Passive Voice: Introducing Agents with 'by' (pelo/pela)
por (pelo/pela) while ensuring the past participle matches the subject's gender and number.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive voice uses 'ser' + past participle to shift focus to the object, adding the agent with 'pelo' or 'pela'.
- Use 'pelo' (por + o) for masculine agents: O livro foi escrito pelo autor.
- Use 'pela' (por + a) for feminine agents: A casa foi pintada pela artista.
- Ensure the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject: As cartas foram enviadas.
Overview
The passive voice with an agentive phrase (por + article) is a fundamental structure in Portuguese that allows you to shift the focus of a sentence from the performer of an action to the receiver of that action. This is particularly useful in formal contexts, academic writing, news reporting, or whenever the action itself or its consequence is more significant than the entity performing it. At the B2 CEFR level, mastering this construction enables you to express complex ideas with greater nuance and precision, mirroring the sophisticated language used by native speakers in diverse situations.
It signifies a deeper understanding of sentence structure and the strategic deployment of grammatical tools for stylistic and communicative effect.
Historically, the passive voice allows for greater objectivity and detachment in communication. By placing the object of an action as the grammatical subject, the sentence prioritizes what happened and to whom, rather than who initiated the action. This structure is a hallmark of many Indo-European languages, with Portuguese utilizing the auxiliary verb ser (to be) combined with a past participle to form its core.
The por phrase then explicitly reintroduces the agent, providing crucial information about the doer when necessary.
How This Grammar Works
pelo/pela (or pelos/pelas) transforms an active sentence by making the original object the new grammatical subject. The original subject, or agent, is then introduced by the preposition por (by), which contracts with definite articles (o, a, os, as) to form pelo, pela, pelos, and pelas, respectively. This construction is formally known as the analytical passive voice (or voz passiva analítica) in Portuguese.O diretor assinou os documentos. (The director signed the documents.). Here, O diretor is the agent. To transform this into the passive voice, os documentos becomes the new subject.assinar (to sign) is then expressed using the auxiliary verb ser (to be) conjugated in the same tense as the original active verb, followed by its past participle. Finally, the agent o diretor is reintroduced with the agentive phrase.Ser + Past Participle + por + Article + Agent.- The auxiliary verb
sercarries the tense, mood, and person information. For example, if the active verb is in the past,serwill also be conjugated in the past. - The past participle must agree in gender and number with the new passive subject. This is a critical point of agreement in Portuguese passive constructions. It functions adjectivally, describing the state of the subject.
- The agentive phrase (
por+ article + agent) clarifies who performed the action. The choice of article (o,a,os,as) depends on the gender and number of the agent that follows it.
Active: A artista pintou o quadro. (The artist painted the painting.)
Passive: O quadro foi pintado pela artista. (The painting was painted by the artist.)
o quadro (masculine singular) is the new subject, so the participle pintado is also masculine singular. A artista (feminine singular) is the agent, so por contracts with a to become pela.Word Order Rules
Ser + Main Verb (Past Participle) + Agentive Phrase (por + Definite Article + Agent)- 1New Subject: This is the noun or pronoun that was the direct object in the active sentence. It now dictates the agreement for the auxiliary verb
serand the past participle. For instance, inA música foi composta...,A músicais the new subject.
- 1Auxiliary Verb
Ser: This verb is conjugated to match the new subject in person and number, and it also reflects the original tense and mood of the active verb. It is always placed immediately after the new subject.
- 1Main Verb (Past Participle): This form of the verb describes the action that was performed. It must agree in gender and number with the new passive subject. This is a frequent source of error for learners.
- 1Agentive Phrase (
por+ Definite Article + Agent): This phrase introduces the original performer of the action. The definite article (o,a,os,as) that precedes the agent combines withporthrough contraction. This phrase typically appears at the end of the sentence, though for emphasis, it can occasionally be shifted, though this is less common in standard usage.
por with definite articles:por | o | pelo | pela | pelos | pelas |O livro foi publicado pelo editor.(The book was published by the editor.) -livro(m.sg) ->publicado(m.sg);editor(m.sg) ->pelo.As casas foram construídas pelos trabalhadores.(The houses were built by the workers.) -casas(f.pl) ->construídas(f.pl);trabalhadores(m.pl) ->pelos.A proposta será analisada pela equipe.(The proposal will be analyzed by the team.) -proposta(f.sg) ->analisada(f.sg);equipe(f.sg) ->pela.
Formation Pattern
O professor corrigiu as provas. (The professor corrected the tests.)
O professor
corrigiu (Pretérito Perfeito Simples)
as provas
As provas
Ser
ser to match the new passive subject in person and number, and in the same tense and mood as the original active verb. Since corrigiu is in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples, ser will also be in the Pretérito Perfeito Simples, agreeing with As provas (they).
Ser: foram (they were)
corrigir) and form its past participle (corrigido). This participle must agree in gender and number with the new passive subject. Since As provas is feminine plural, corrigido becomes corrigidas.
corrigidas
por followed by the appropriate definite article (o, a, os, as) that agrees with the agent. O professor is masculine singular, so por + o becomes pelo.
pelo professor
Ser + Past Participle + Agentive Phrase
As provas foram corrigidas pelo professor. (The tests were corrected by the professor.)
-ado (for -ar verbs) or -ido (for -er, -ir verbs), some are irregular. You must memorize these.
abrir | abrido (rare) | aberto |
cobrir | cobrido (rare) | coberto |
dizer | - | dito |
escrever | - | escrito |
fazer | - | feito |
ver | - | visto |
aberta, escritas, feitos). The consistent application of these steps ensures grammatical accuracy.
When To Use It
pelo/pela is a powerful rhetorical tool, employed when specific communicative goals are prioritized over a simple, direct statement. Its usage extends beyond mere grammatical transformation; it reflects a strategic choice in emphasis and presentation. Here are the primary scenarios where this structure is most effective:- 1Emphasis on the Action or Patient (Receiver of Action):
A nova ponte foi inaugurada pelo prefeito.(The new bridge was inaugurated by the mayor.) – The inauguration of the bridge is the main event, and the mayor's role is secondary.
- 1Formality and Objectivity: In academic, scientific, journalistic, or legal contexts, the passive voice lends an air of objectivity and detachment. It removes personal agency, making statements sound more factual and less subjective.
Os dados foram coletados pelos pesquisadores de forma rigorosa.(The data was collected by the researchers rigorously.) – Common in research papers to emphasize the methodology and results.A lei foi aprovada pelo parlamento após longo debate.(The law was approved by parliament after long debate.) – Typical in news reports or official announcements.
- 1Agent is Important but Not the Primary Focus: While the
pelo/pelaphrase explicitly names the agent, the passive construction still keeps the patient at the forefront. This is distinct from cases where the agent is unknown or irrelevant (wherepelo/pelamight be omitted).
A Mona Lisa foi pintada por Leonardo da Vinci.(The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.) – The artwork is the primary subject, but the renowned artist is also crucial information.
- 1To Avoid Placing Blame or Credit Directly (Subtlety):
O erro foi identificado pela equipe de auditoria.(The error was identified by the auditing team.) – More diplomatic thanA equipe de auditoria identificou o erro., especially if the error reflects poorly on the team.
- 1When the Agent is a Well-Known Entity: For entities like governments, institutions, famous individuals, or generic groups, the passive voice can be a concise way to attribute action without making the sentence overly agent-centric.
Os impostos são cobrados pelo governo.(Taxes are collected by the government.) – A general statement where the agent is implicitly understood but formally stated.
Common Mistakes
pelo/pela. Recognizing these pitfalls is key to achieving native-like fluency and accuracy.- 1Past Participle Agreement: This is the most prevalent error. Remember that the past participle always agrees in gender and number with the new passive subject (the patient).
- Incorrect:
As notícias foi transmitido pela rádio.(notíciasis feminine plural,transmitidois masculine singular) - Correct:
As notícias foram transmitidas pela rádio. - Tip: Always ask:
Passive Voice Formation
| Tense | Auxiliary (Ser) | Past Participle | Agent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
é / são
|
feito(a/s)
|
pelo/pela
|
|
Past (Pretérito Perfeito)
|
foi / foram
|
feito(a/s)
|
pelo/pela
|
|
Imperfect
|
era / eram
|
feito(a/s)
|
pelo/pela
|
|
Future
|
será / serão
|
feito(a/s)
|
pelo/pela
|
|
Conditional
|
seria / seriam
|
feito(a/s)
|
pelo/pela
|
Contractions of 'Por'
| Preposition | Article | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
|
por
|
o
|
pelo
|
|
por
|
a
|
pela
|
|
por
|
os
|
pelos
|
|
por
|
as
|
pelas
|
Meanings
The passive voice is used to emphasize the receiver of an action rather than the performer. When we need to specify who performed the action, we use the preposition 'por' (contracted as 'pelo' or 'pela').
Agentive Passive
Explicitly stating the performer of the action in a passive construction.
“O projeto foi aprovado pelo diretor.”
“A decisão foi tomada pela comissão.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + ser + part + pelo/pela + agent
|
O bolo foi feito pelo chef.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + não + ser + part + pelo/pela + agent
|
O bolo não foi feito pelo chef.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Ser + subj + part + pelo/pela + agent?
|
O bolo foi feito pelo chef?
|
|
Plural
|
Subj(pl) + foram + part(pl) + pelos/pelas + agent
|
Os bolos foram feitos pelos chefs.
|
|
Future
|
Subj + será + part + pelo/pela + agent
|
O bolo será feito pelo chef.
|
|
Passive Se (Contrast)
|
Verbo + se + sujeito
|
O bolo se fez (na cozinha).
|
Formality Spectrum
O relatório foi finalizado pelo gerente. (Workplace)
O gerente finalizou o relatório. (Workplace)
O gerente terminou o relatório. (Workplace)
O chefe acabou o trampo. (Workplace)
Passive Voice Components
Auxiliary
- ser to be
Agent
- pelo by the (masc)
- pela by the (fem)
Examples by Level
O carro foi lavado pelo pai.
The car was washed by dad.
A carta foi escrita pela mãe.
The letter was written by mom.
O jogo foi ganho pelo time.
The game was won by the team.
A porta foi aberta pela Ana.
The door was opened by Ana.
O relatório foi enviado pelo gerente.
The report was sent by the manager.
A decisão foi tomada pela diretoria.
The decision was made by the board.
O filme foi dirigido pelo diretor famoso.
The movie was directed by the famous director.
A casa foi comprada pela família.
The house was bought by the family.
As medidas foram implementadas pelo governo.
The measures were implemented by the government.
O problema foi resolvido pela equipe técnica.
The problem was solved by the technical team.
A lei foi aprovada pelo senado.
The law was approved by the senate.
A conferência foi organizada pela universidade.
The conference was organized by the university.
O contrato foi assinado pelo cliente após a reunião.
The contract was signed by the client after the meeting.
A pesquisa foi conduzida pela Dra. Silva.
The research was conducted by Dr. Silva.
O projeto foi financiado pelo banco central.
The project was financed by the central bank.
A obra foi criticada pela imprensa local.
The work was criticized by the local press.
A estratégia foi delineada pelo conselho administrativo.
The strategy was outlined by the administrative board.
O manuscrito foi editado pela equipe editorial.
The manuscript was edited by the editorial team.
A política externa foi redefinida pelo ministério.
The foreign policy was redefined by the ministry.
O sistema foi otimizado pelo engenheiro-chefe.
The system was optimized by the chief engineer.
A teoria foi refutada pela evidência empírica.
The theory was refuted by empirical evidence.
O tratado foi ratificado pela maioria dos estados-membros.
The treaty was ratified by the majority of member states.
A narrativa foi construída pela autora com maestria.
The narrative was constructed by the author with mastery.
O paradigma foi alterado pela descoberta recente.
The paradigm was altered by the recent discovery.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'Vende-se a casa' and 'A casa foi vendida pelo dono'.
They look identical in writing but have different meanings.
Learners use passive voice when active is more natural.
Common Mistakes
O livro foi escrito por o autor.
O livro foi escrito pelo autor.
A casa foi pintado pelo pintor.
A casa foi pintada pelo pintor.
O bolo foi feito pela chef.
O bolo foi feito pelo chef.
A carta foi escrito pela Maria.
A carta foi escrita pela Maria.
O projeto foi feito por eles.
O projeto foi feito por eles.
A decisão foi tomado pela comissão.
A decisão foi tomada pela comissão.
O carro foi consertado pelos mecânico.
O carro foi consertado pelos mecânicos.
A lei foi aprovado pelo senado.
A lei foi aprovada pelo senado.
As casas foram construído pela empresa.
As casas foram construídas pela empresa.
O relatório foi lido por a diretora.
O relatório foi lido pela diretora.
A teoria foi refutado pela evidência.
A teoria foi refutada pela evidência.
O tratado foi assinado por os estados.
O tratado foi assinado pelos estados.
A narrativa foi escrito pela autora.
A narrativa foi escrita pela autora.
Sentence Patterns
O ___ foi feito pelo ___.
A ___ foi aprovada pela ___.
Os ___ foram organizados pelos ___.
As ___ foram pintadas pelas ___.
Real World Usage
O contrato foi assinado pelo cliente.
A lei foi aprovada pelo senado.
O estudo foi conduzido pela Dra. Silva.
A foto foi tirada pelo meu amigo.
O pedido foi preparado pelo restaurante.
A reserva foi feita pela agência.
Check Agreement
Don't Overuse
Contractions
Regional Differences
Smart Tips
Use the passive voice to sound objective.
Use 'se' instead of 'pelo'.
Match the participle to the subject.
Always contract it.
Pronunciation
Pelo vs Pêlo
Pelo (preposition) is pronounced with an open 'e'. Pêlo (hair) has a closed 'e'.
Formal Statement
O projeto foi aprovado ↘ pelo diretor.
Falling intonation at the end of a formal statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'Pelo' is for the 'o' (masculine), 'Pela' is for the 'a' (feminine).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'O' wearing a top hat (masculine) and a giant 'A' wearing a dress (feminine). The action flows from the agent through the 'pelo/pela' bridge to the object.
Rhyme
Se o agente é masculino, use pelo, não o fino; se o agente é feminino, use pela, é o destino.
Story
The King (O Rei) ordered a painting. The painting was made by the artist. 'A pintura foi feita pela artista.' The King was happy. 'O quadro foi aprovado pelo rei.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things in your room using the passive voice (e.g., 'A cama foi feita por mim').
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, the passive voice is often considered formal. In casual speech, people prefer active voice or the 'se' construction.
In Portugal, the passive voice is more common in formal and written contexts than in Brazil.
The agentive passive is the standard for scientific papers across all Lusophone countries.
The Portuguese passive voice evolved from the Latin 'amatus sum' construction.
Conversation Starters
Por quem o projeto foi aprovado?
O que foi feito pela equipe hoje?
A lei foi assinada pelo presidente?
O jantar foi preparado por quem?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
O livro foi escrito ___ autor.
Find and fix the mistake:
A casa foi pintado pelo pintor.
Which is correct?
O arquiteto desenhou a casa.
The passive voice is more common in formal writing.
A: Quem fez o bolo? B: O bolo ___.
pelo / foi / O / aprovado / projeto / diretor
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesO livro foi escrito ___ autor.
Find and fix the mistake:
A casa foi pintado pelo pintor.
Which is correct?
O arquiteto desenhou a casa.
The passive voice is more common in formal writing.
A: Quem fez o bolo? B: O bolo ___.
pelo / foi / O / aprovado / projeto / diretor
Match: 1. O gerente, 2. A diretora
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesOs documentos ___ (past) assinados pelo gerente.
The book was written by Paulo Coelho.
Which one is correct?
Match these:
O carro foi lavado para o meu pai.
Order: [será] [A] [apresentada] [proposta] [pela] [empresa]
As fotos foram ___ (tirar) pelo fotógrafo.
Translate the sentence.
Which sentence uses the passive voice with an agent?
Combine por + article:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Use it when the receiver of the action is more important than the agent.
Only when the agent is masculine.
No, 'pelo' is mandatory.
Yes, it is generally considered formal.
Use 'pelos' or 'pelas'.
Yes, you just conjugate 'ser'.
Yes, Brazil uses it less in casual speech.
Use the passive 'se'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio + por
Portuguese contracts 'por + o/a'.
être + participe passé + par
Portuguese uses contractions.
werden + Partizip II + von
Auxiliary verb choice.
passive verb form + ni
Morphological vs analytical.
internal vowel change
Morphological vs analytical.
bei + agent + verb
Marker vs auxiliary.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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