B2 Sentence Structure 19 min read Medium

Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle)

Use Ser + Participle to emphasize the receiver of an action, ensuring the participle agrees with the new subject.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ser' + past participle to focus on the action's recipient rather than the doer.

  • The participle must agree in gender and number with the subject: 'A casa foi vendida'.
  • Use 'por' to introduce the agent: 'O livro foi escrito por Machado de Assis'.
  • The verb 'ser' must match the tense of the original active sentence: 'A lei é votada'.
Object + Ser (conjugated) + Past Participle (agreed) + (por + Agent)

Overview

The passive voice in Portuguese, known as Voz Passiva Analítica, is formed using the auxiliary verb ser (to be) followed by the main verb's past participle. This grammatical construction allows you to shift the thematic focus of a sentence from the agent (the one performing the action) to the patient (the one receiving the action). It is an essential structure for B2-level learners, enabling more sophisticated and nuanced communication.

Mastering the ser + participle passive voice is crucial for expressing ideas with greater objectivity, formality, or when the agent of an action is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally omitted. It transforms your ability to report events, describe processes, and formulate arguments in both spoken and written Portuguese. This structure is a cornerstone for advanced discourse, moving beyond simple active constructions.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the passive voice is a grammatical mechanism for reorienting a sentence. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action on the object. When transforming to the passive voice, the original object becomes the new subject, receiving the action.
The original subject, if retained, is relegated to an agent phrase introduced by the preposition por.
The auxiliary verb ser is responsible for carrying all the tense, mood, and person/number conjugations. This means ser will be conjugated in the same tense and mood as the main verb in the original active sentence. The main verb, meanwhile, transforms into its past participle form, which then functions as an adjective.
This adjectival nature of the past participle is paramount: it must agree in gender and number with the new subject of the passive sentence. If the new subject is masculine singular, the participle will be masculine singular; if feminine plural, the participle will be feminine plural, and so forth. This agreement is a frequent point of error for learners.
For example, consider the active sentence: Os alunos leram os livros (The students read the books). Here, os alunos is the agent. In the passive voice: Os livros foram lidos pelos alunos (The books were read by the students). The participle lidos agrees with os livros (masculine plural).

Word Order Rules

The transformation from an active voice sentence (typically Subject-Verb-Object) to the ser + participle passive voice follows a predictable pattern. Understanding this reordering is fundamental to both forming and interpreting passive constructions.
Active Voice Structure:
| Element | Description | Example (Active) |
| :---------- | :------------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------- |\
| Subject | The performer of the action | O médico (The doctor) |\
| Verb | The action being performed | escreveu (wrote) |\
| Object | The receiver of the action | a receita (the prescription) |
Example

O médico escreveu a receita. (The doctor wrote the prescription.)

Passive Voice Structure:
| Element | Description | Example (Passive) |\
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- |\
| New Subject | The original object, now receiving the action | A receita (The prescription) |\
| Verb Ser | Conjugated in the original tense/mood of the main verb | foi (was) |\
| Past Participle | Main verb in past participle form, agreeing with new subject | escrita (written) |\
| Agent Phrase | Optional: por + original subject (the agent) | pelo médico (by the doctor) |
Example

A receita foi escrita pelo médico. (The prescription was written by the doctor.)

The agent phrase (pelo médico) is introduced by the preposition por. This preposition often contracts with definite articles (o, a, os, as) to form pelo, pela, pelos, pelas. If the agent is a proper noun or an indefinite noun without an article, por remains separate (e.g., por Ana, por alguém).
The agent phrase is frequently omitted, especially when the agent is unknown or unimportant to the message.

Formation Pattern

1
Converting an active sentence to the ser + participle passive voice involves a systematic four-step process. This pattern ensures correct grammatical construction and proper agreement.
2
Let's use the active sentence: A equipa construiu a ponte rapidamente. (The team built the bridge quickly.)
3
Identify the Direct Object: Locate the noun or pronoun directly receiving the action of the active verb. This will become the new subject of your passive sentence.
4
In our example, the direct object is a ponte (the bridge).
5
Determine the Tense and Mood of the Active Verb, and Conjugate Ser Accordingly: The auxiliary verb ser must match the tense and mood of the original active verb. If the active verb was in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (simple past), ser must also be in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples.
6
The active verb construiu is in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (3rd person singular). The corresponding form of ser is foi.
7
Common Ser Conjugations for Passive Voice (examples):
8
| Tense/Mood | Eu | Tu | Ele/Ela/Você | Nós | Vós | Eles/Elas/Vocês |\
9
| :----------------- | :--------- | :--------- | :------------- | :--------- | :--------- | :---------------- |\
10
| Presente Indicativo | sou | és | é | somos | sois | são |\
11
| Pretérito Perfeito | fui | foste | foi | fomos | fostes | foram |\
12
| Futuro Simples | serei | serás | será | seremos | sereis | serão |\
13
| Imperfect (past) | era | eras | era | éramos | éreis | eram |\
14
| Conditional | seria | serias | seria | seríamos | seríeis | seriam |\
15
Form the Past Participle of the Main Verb and Ensure Agreement: Take the main verb from the active sentence and convert it to its past participle form. Crucially, this participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject (which was the original direct object).
16
The main verb is construir. Its past participle is construído. The new subject is a ponte (feminine singular). Therefore, the participle must become construída.
17
Regular Participle Endings:
18
| Verb Ending | Past Participle Ending |\
19
| :---------- | :--------------------- |\
20
| -ar | -ado |\
21
| -er | -ido |\
22
| -ir | -ido |\
23
Examples of Irregular Participles:
24
| Verb | Past Participle |\
25
| :-------- | :-------------- |\
26
| abrir | aberto |\
27
| cobrir | coberto |\
28
| dizer | dito |\
29
| escrever| escrito |\
30
| fazer | feito |\
31
| pôr | posto |\
32
| ver | visto |\
33
| vir | vindo |\
34
Add the Agent Phrase (Optional): If the agent is important, reintroduce the original subject of the active sentence using the preposition por. Remember to contract por with articles (o, a, os, as) where applicable.
35
The original subject was a equipa (the team). So, the agent phrase becomes pela equipa (por + a = pela).
36
The adverb rapidamente can be placed flexibly, often before or after the participle.
37
Resulting Passive Sentence: A ponte foi construída rapidamente pela equipa. (The bridge was quickly built by the team.)
38
Another example: Ele vendeu a casa. (He sold the house.)
39
Object: a casa
40
Vendeu (Pretérito Perfeito) -> ser becomes foi.
41
Participle of vender is vendido. New subject a casa (feminine singular) -> vendida.
42
Agent ele -> por ele.
43
Result: A casa foi vendida por ele. (The house was sold by him.)

When To Use It

The ser + participle passive voice is not merely an alternative grammatical construction; it serves specific communicative purposes, especially valuable in formal contexts and when focusing on the action itself.
  • When the Agent is Unknown or Irrelevant: This is perhaps the most common application. When you don't know who performed an action, or when the identity of the performer is unimportant to the message, the passive voice allows you to convey the information directly.
  • O relatório foi concluído. (The report was concluded.) — It doesn't matter who concluded it; the focus is on the report's completion.
  • O carro foi roubado durante a noite. (The car was stolen during the night.) — The thief is unknown; the event is central.
  • To Emphasize the Action or its Recipient (the New Subject): By placing the patient at the beginning of the sentence as the subject, it receives greater prominence and emphasis. This is often used in news reporting, scientific descriptions, or official announcements.
  • Novas políticas foram implementadas para melhorar a educação. (New policies were implemented to improve education.) — The policies are the focus.
  • A vacina foi desenvolvida após anos de pesquisa. (The vaccine was developed after years of research.) — Highlights the vaccine's development.
  • For Formality and Objectivity: The passive voice lends a sense of detachment and impartiality, making it ideal for academic writing, official documents, legal texts, and journalistic reports. It avoids assigning direct responsibility, contributing to a neutral tone.
  • Decisões importantes foram tomadas na reunião. (Important decisions were made at the meeting.) — Sounds more formal than "Eles tomaram decisões importantes."
  • Os dados foram analisados com rigor científico. (The data were analyzed with scientific rigor.) — Enhances the objective presentation.
  • To Avoid Naming the Agent (Diplomacy or Evasion): Sometimes, the passive voice is employed to tactfully avoid mentioning who performed a potentially negative or controversial action, or to be polite. This is a common rhetorical strategy in professional and political discourse.
  • O erro foi cometido. (The error was made.) — Rather than Eu cometi o erro (I made the error).
  • As condições não foram cumpridas. (The conditions were not met.) — A subtle way to avoid direct accusation.
  • When the Agent is Obvious or General: If the agent is implied or widely understood within the context, it is often omitted, streamlining the sentence.
  • O paciente foi operado de urgência. (The patient was operated on urgently.) — It's understood that doctors performed the operation.
  • As leis são aprovadas pelo parlamento. (Laws are approved by the parliament.) — The agent is an institution and is often implied.

Common Mistakes

Portuguese learners frequently encounter specific challenges when forming and using the ser + participle passive voice. Addressing these common pitfalls is vital for achieving accuracy at the B2 level.
  1. 1Lack of Participle Agreement: This is arguably the most pervasive error. Learners often forget that the past participle functions adjectivally and must agree in gender and number with the new subject of the passive sentence.
  • Incorrect: As janelas foi aberto. (The windows was opened.) — janelas is feminine plural, aberto is masculine singular.
  • Correct: As janelas foram abertas. (The windows were opened.)
  • Incorrect: Os livros será lido. (The books will be read.) — livros is masculine plural, lido is masculine singular.
  • Correct: Os livros serão lidos. (The books will be read.)
Remember to always check the gender and number of the new subject and adjust the participle accordingly.
  1. 1Incorrect Preposition for the Agent: A common anglicism is using de (of/from) instead of por (by) to introduce the agent phrase, especially given that English uses "by."
  • Incorrect: O poema foi escrito de Fernando Pessoa. (The poem was written of Fernando Pessoa.)
  • Correct: O poema foi escrito por Fernando Pessoa. (The poem was written by Fernando Pessoa.)
Always use por (or its contractions pelo/pela/pelos/pelas) for the agent of the passive action.
  1. 1Mismatched Tense of Ser: The auxiliary ser must perfectly mirror the tense and mood of the main verb in the original active sentence. Failing to do so can drastically alter the meaning or create ungrammatical constructions.
  • Active: O presidente anunciou a decisão. (The president announced the decision. - Pretérito Perfeito)
  • Incorrect Passive: A decisão é anunciada pelo presidente. (The decision is announced by the president. - Presente Indicativo)
  • Correct Passive: A decisão foi anunciada pelo presidente. (The decision was announced by the president. - Pretérito Perfeito)
Carefully identify the tense of the active verb before conjugating ser.
  1. 1Overuse or Inappropriate Use: While powerful, the passive voice can sound stiff, overly formal, or even awkward if used in contexts where the active voice would be more natural and direct. It should not be a default choice for every sentence.
  • Awkward Passive: O café foi bebido por mim. (The coffee was drunk by me.)
  • Natural Active: Eu bebi o café. (I drank the coffee.)
Reserve the passive for situations where the focus on the action/patient is genuinely warranted, or where the agent is unknown/unimportant. In casual conversation, se passive is often preferred for impersonality.
  1. 1Confusion with Estar + Participle: As detailed below, ser + participle indicates an action, whereas estar + participle indicates a state resulting from an action. Mixing these up is a common source of error.
  • Incorrect: A porta estava aberta pelo vento. (The door was open by the wind.) — Implies the state of being open was caused by the wind, not the action of opening.
  • Correct: A porta foi aberta pelo vento. (The door was opened by the wind.) — Emphasizes the action.
  • Correct: A porta estava aberta. (The door was open.) — Emphasizes the state.
  1. 1Ignoring Irregular Participles: Portuguese has a significant number of irregular past participles. Using the regular -ado/-ido ending for these verbs will sound incorrect.
  • Incorrect: O bolo foi fazido. (The cake was made [incorrect participle].)
  • Correct: O bolo foi feito. (The cake was made.)
  • Incorrect: As notícias foram dizidas. (The news was said [incorrect participle].)
  • Correct: As notícias foram ditas. (The news was said.)
Memorize common irregular participles and be aware that some verbs (e.g., pegar) have both a regular and an irregular participle, sometimes with slightly different nuances or preferred usage (pegado vs. pêgo).

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Understanding the ser + participle passive voice is enhanced by distinguishing it from other similar-looking or functionally related grammatical structures in Portuguese. These contrasts clarify its specific role and prevent misapplication.
  • Ser + Participle (Action Passive) vs. Estar + Participle (Resultant State):
This is a critical distinction. While both constructions use an auxiliary verb followed by a past participle, their meanings are fundamentally different.
  • Ser + Participle (Action Passive): Focuses on the action or process itself. It describes something being done. It implies an agent, even if unstated.
  • A porta foi aberta pelo João. (The door was opened by João.) — The action of opening.
  • Os documentos serão enviados amanhã. (The documents will be sent tomorrow.) — The action of sending.
  • Estar + Participle (Resultant State): Focuses on the state or condition resulting from a past action. It describes how something is.
  • A porta está aberta. (The door is open.) — Describes the current state of the door.
  • Os documentos estão enviados. (The documents are sent / have been sent.) — Describes the current state of the documents (they are in a sent condition).
  • Comparison Table:
| Feature | Ser + Participle | Estar + Participle |\
| :---------------- | :----------------------------- | :------------------------------- |\
| Focus | Action/Process | Resultant State/Condition |\
| Implies Agent?| Yes, often (even if unstated) | No, just describes how it is |\
| Example 1 | A carta foi escrita. (was written - action) | A carta está escrita. (is written - state) |\
| Example 2 | A janela foi fechada. (was closed - action) | A janela está fechada. (is closed - state) |\
  • Ser + Participle vs. Se Passive (Voz Passiva Sintética / Passive Se):
The se passive is another common way to express passive meaning in Portuguese, particularly when the agent is unknown or irrelevant. However, it differs structurally and often in nuance.
  • Ser + Participle: Explicitly uses ser and a full participle. Can include an agent phrase. More formal.
  • Os produtos foram vendidos. (The products were sold.)
  • O livro foi escrito por um autor famoso. (The book was written by a famous author.)
  • Se Passive: Uses the particle se before the active verb. The verb agrees with the (grammatical) subject that represents the patient.
  • Vendem-se produtos. (Products are sold / One sells products.)
  • Escreveu-se um livro. (A book was written / One wrote a book.)
The se passive often sounds less formal and more colloquial. It inherently omits the agent phrase, making it useful for general statements. While the ser passive emphasizes the action performed, the se passive often emphasizes the existence or availability of the patient or a general activity.
  • Se Passive vs. Impersonal Se (Impersonal se / Indefinite Subject se):
It's crucial not to confuse the se passive with the impersonal se. Both use se, but their grammatical behavior and meaning differ.
  • Se Passive (Voz Passiva Sintética): The verb agrees in number with the object (which acts as a grammatical subject). The se here is a partícula apassivadora (passivizing particle).
  • Vendem-se casas grandes. (Large houses are sold.) — Verb vendem is plural because casas is plural.
  • Necessita-se de ajuda. (Help is needed.) — Note de ajuda is an indirect object, so the verb remains singular.
  • Impersonal Se: The verb is always in the 3rd person singular, regardless of what follows it. The se here is an índice de indeterminação do sujeito (subject indetermination index), indicating an unspecified human agent (meaning "one," "people," "they").
  • Vive-se bem em Portugal. (One lives well in Portugal.)
  • Precisa-se de empregados. (Employees are needed / One needs employees.) — Even though empregados is plural, the verb precisa remains singular because de empregados is an indirect object. If it were Precisa-se empregados (no de), then empregados would be a direct object and the verb would be plural (Precisam-se empregados), making it a se passive.

Real Conversations

Observing the ser + participle passive voice in authentic contexts helps illustrate its practical application, from formal reports to everyday diplomatic phrasing.

S

Scenario 1

News Report (Formal/Objective)

- Jornalista: A nova legislação ambiental foi aprovada ontem pelo parlamento, após um longo debate. (The new environmental legislation was approved yesterday by parliament, after a long debate.)

- Repórter: Espera-se que as medidas sejam implementadas até o final do ano, com um impacto significativo na indústria. (It is expected that the measures will be implemented by the end of the year, with a significant impact on industry.)

- Observation: News reports frequently use passive voice to convey objectivity and focus on the events rather than specific actors, especially when the actor is a collective body like "parliament."

S

Scenario 2

Workplace Email (Formal/Professional)

- Assunto: Atualização do Projeto X

- `Prezados,

Gostaria de informar que a fase inicial do projeto foi concluída com sucesso. As próximas etapas serão definidas na reunião de quinta-feira. Quaisquer dúvidas devem ser encaminhadas à coordenação.`

- (Subject: Project X Update. Dear all, I would like to inform you that the initial phase of the project was successfully completed. The next steps will be defined at Thursday's meeting. Any questions should be directed to the coordination.)

- Observation: In professional communication, the passive voice is often employed to maintain a formal tone, focus on deliverables, and depersonalize directives, making them sound like objective requirements rather than personal commands.

S

Scenario 3

Casual Conversation (Avoiding Blame/Emphasis)

- Amigo 1: Onde está o meu carregador? Eu deixei-o aqui. (Where is my charger? I left it here.)

- Amigo 2: Não sei... Acho que foi levado por alguém sem querer. (I don't know... I think it was taken by someone by mistake.)

- Observation: Here, foi levado por alguém allows Amigo 2 to avoid directly accusing anyone (or even taking responsibility if they themselves moved it) while still conveying what happened. The agent alguém is vague.

S

Scenario 4

Educational Context (General Truth/Process)

- O ciclo da água é ensinado nas escolas primárias. Nesse processo, a água é evaporada, é condensada e depois é precipitada novamente para a Terra. (The water cycle is taught in primary schools. In this process, water is evaporated, is condensed, and then is precipitated back to Earth.)

- Observation: The passive voice effectively describes a scientific process or a general truth, where the action is what matters, not who performs it (e.g., who evaporates the water is not the point).

Quick FAQ

These frequently asked questions address common queries about the ser + participle passive voice, providing concise clarification for learners.
  • Q: Can all verbs be used in the ser + participle passive voice?
  • A: No. Only transitive direct verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can typically form this type of passive voice. Intransitive verbs (e.g., morrer - to die, chegar - to arrive) and transitive indirect verbs (e.g., gostar de - to like) cannot. For example, you cannot say foi morrido or foi gostado.
  • Q: When is the agent phrase (por + agent) typically omitted?
  • A: The agent phrase is omitted when: the agent is unknown (O crime foi cometido.), obvious (O paciente foi curado.), irrelevant to the message (A reunião foi adiada.), or when you want to make a statement more impersonal or diplomatic (O erro foi identificado.). In many cases, omitting the agent is preferred to maintain focus on the action or patient.
  • Q: Is it always por for the agent, or are there alternatives?
  • A: For the agent performing the action in the ser + participle passive voice, por (and its contractions pelo/pela/pelos/pelas) is the standard and almost universally used preposition. Occasionally, de might be found with verbs expressing emotion or mental states (e.g., ser amado de todos - to be loved by all), but por is far more common and generally safer for B2 learners to prioritize.
  • Q: How does the progressive tense work with the passive voice?
  • A: In Brazilian Portuguese, the progressive passive is formed with estar sendo + participle: A casa está sendo construída. (The house is being built.) In European Portuguese, the construction estar a ser + participle is used: A casa está a ser construída. (The house is being built.) Both convey an ongoing passive action.
  • Q: Can infinitives be passive?
  • A: Yes, the infinitive of ser can combine with a participle to form a passive infinitive. This is common after prepositions or certain verbs. For example: É importante ser respeitado. (It's important to be respected.) Esperamos ser convidados para a festa. (We hope to be invited to the party.) This structure maintains the passive voice even within a nominalized verb form.
  • Q: Is the passive voice more common in written or spoken Portuguese?
  • A: The ser + participle passive voice is generally more prevalent in formal written Portuguese, such as academic texts, news articles, official reports, and legal documents. In casual spoken Portuguese, while it exists, other constructions like the se passive (Vendem-se casas) or the active voice with an indefinite subject (Eles roubaram o carro) are often preferred for their less formal tone.

Passive Voice Formation (Ser + Participle)

Tense Ser Conjugation Past Participle Example
Present
é/são
feito(a/os/as)
O trabalho é feito.
Past (Pretérito)
foi/foram
feito(a/os/as)
O trabalho foi feito.
Imperfect
era/eram
feito(a/os/as)
O trabalho era feito.
Future
será/serão
feito(a/os/as)
O trabalho será feito.
Conditional
seria/seriam
feito(a/os/as)
O trabalho seria feito.
Subjunctive
seja/sejam
feito(a/os/as)
Que o trabalho seja feito.

Meanings

The passive voice shifts the focus from the subject performing an action to the object receiving it. It is essential for formal writing and objective reporting.

1

Analytical Passive

Standard passive construction used to emphasize the result of an action.

“A decisão foi tomada pelo diretor.”

“As cartas foram enviadas ontem.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Ser + Participle
A casa foi vendida.
Negative
Subj + não + Ser + Participle
A casa não foi vendida.
Interrogative
Ser + Subj + Participle?
A casa foi vendida?
Agent
Subj + Ser + Participle + por + Agent
A casa foi vendida por eles.
Plural
Subj(pl) + Ser(pl) + Participle(pl)
As casas foram vendidas.
Feminine
Subj(fem) + Ser + Participle(fem)
A mesa foi comprada.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
O relatório foi finalizado.

O relatório foi finalizado. (Workplace)

Neutral
O relatório foi terminado.

O relatório foi terminado. (Workplace)

Informal
Terminaram o relatório.

Terminaram o relatório. (Workplace)

Slang
O relatório tá pronto.

O relatório tá pronto. (Workplace)

Passive Voice Components

Passive Voice

Auxiliary

  • ser to be

Main Verb

  • particípio past participle

Agreement

  • gênero/número gender/number
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Examples by Level

1

O bolo foi comido.

The cake was eaten.

2

A porta foi aberta.

The door was opened.

3

O livro foi lido.

The book was read.

4

A casa foi pintada.

The house was painted.

1

O carro foi consertado pelo mecânico.

The car was fixed by the mechanic.

2

As janelas foram fechadas por ele.

The windows were closed by him.

3

O e-mail não foi enviado.

The email was not sent.

4

A tarefa foi feita por nós?

Was the task done by us?

1

As novas leis foram aprovadas pelo governo.

The new laws were approved by the government.

2

O projeto será finalizado amanhã.

The project will be finished tomorrow.

3

A decisão foi tomada sem consulta prévia.

The decision was taken without prior consultation.

4

Os convites foram enviados a todos os membros.

The invitations were sent to all members.

1

O relatório foi redigido com base em dados estatísticos.

The report was drafted based on statistical data.

2

A estrutura foi danificada pelo forte vendaval.

The structure was damaged by the strong gale.

3

Muitas obras foram traduzidas para o português.

Many works were translated into Portuguese.

4

O contrato foi assinado por ambas as partes.

The contract was signed by both parties.

1

A medida foi implementada para que os custos fossem reduzidos.

The measure was implemented so that costs would be reduced.

2

O monumento foi erguido em homenagem aos heróis.

The monument was erected in honor of the heroes.

3

As evidências foram analisadas minuciosamente pelos peritos.

The evidence was analyzed thoroughly by the experts.

4

O acordo foi ratificado após longas negociações.

The agreement was ratified after long negotiations.

1

A teoria foi refutada por estudos contemporâneos.

The theory was refuted by contemporary studies.

2

O manuscrito foi preservado por séculos na biblioteca.

The manuscript was preserved for centuries in the library.

3

A política foi delineada com precisão cirúrgica.

The policy was outlined with surgical precision.

4

O sistema foi otimizado para que a eficiência fosse maximizada.

The system was optimized so that efficiency would be maximized.

Easily Confused

Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle) vs Passive with 'se'

Learners often mix up the analytical passive ('ser') with the synthetic passive ('se').

Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle) vs Perfect Tense

Learners confuse 'tem sido' (has been) with 'foi' (was).

Forming Passive Voice (Ser + Participle) vs Active Voice

Learners often use the passive voice when the active voice is more natural.

Common Mistakes

✗

O bolo foi comido

✓

O bolo foi comido

This is correct, but learners often forget to change it if it were 'A torta foi comida'.
✗

A casa foi pintado

✓

A casa foi pintada

Agreement error.
✗

O livro tem lido

✓

O livro foi lido

Using 'ter' instead of 'ser'.
✗

Foi comido o bolo

✓

O bolo foi comido

Word order is usually Subject-Verb.
✗

As janelas foi fechada

✓

As janelas foram fechadas

Number agreement error.
✗

O carro foi consertado por ele

✓

O carro foi consertado por ele

Correct, but learners often struggle with the preposition 'por'.
✗

O e-mail não foi enviado

✓

O e-mail não foi enviado

Correct, but learners often place 'não' incorrectly.
✗

As leis foram aprovado

✓

As leis foram aprovadas

Agreement error.
✗

O projeto será finalizado por nós

✓

O projeto será finalizado por nós

Correct, but learners often prefer active voice.
✗

A decisão foi tomada pelo conselho

✓

A decisão foi tomada pelo conselho

Correct, but learners often forget to contract 'por + o' to 'pelo'.
✗

A medida foi implementado

✓

A medida foi implementada

Agreement error.
✗

O monumento foi erguido por os heróis

✓

O monumento foi erguido pelos heróis

Failure to contract 'por + os'.
✗

As evidências foram analisado

✓

As evidências foram analisadas

Agreement error.
✗

O acordo foi ratificado por o governo

✓

O acordo foi ratificado pelo governo

Failure to contract 'por + o'.

Sentence Patterns

O/A ___ foi ___ pelo/pela ___.

As/Os ___ foram ___ pelo/pela ___.

O/A ___ será ___ amanhã.

A decisão foi ___ sem ___.

Real World Usage

News Report constant

O suspeito foi preso pela polícia.

Academic Paper very common

Os dados foram coletados em 2023.

Legal Contract very common

O contrato foi assinado por ambas as partes.

Business Email common

A reunião foi agendada para segunda-feira.

Social Media Announcement occasional

O evento foi cancelado por motivos climáticos.

Food Delivery App occasional

O pedido foi preparado pelo restaurante.

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💡

Check Agreement

Always check if your subject is plural or feminine. The participle must match!
⚠️

Don't Overuse

Passive voice can make your writing sound cold. Use it only when necessary.
🎯

Use 'por'

Use 'por' to introduce the agent, but remember to contract it (pelo/pela).
💬

Regional Differences

In Brazil, the 'se' passive is often more natural in speech than the 'ser' passive.

Smart Tips

Use the passive voice to maintain objectivity and focus on the results.

Eu terminei o relatório. → O relatório foi terminado.

Use the passive voice to describe the event without needing an agent.

Alguém roubou o carro. → O carro foi roubado.

Use the passive voice to focus on the action rather than the person.

Você cometeu um erro. → Um erro foi cometido.

Use the passive voice to emphasize the impact of the event.

Eles construíram o monumento em 1900. → O monumento foi construído em 1900.

Pronunciation

fe-i-to / fe-i-ta

Participle endings

Ensure the final vowel is clear (o/a) to indicate gender.

Formal statement

O relatório foi finalizado. ↘

Falling intonation indicates a completed, factual statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ser is the star, Participle is the car. They must match in gender and number, or you'll go too far!

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. The subject is looking at itself in the mirror, and the verb 'ser' is the frame holding the reflection (the participle) in place.

Rhyme

Ser and the participle, always in sync, keep the gender and number in the blink of a wink.

Story

The King (Subject) was tired, so he hired the Butler (Ser) to do the work. The Butler (Ser) made sure the Task (Participle) was perfectly dressed (agreed) for the occasion. The King just sat back and watched the work get done.

Word Web

serparticípioagentepassivasujeitoobjeto

Challenge

Take 5 active sentences from a newspaper and convert them to passive voice in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, the analytical passive is often replaced by the 'se' passive in speech, but it remains the standard for formal writing.

In Portugal, the analytical passive is used more frequently in speech than in Brazil.

The analytical passive is the preferred structure for maintaining neutrality in legal and academic documents.

The passive voice in Portuguese descends directly from the Latin passive voice, which used synthetic endings (e.g., 'amatur').

Conversation Starters

“

Como o projeto foi finalizado?

“

A decisão foi tomada por quem?

“

O jantar foi preparado por você?

“

As novas regras foram aprovadas?

Journal Prompts

Descreva um evento importante que aconteceu na sua cidade usando a voz passiva.
Escreva um e-mail formal para um chefe explicando que um relatório foi concluído.
Como as decisões são tomadas na sua família? Use a voz passiva.
Descreva um crime fictício usando a voz passiva para manter o mistério.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'ser' and the participle.

A carta ___ ___ (escrever) ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: foi escrita
The subject 'carta' is feminine singular, so the participle must be 'escrita'.
Find the error in the sentence. Error Correction

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'.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa foi vendida pelo dono.
The participle must agree with 'casa' (feminine) and 'por + o' must contract to 'pelo'.
Transform the active sentence to passive. Sentence Transformation

O arquiteto desenhou a casa. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa foi desenhada pelo arquiteto.
The tense must match (past) and the agreement must be correct.
Conjugate 'ser' in the future tense for the passive voice. Conjugation Drill

O projeto ___ ___ (finalizar) amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: será finalizado
The future tense requires 'será'.
Match the active sentence with its passive counterpart. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O bolo foi feito por eles.
The subject 'eles' must be preserved in the agent phrase.
Order the words to form a passive sentence. Sentence Building

pelo / foi / aprovada / lei / a / governo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A lei foi aprovada pelo governo.
Subject + verb + participle + agent.
Is the statement true or false? True False Rule

The past participle in the passive voice must agree with the subject in gender and number.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
This is a fundamental rule of Portuguese grammar.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'ser' and the participle.

A carta ___ ___ (escrever) ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: foi escrita
The subject 'carta' is feminine singular, so the participle must be 'escrita'.
Find the error in the sentence. Error Correction

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'.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa foi vendida pelo dono.
The participle must agree with 'casa' (feminine) and 'por + o' must contract to 'pelo'.
Transform the active sentence to passive. Sentence Transformation

O arquiteto desenhou a casa. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa foi desenhada pelo arquiteto.
The tense must match (past) and the agreement must be correct.
Conjugate 'ser' in the future tense for the passive voice. Conjugation Drill

O projeto ___ ___ (finalizar) amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: será finalizado
The future tense requires 'será'.
Match the active sentence with its passive counterpart. Match Pairs

Active: 'Eles fizeram o bolo.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O bolo foi feito por eles.
The subject 'eles' must be preserved in the agent phrase.
Order the words to form a passive sentence. Sentence Building

pelo / foi / aprovada / lei / a / governo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A lei foi aprovada pelo governo.
Subject + verb + participle + agent.
Is the statement true or false? True False Rule

The past participle in the passive voice must agree with the subject in gender and number.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
This is a fundamental rule of Portuguese grammar.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct participle agreement. Fill in the Blank

As janelas foram ___ pelo vento.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abertas
Select the correct contraction for the agent. Fill in the Blank

O gol foi marcado ___ jogador.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Construct the passive voice sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa foi vendida ontem
Which sentence is in the Passive Voice? Multiple Choice

Identify the passive voice structure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O filme foi assistido por todos.
Correct the participle. Error Correction

O texto foi escrevido pelo aluno.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O texto foi escrito pelo aluno.
Match the Active sentence to its Passive equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Eu fiz o bolo -> O bolo foi feito por mim","Ela comprou as flores -> As flores foram compradas por ela","N\u00f3s limpamos a casa -> A casa foi limpa por n\u00f3s"]
Conjugate the auxiliary verb 'Ser'. Fill in the Blank

No futuro, os carros ___ dirigidos por robôs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: serão
Form a question in passive voice. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O João foi convidado para a festa ?
Select the correct translation. Multiple Choice

'The song was sung by her.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A música foi cantada por ela.
Fix the agent preposition. Error Correction

O prédio foi construído de arquitetos famosos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O prédio foi construído por arquitetos famosos.
Choose the correct participle form. Fill in the Blank

A verdade foi ___ (dizer).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dita
Identify the agent in this sentence. Multiple Choice

Os impostos foram pagos pela empresa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a empresa

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

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.

Yes, it must agree with the subject in gender and number.

You can simply omit the 'por' phrase: 'A casa foi vendida'.

Yes, especially in formal writing, news, and academic texts.

Only with transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object).

Place 'não' before the verb 'ser': 'A casa não foi vendida'.

Yes, European Portuguese uses the analytical passive more frequently in speech.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

ser + participio

Spanish does not contract 'por el'.

French high

être + participe passé

French uses 'par' instead of 'por'.

German moderate

werden + Partizip II

German uses 'werden' instead of 'sein'.

Japanese low

passive suffix -reru

Japanese uses a suffix, not an auxiliary verb.

Arabic low

passive verb pattern

Arabic uses internal vowel changes, not an auxiliary verb.

Chinese low

bei (被) construction

Chinese uses a particle, not a verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Passive Voice: Focusing on the Action (`Voz Passiva`)
Next
Passive Voice: Introducing Agents with 'by' (pelo/pela)

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