Portuguese Passive Voice: Focusing on the Action (Voz Passiva)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the action, using 'ser' + past participle.
- Use 'ser' + past participle: 'O bolo foi feito por ela.'
- The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
- In the passive voice, the original subject becomes the agent, often introduced by 'por'.
Overview
The Portuguese passive voice, or voz passiva, is a fundamental grammatical structure used to shift thematic focus within a sentence. Instead of emphasizing the agent (who performs the action), the passive voice highlights the patient (who receives the action) or the action itself. This reorientation is not merely stylistic; it serves distinct communicative purposes, making it indispensable for formal writing, objective reporting, and nuanced expression in both European Portuguese (EP) and Brazilian Portuguese (BP).
At the B2 level, mastering the passive voice involves understanding its formation, its pragmatic functions, and the subtle distinctions between its various forms. It allows you to describe events where the performer is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally obscured, placing the outcome or the affected entity at the forefront.
Consider the difference: O presidente assinou a lei. (The president signed the law.) focuses on o presidente. Conversely, A lei foi assinada (pelo presidente). (The law was signed [by the president].) foregrounds a lei and the action of signing. This shift is crucial for academic papers, news reports, and even for expressing politeness or avoiding direct attribution.
Understanding voz passiva is key to comprehending a wide array of native Portuguese discourse, from formal announcements to everyday signs like Vende-se (For sale).
How This Grammar Works
voz passiva analítica) and the Synthetic Passive (voz passiva sintética), also known as the pronominal passive. Both achieve the same objective—focusing on the action's recipient—but they do so through different grammatical mechanisms and are used in subtly different contexts.ser (to be), followed by the main verb's past participle. This construction is highly similar to passive forms in English and Spanish. The auxiliary ser is conjugated to match the tense and person of the original active sentence, while the past participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject (the patient).por (pelo/pela).se appended to the verb. This construction is more concise and frequently employed when the agent is genuinely unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted. Unlike the analytical passive, the synthetic passive verb is conjugated in the third person, either singular or plural, depending on the new subject (the patient) that directly follows it.Vendem-se casas (Houses are sold) features casas as the grammatical subject controlling the verb vendem. This form is particularly prevalent in signs, advertisements, and general statements. Linguistically, the se here functions as a passivizing particle, transforming a transitive verb into a form that highlights the action's impact without specifying its actor.ir, chegar) cannot form a passive voice because their action does not transfer to a patient.Word Order Rules
- Identify the Active Components: Start with an active sentence: Subject (Agent) + Verb (Transitive) + Direct Object (Patient) + (Optional: Other elements).
- Example:
O aluno leu o livro.(The student read the book.) - Subject:
O aluno - Verb:
leu - Direct Object:
o livro
- Patient Becomes New Subject: The direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
O livro(originally direct object) moves to the beginning.
- Auxiliary Verb
Ser: The auxiliary verbseris introduced and conjugated in the same tense and aspect as the original active verb. In our example,leu(simple past), soserbecomesfoi(simple past).
- Main Verb Becomes Past Participle: The main verb of the active sentence is converted into its past participle form. This participle must agree in gender and number with the new subject.
leu(fromler) becomeslido. Sinceo livrois masculine singular, the participle remainslido.
- Agent Phrase (Optional): The original subject (agent) can be introduced at the end, preceded by the preposition
por(by). Rememberporoften combines with definite articles:por + o = pelo,por + a = pela,por + os = pelos,por + as = pelas. pelo aluno(by the student).
ser + Past Participle (agreeing) + (por + Subject) |A Maria lavou os pratos. | Os pratos foram lavados pela Maria. |Ele comprará a casa. | A casa será comprada por ele. |Nós fazíamos o trabalho. | O trabalho era feito por nós. |se to the verb.- Identify the Transitive Verb and Direct Object: This passive form is typically used when the agent is indefinite or intentionally omitted.
- Example:
Vendem casas.(They sell houses.) - Verb:
vendem - Direct Object:
casas
- Verb Conjugation: The transitive verb is conjugated in the third person (singular or plural). The verb's number must agree with the direct object, which functions as the new grammatical subject.
- If the direct object is plural, the verb is plural.
Casas(plural) meansvendem(plural). - If the direct object is singular, the verb is singular.
Casa(singular) meansvende(singular).
- Particle
Se: The particleseis placed immediately after the verb in affirmative sentences (enclitic position,verbo-se), or before the verb in negative sentences or with certain adverbs (proclitic position,se verbo). Vendem-se casas.(Houses are sold.)Não se vendem casas.(Houses are not sold.)
se + Direct Object |Alugam apartamentos. | Alugam-se apartamentos. (Apartments are rented.) |Constroem um edifício. | Constrói-se um edifício. (An edifice is built.) |casas, apartamentos, um edifício) is the grammatical subject, and the verb agrees with it. This is a common point of confusion for learners who might incorrectly assume the verb always remains singular.Formation Pattern
Ser + Past Participle
ser and the agreement of the past participle.
Ser: Ser is conjugated in the tense and mood appropriate to the original active sentence. Here are common conjugations:
Ser Conjugation (3rd Person Sing.) | Ser Conjugation (3rd Person Plur.) |
é | são |
foi | foram |
era | eram |
será | serão |
seria | seriam |
Os documentos são processados. (The documents are processed.)
-ado (for verbs ending in -ar) or -ido (for verbs ending in -er/-ir).
falar | falado | falada | falados | faladas |
comer | comido | comida | comidos | comidas |
abrir | aberto (irregular) | aberta | abertos | abertas |
escrever| escrito (irregular) | escrita | escritos | escritas |
A carta foi escrita pela secretária. (The letter was written by the secretary.) Here, escrita agrees with a carta (feminine singular).
aberto, escrito, feito, dito, posto, visto) are common and must be learned.
Se
se |
o livro) | vende-se o livro |
os livros) | vendem-se os livros |
Alugam-se carros na agência. (Cars are rented at the agency.) Here, alugam (plural) agrees with carros (plural).
Precisa-se de um funcionário. (A staff member is needed.) Here, precisa (singular) agrees with um funcionário (singular, and note the preposition de often used with precisar).
se always follows the verb in affirmative main clauses, while in BP, proclisis (se before the verb) is more common and often preferred: Se alugam carros. or Alugam-se carros.. However, in formal writing, enclisis (-se) is still standard in both variants.
When To Use It
Analytical Passive Formation (Verb: Fazer)
| Tense | Auxiliary (Ser) | Participle |
|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
é / são
|
feito(a/s)
|
|
Pretérito Perfeito
|
foi / foram
|
feito(a/s)
|
|
Imperfect
|
era / eram
|
feito(a/s)
|
|
Future
|
será / serão
|
feito(a/s)
|
|
Conditional
|
seria / seriam
|
feito(a/s)
|
|
Subjunctive
|
seja / sejam
|
feito(a/s)
|
Meanings
The passive voice is used when the receiver of the action is more important than the person or thing performing the action.
Analytical Passive
Standard passive construction using the auxiliary verb 'ser'.
“O relatório foi escrito pelo gerente.”
“As flores foram compradas ontem.”
Synthetic Passive
Passive construction using the particle 'se' with a third-person verb.
“Vendem-se casas.”
“Alugam-se apartamentos.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + Ser + Participle
|
O carro foi vendido.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + Não + Ser + Participle
|
O carro não foi vendido.
|
|
Question
|
Ser + Subj + Participle?
|
O carro foi vendido?
|
|
Agent
|
Subj + Ser + Participle + Por + Agente
|
O carro foi vendido pelo dono.
|
|
Synthetic
|
Verb + Se
|
Vendem-se carros.
|
|
Plural
|
Subj (Plural) + Ser (Plural) + Participle (Plural)
|
As casas foram vendidas.
|
Formality Spectrum
O relatório foi finalizado. (Workplace)
O relatório foi terminado. (Workplace)
Terminaram o relatório. (Workplace)
Acabaram o relatório. (Workplace)
Passive Voice Components
Auxiliary
- Ser To be
Main Verb
- Particípio Past Participle
Agent
- Por By
Examples by Level
O bolo foi feito.
The cake was made.
A casa foi pintada.
The house was painted.
O projeto foi finalizado pelo grupo.
The project was finished by the group.
A decisão foi tomada pelo conselho.
The decision was taken by the board.
É imperativo que as medidas sejam adotadas imediatamente.
It is imperative that the measures be adopted immediately.
Foram observadas discrepâncias significativas nos dados coletados.
Significant discrepancies were observed in the collected data.
Easily Confused
Both use 'se'.
Both mean 'to be'.
Both are passive.
Common Mistakes
O bolo foi feito por ela.
O bolo foi feito por ela.
As flores foi comprada.
As flores foram compradas.
O carro está vendido.
O carro foi vendido.
O livro lido foi.
O livro foi lido.
A decisão foi tomado.
A decisão foi tomada.
Eles foram visto.
Eles foram vistos.
O trabalho foi feito por eu.
O trabalho foi feito por mim.
Se vende casas.
Vendem-se casas.
A casa foi construída por o arquiteto.
A casa foi construída pelo arquiteto.
Foi dito que ele é culpado.
Diz-se que ele é culpado.
A lei foi aprovada por o governo.
A lei foi aprovada pelo governo.
O documento foi assinado pelo diretor e a diretora.
O documento foi assinado pelos diretores.
Foi visto que a solução é eficaz.
Observou-se que a solução é eficaz.
A casa foi construída em 1990 por eles.
A casa foi construída por eles em 1990.
Sentence Patterns
O/A ___ foi ___ por ___.
___-se ___.
As ___ foram ___.
É necessário que o ___ seja ___.
Real World Usage
Lei foi aprovada pelo congresso.
Os resultados foram analisados.
Aluga-se apartamento.
O projeto foi liderado por mim.
Foi feito!
O pedido foi entregue.
Focus on the Object
Agreement Matters
Synthetic Passive
Formal vs Informal
Smart Tips
Use the analytical passive to sound more objective.
Recognize the synthetic passive 'se' as a passive form.
Use the passive voice to list steps clearly.
Use the passive to omit the agent.
Pronunciation
Participle endings
Ensure the final 'o' or 'a' is clear to indicate gender.
Falling intonation
O livro foi lido. ↘
Indicates a completed, objective statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'SER' for the passive: Subject, Entity (the agent), Receiver (the subject).
Visual Association
Imagine a spotlight moving from the person doing the action to the object being acted upon.
Rhyme
Para o passivo formar, o verbo 'ser' deve usar, e o particípio concordar.
Story
The artist painted the canvas. The canvas was painted by the artist. The canvas was sold at the gallery.
Word Web
Challenge
Rewrite 5 active sentences from a news article into passive voice in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
The synthetic passive ('se') is very common in daily life and advertising.
The analytical passive is slightly more common in formal writing than in Brazil.
The passive voice is the standard for scientific and academic papers.
Derived from Latin passive constructions using 'esse' (to be).
Conversation Starters
O que foi feito no seu trabalho hoje?
Como as decisões são tomadas na sua empresa?
O que foi dito na reunião?
Como a comida foi preparada?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
O relatório ___ escrito ontem.
Find and fix the mistake:
As casas foi vendida.
Which is correct?
O gerente assinou o contrato.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which is a synthetic passive?
A decisão foi ___ (tomar).
foi / O / pelo / feito / trabalho / gerente
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesO relatório ___ escrito ontem.
Find and fix the mistake:
As casas foi vendida.
Which is correct?
O gerente assinou o contrato.
Active: Ela comprou o carro.
Which is a synthetic passive?
A decisão foi ___ (tomar).
foi / O / pelo / feito / trabalho / gerente
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesOs documentos _______ (preterite) entregues hoje.
The book was written by Camões.
Arrange these words:
As casas foram construído em 1990.
Identify the agent:
Match these pairs:
O golo foi marcado _______ jogador.
Translate to Portuguese:
Vende-se carros usados.
Choose the participle:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Use it when the action or the object is more important than the person doing it.
Yes, for the analytical passive, 'ser' is the only auxiliary verb.
Place 'não' before the verb 'ser'.
It uses 'se' with a verb to create an impersonal passive.
Only if you want to mention the agent.
The structure is the same, but synthetic passive is more common in Brazil.
Yes, 'O projeto será finalizado'.
Check for gender and number agreement with the subject.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio
None, very similar.
être + participe passé
French has more complex agreement rules with 'avoir' in other tenses.
werden + Partizip II
German uses a different auxiliary verb.
Passive form of verbs (-reru/-rareru)
Japanese changes the verb ending, not the auxiliary.
Internal vowel change
Arabic does not use an auxiliary verb.
bei (被) construction
Chinese does not conjugate the verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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