The negative particle não consistently precedes the entire passive infinitive construction. This placement maintains clarity by negating the infinitive action itself.
  • Para não ser incomodado, desligue o telefone. (So as not to be disturbed, turn off the phone.)
  • Ele prometeu não ser mais agressivo. (He promised not to be more aggressive.)
  • Adverbs and Complements: Adverbs and other sentence complements typically follow the past participle, modifying the passive action or providing additional context.
  • A proposta precisa ser analisada cuidadosamente. (The proposal needs to be analyzed carefully.)
  • Eles esperam ser informados amanhã. (They hope to be informed tomorrow.)

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the passive infinitive is a systematic process involving three key components: the auxiliary verb ser, the past participle of the main verb, and crucial agreement rules. Failure to observe these rules results in grammatical errors.
2
1. The Auxiliary Verb: ser
3
The infinitive ser is the foundational element, indicating the passive voice. It exists in two primary forms within this construction:
4
Impersonal Infinitive (ser): This is the default form, used when the logical subject of the passive action is general, indefinite, or not explicitly stated as distinct from the main clause's subject. It remains unchanged, regardless of the number or gender of the grammatical subject receiving the action.
5
É importante ser gentil. (It is important to be kind.)
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Para ser aprovado, você deve estudar. (To be approved, you must study.)
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Personal Infinitive (ser, seres, ser, sermos, serdes, serem): This form is unique to Portuguese and crucial for C1 understanding. It is used when the logical subject of the infinitive clause is definite, known, and often distinct from the main clause's subject, or when greater clarity regarding the agent is desired. The verb ser conjugates to agree with this implied or explicit logical subject.
8
Conjugation of ser in the Personal Infinitive:
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| Pronoun | Form |
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| :------ | :----- |
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| eu | ser |
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| tu | seres|
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| ele/ela/você| ser |
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| nós | sermos|
15
| vós | serdes|\
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| eles/elas/vocês| serem|
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Eles saíram para não serem vistos. (They left so as not to be seen.) – serem agrees with eles.
18
Esperamos sermos convidados para a festa. (We hope to be invited to the party.) – sermos agrees with nós.
19
Nuance: While in informal Brazilian Portuguese the impersonal ser is sometimes used even when the personal infinitive serem is strictly correct (e.g., Eles saíram para não ser vistos), formal contexts and European Portuguese rigorously maintain the personal infinitive for clarity and grammatical precision. At a C1 level, consistent application of the personal infinitive is expected.
20
2. The Past Participle:
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The past participle is derived from the main verb that expresses the action. It generally ends in -ado for verbs ending in -ar (e.g., falar -> falado) and -ido for verbs ending in -er or -ir (e.g., vender -> vendido, partir -> partido).
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Regular Participles:
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aprovar -> aprovado
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vender -> vendido
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abrir -> abrido
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Irregular Participles: Many common verbs have irregular past participles that do not follow the -ado/-ido pattern. These must be memorized. Using a regularized irregular participle is a common and noticeable error.
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Common Irregular Participles:
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| Infinitive | Participle |
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| :--------- | :--------- |\
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| abrir | aberto |\
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| cobrir | coberto |\
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| dizer | dito |\
33
| escrever | escrito |\
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| fazer | feito |\
35
| pôr | posto |\
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| ver | visto |\
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| vir | vindo |\
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O documento precisa ser feito. (The document needs to be made/done.) – Not fazerido or fazido.
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3. Agreement of the Past Participle:
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This is perhaps the most critical aspect of the passive infinitive. The past participle must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the grammatical subject that receives the action. The participle behaves like an adjective modifying that subject. Failure to ensure agreement is a pervasive error even among advanced learners.
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Participle Agreement Pattern:
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| Subject Gender/Number | Participle Ending |
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| :-------------------- | :---------------- |\
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| Masculine Singular | -ado / Irregular |\
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| Feminine Singular | -ada / Irregular |\
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| Masculine Plural | -ados / Irregular |\
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| Feminine Plural | -adas / Irregular |\
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O relatório deve ser lido. (relatório - masc. sing.)
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A carta precisa ser escrita. (carta - fem. sing.)
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Os carros precisam ser lavados. (carros - masc. plural)
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As tarefas devem ser feitas. (tarefas - fem. plural)
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Ensure you correctly identify the subject receiving the action, not the agent if one is mentioned with por.

When To Use It

The passive infinitive is not merely an alternative grammatical structure; it serves specific rhetorical and communicative purposes, reflecting stylistic choices and nuances in focus. A C1 learner understands not just how to form it, but when its usage is most appropriate and impactful.
  • Agent Unknown or Irrelevant: This is the most common reason. When the performer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted.
  • Novas políticas precisam ser implementadas. (New policies need to be implemented.) – The focus is on the policies and their implementation, not on who implements them.
  • O problema ainda não foi resolvido. A solução precisa ser encontrada. (The problem hasn't been solved yet. The solution needs to be found.)
  • To Emphasize the Action or Patient: When the action itself, or the entity undergoing the action, is more significant than the agent.
  • Os direitos humanos devem ser protegidos. (Human rights must be protected.) – Highlights the protection of rights.
  • É um privilégio ser escolhido para esta função. (It's a privilege to be chosen for this role.) – Emphasizes the honor of being chosen.
  • Formality and Objectivity: In formal, academic, legal, or bureaucratic contexts, the passive voice lends an objective, impersonal tone, removing personal bias or agency. This is prevalent in official documents and scientific writing.
  • As diretrizes devem ser seguidas rigorosamente. (The guidelines must be followed rigorously.) – Impersonal and authoritative.
  • Os dados deveriam ter sido coletados com maior precisão. (The data should have been collected with greater precision.) – Often seen in research critiques.
  • With Verbs of Desire, Necessity, Obligation, Expectation: Many verbs naturally precede and trigger the passive infinitive, especially those conveying obligation, expectation, or permission regarding an action that affects the subject.
  • desejar (to wish): Desejo ser compreendido. (I wish to be understood.)
  • precisar (to need): Este carro precisa ser consertado. (This car needs to be fixed.)
  • dever (should/must): O trabalho deve ser entregue até sexta. (The work must be submitted by Friday.)
  • esperar (to hope/expect): Esperamos sermos informados em breve. (We hope to be informed soon.)
  • permitir (to allow): Permita-me ser apresentado. (Allow me to be introduced.)
  • After Prepositions: The passive infinitive frequently appears after prepositions, especially para (in order to), sem (without), ao (upon), and apesar de (despite).
  • Ele estudou muito para ser aprovado. (He studied a lot to be approved.)
  • Eles agiram sem serem notados. (They acted without being noticed.)
  • Ao ser questionado, ele hesitou. (Upon being questioned, he hesitated.)
  • Apesar de serem avisados, eles ignoraram o perigo. (Despite being warned, they ignored the danger.)
  • In Impersonal Expressions: Similar to formal contexts, impersonal expressions create a general statement of fact or requirement.
  • É crucial ser pontual. (It is crucial to be punctual.)
  • Convém ser prudente. (It is advisable to be prudent.)
Choosing the passive infinitive is a deliberate stylistic choice. It signals formality, objectivity, and a shift in focus that is often crucial in advanced communication.

Common Mistakes

Even at the C1 level, certain pitfalls with the passive infinitive persist. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying causes is key to achieving native-like fluency and precision.
  • 1. Participle Agreement Failure (The Most Prevalent Error): Learners frequently forget to match the gender and number of the past participle to the grammatical subject receiving the action. This is a fundamental rule that, when violated, immediately marks a sentence as incorrect.
  • Incorrect: A proposta precisa ser analisado. (proposta is feminine, analisado is masculine.)
  • Correct: A proposta precisa ser analisada.
  • Incorrect: Os livros devem ser lida. (livros is masculine plural, lida is feminine singular.)
  • Correct: Os livros devem ser lidos.
Why it happens: Learners often view the participle as an invariable verb form, rather than recognizing its adjectival nature within the passive construction. Always mentally check the noun or pronoun being acted upon and adjust the participle accordingly.
  • 2. Confusion Between ser and estar in Passive Constructions: This is a subtle yet significant distinction. The passive voice always uses ser as its auxiliary to describe the action or process of becoming something. Estar + participle describes a resultant state or condition.
  • Passive (Action): O carro precisa ser lavado. (The car needs the action of being washed.)
  • State: O carro está lavado. (The car is in the state of being clean.)
  • Incorrect: A louça precisa estar lavada. (This implies the dishes need to be in a washed state, which is less common for expressing the need for the action of washing them.)
  • Correct: A louça precisa ser lavada.
Why it happens: Both ser and estar translate to

Passive Infinitive Formation

Modal Verb Auxiliary Participle Example
Precisa
ser
feito(a)
O trabalho precisa ser feito.
Deve
ser
enviado(a)
O e-mail deve ser enviado.
Pode
ser
resolvido(a)
O caso pode ser resolvido.
Vai
ser
organizado(a)
A festa vai ser organizada.
Deveria
ser
visto(a)
O filme deveria ser visto.
Poderia
ser
aceito(a)
O pedido poderia ser aceito.

Meanings

This construction allows the speaker to express that an action must, can, or should be performed on a specific subject, emphasizing the receiver of the action.

1

Obligation or Necessity

Expressing that something is required to happen.

“O carro precisa ser consertado.”

“A casa deve ser pintada.”

2

Possibility or Capability

Expressing that something is capable of being done.

“Este problema pode ser resolvido.”

“O livro pode ser lido em um dia.”

3

Future Intention

Expressing a plan for an action to be performed.

“O projeto vai ser apresentado na segunda.”

“A festa vai ser organizada por eles.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Forming Passive Infinitives in Portuguese (ser + particípio)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Modal + ser + Particípio
O carro deve ser consertado.
Negative
Modal + não + ser + Particípio
O carro não deve ser consertado.
Interrogative
Modal + Subject + ser + Particípio?
O carro deve ser consertado?
Future
Ir + ser + Particípio
O carro vai ser consertado.
Conditional
Modal (cond) + ser + Particípio
O carro deveria ser consertado.
Plural
Modal + ser + Particípio (pl)
Os carros devem ser consertados.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
O relatório deve ser finalizado.

O relatório deve ser finalizado. (Work deadline)

Neutral
O relatório precisa ser terminado.

O relatório precisa ser terminado. (Work deadline)

Informal
O relatório tem que ser terminado.

O relatório tem que ser terminado. (Work deadline)

Slang
O relatório tem que ficar pronto.

O relatório tem que ficar pronto. (Work deadline)

Passive Infinitive Components

Passive Infinitive

Modals

  • precisar to need
  • dever must
  • poder can

Agreement

  • masculino masculine
  • feminino feminine
  • plural plural
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Examples by Level

1

O bolo precisa ser feito.

The cake needs to be made.

2

A porta deve ser aberta.

The door must be opened.

3

O livro pode ser lido.

The book can be read.

4

A roupa vai ser lavada.

The clothes will be washed.

1

O trabalho não precisa ser entregue hoje.

The work doesn't need to be submitted today.

2

As janelas devem ser fechadas?

Must the windows be closed?

3

O e-mail pode ser enviado agora.

The email can be sent now.

4

A reunião vai ser cancelada.

The meeting will be cancelled.

1

Este documento deveria ser assinado pelo diretor.

This document should be signed by the director.

2

As regras precisam ser seguidas por todos.

The rules must be followed by everyone.

3

O problema pode ser resolvido facilmente.

The problem can be solved easily.

4

A decisão vai ser tomada amanhã.

The decision will be made tomorrow.

1

O projeto deve ser finalizado antes do prazo.

The project must be finished before the deadline.

2

A proposta pode ser analisada pelo comitê.

The proposal can be analyzed by the committee.

3

As medidas devem ser implementadas imediatamente.

The measures must be implemented immediately.

4

O contrato não pode ser alterado sem autorização.

The contract cannot be altered without authorization.

1

O relatório técnico precisa ser minuciosamente revisado.

The technical report needs to be thoroughly reviewed.

2

As diretrizes devem ser estritamente observadas.

The guidelines must be strictly observed.

3

A questão pode ser abordada sob diferentes perspectivas.

The issue can be approached from different perspectives.

4

O sistema deve ser configurado conforme as normas.

The system must be configured according to the standards.

1

A hipótese deve ser corroborada por evidências empíricas.

The hypothesis must be corroborated by empirical evidence.

2

O procedimento deve ser executado com precisão cirúrgica.

The procedure must be executed with surgical precision.

3

A cláusula pode ser interpretada de maneira ambígua.

The clause can be interpreted in an ambiguous way.

4

As implicações devem ser cuidadosamente ponderadas.

The implications must be carefully weighed.

Easily Confused

Forming Passive Infinitives in Portuguese (ser + particípio) vs Passive Reflexive (se)

Both express passive voice.

Forming Passive Infinitives in Portuguese (ser + particípio) vs Active Voice

Learners often use active voice when they mean passive.

Forming Passive Infinitives in Portuguese (ser + particípio) vs Past Participle as Adjective

It looks like the passive voice.

Common Mistakes

✗

O bolo precisa ser feito.

✓

O bolo precisa ser feito.

Correct, but learners often forget agreement.
✗

A casa precisa ser limpo.

✓

A casa precisa ser limpa.

Agreement error.
✗

O carro precisa consertar.

✓

O carro precisa ser consertado.

Missing passive marker.
✗

As janelas deve ser fechadas.

✓

As janelas devem ser fechadas.

Number agreement error.
✗

O e-mail pode ser enviado.

✓

O e-mail pode ser enviado.

Correct.
✗

A reunião vai ser cancelado.

✓

A reunião vai ser cancelada.

Gender agreement.
✗

Os documentos precisa ser assinado.

✓

Os documentos precisam ser assinados.

Double agreement error.
✗

O projeto deveria ser revisado.

✓

O projeto deveria ser revisado.

Correct.
✗

As regras precisam ser seguido.

✓

As regras precisam ser seguidas.

Agreement.
✗

O problema pode ser resolvido por eles.

✓

O problema pode ser resolvido por eles.

Correct.
✗

As diretrizes devem ser estritamente observado.

✓

As diretrizes devem ser estritamente observadas.

Agreement in complex sentences.
✗

A hipótese deve ser corroborado.

✓

A hipótese deve ser corroborada.

Agreement.
✗

O sistema deve ser configurado conforme as norma.

✓

O sistema deve ser configurado conforme as normas.

Plural agreement.
✗

As implicações devem ser ponderado.

✓

As implicações devem ser ponderadas.

Agreement.

Sentence Patterns

O ___ precisa ser ___.

As ___ devem ser ___.

O projeto pode ser ___ pelo ___.

A decisão vai ser ___ na ___.

Real World Usage

Work Email very common

O relatório deve ser enviado até sexta.

Social Media common

O evento vai ser realizado no parque.

Technical Manual constant

O sistema deve ser reiniciado.

Job Interview common

O problema pode ser resolvido com foco.

Food Delivery occasional

O pedido deve ser entregue em 30 min.

Travel common

O check-in deve ser feito às 14h.

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⚠️

Agreement is Key

Never forget that the past participle behaves like an adjective. If the thing being 'done' is feminine or plural, the ending must change!
🎯

The Personal Touch

Using 'serem' instead of 'ser' for plural subjects makes you sound like a true advanced speaker. It's the hallmark of C1 mastery.
💬

Formal vs Informal

In casual Brazilian Portuguese, you'll often hear people skip plural agreement in speech. However, in writing or formal situations, always follow the rules.

Smart Tips

Use the passive infinitive instead of active voice.

Vamos mudar a data. → A data deve ser mudada.

Use the passive to avoid naming the actor.

Alguém precisa limpar a sala. → A sala precisa ser limpa.

Always use passive for objective descriptions.

Eu fiz o teste. → O teste foi feito.

Look at the subject first, then the participle.

A lista deve ser feito. → A lista deve ser feita.

Pronunciation

fe-i-to / fe-i-ta

Participle ending

Ensure the final 'o' or 'a' is clear to indicate gender.

Statement

O projeto deve ser feito ↘

Neutral declarative tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Ser' is the bridge that carries the action to the subject.

Visual Association

Imagine a conveyor belt where an object (the subject) is waiting to be processed by a machine (the modal verb) that stamps it with a participle.

Rhyme

Se o objeto é o foco da ação, use 'ser' e o particípio na oração.

Story

Maria has a list of tasks. She says, 'A casa precisa ser limpa, o jantar deve ser feito e as flores precisam ser regadas.' By using this structure, she keeps the focus on the tasks, not on who is doing them.

Word Web

serparticípioprecisardeverpodersujeitoagente

Challenge

Write 5 things that need to be done in your house today using this structure.

Cultural Notes

Very common in professional settings. Often replaces the 'se' passive.

Similar usage, but slightly more formal in tone.

Standard in formal documentation to maintain objectivity.

Derived from Latin 'esse' (to be) + past participle.

Conversation Starters

“

O que precisa ser feito na sua casa hoje?

“

Quais regras devem ser seguidas no seu trabalho?

“

Como um problema difícil pode ser resolvido?

“

O que deve ser mudado na sociedade atual?

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre as tarefas que precisam ser feitas na sua rotina.
Descreva um projeto que deve ser concluído no seu trabalho ou estudos.
Discuta como um problema global pode ser resolvido.
Analise uma norma social que deveria ser alterada.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

O projeto precisa ___ (ser/terminado).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ser terminado
Agreement with masculine singular subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

As janelas deve ser fechado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As janelas devem ser fechadas.
Needs plural and feminine agreement.
Choose the correct structure. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O carro precisa ser consertado.
Requires 'ser' + participle.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Eles devem enviar o e-mail. -> O e-mail ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deve ser enviado
Passive structure.
Match the subject to the participle. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: limpa / feito / seguidas
Gender and number agreement.
Choose the correct modal. Multiple Choice

O problema ___ ser resolvido agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: todas acima
All modals work.
Fill in the blank.

A decisão ___ (vai/ser/tomar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vai ser tomada
Future passive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O relatório precisa ser enviado por ela.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O relatório precisa ser enviado por ela.
The sentence is already correct.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

O projeto precisa ___ (ser/terminado).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ser terminado
Agreement with masculine singular subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

As janelas deve ser fechado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As janelas devem ser fechadas.
Needs plural and feminine agreement.
Choose the correct structure. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O carro precisa ser consertado.
Requires 'ser' + participle.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Eles devem enviar o e-mail. -> O e-mail ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deve ser enviado
Passive structure.
Match the subject to the participle. Match Pairs

A casa / O bolo / As regras

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: limpa / feito / seguidas
Gender and number agreement.
Choose the correct modal. Multiple Choice

O problema ___ ser resolvido agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: todas acima
All modals work.
Fill in the blank.

A decisão ___ (vai/ser/tomar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vai ser tomada
Future passive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O relatório precisa ser enviado por ela.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O relatório precisa ser enviado por ela.
The sentence is already correct.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

O {problema|masculine} não pode ___ (esquecer).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ser esquecido
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

They hope to be invited to the party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles esperam ser convidados para a festa.
Choose the best formal option. Multiple Choice

Os {documentos|masculine} devem ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ser assinados
Fix the agreement error. Error Correction

A {proposta|feminine} foi feita para ser aceito.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A proposta foi feita para ser aceita.
Match the sentence to its context. Match Pairs

Match these:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O app deve ser atualizado. -> Tech Support
Arrange the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange: [não] [Para] [ser] [os] [alunos] [estudaram] [reprovados]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Os alunos estudaram para não serem reprovados
Select the correct personal infinitive. Fill in the Blank

Nós estamos aqui para ___ (ajudar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sermos ajudados
Which one is passive? Multiple Choice

Which sentence is in the passive voice?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele quer ser amado.
Correct the verb choice. Error Correction

A casa deve estar pintada amanhã (meaning the action of painting).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa deve ser pintada amanhã.
Translate 'to be seen'. Translation

Ele não gosta de ser visto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He doesn't like to be seen.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, as long as the verb can be used in the passive voice.

Yes, 'ser' is the auxiliary for the passive voice.

You can include the agent with 'por', but often it's omitted.

Because the participle acts like an adjective.

Yes, especially in formal or professional speech.

'Ser' indicates the action, 'estar' indicates the state.

Yes, use the past tense of the modal verb.

Yes, very common in all regions.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

ser + participio

None, virtually identical.

French high

être + participe passé

Agreement rules are slightly more complex in French.

German moderate

werden + Partizip II

Word order is different due to German syntax.

Japanese low

Passive form (-reru)

It is a single verb form, not a two-word structure.

Arabic low

Passive voice (internal vowel change)

No auxiliary verb is required.

Chinese low

被 (bèi) structure

The structure is entirely different.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
The 'SE' Passive: Professional Portuguese (Voz Passiva Sintética)

Learn These First

B1 Requires

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Portuguese Word Order: SVO Basics

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The 'Se' Passive Voice (Vendem-se casas)

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The Impersonal Se (Formal Usage)

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