B2 Sentence Structure 8 min read Medium

Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética)

The noun is the boss: if it's plural, the verb must be plural too.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'se' + a verb to describe actions where the subject is unknown or unimportant, focusing on the object instead.

  • The verb must agree with the object: 'Vendem-se casas' (Houses are sold).
  • If the object is singular, the verb is singular: 'Vende-se uma casa'.
  • If the object is plural, the verb is plural: 'Vendem-se casas'.
Verb + se + Subject (Object of the action)

Overview

Ever see a sign in Brazil that says Vendem-se casas and wonder why the verb is plural? You’ve just stumbled upon one of the most useful and common structures in Portuguese: the passive voice using the particle se. It’s a shortcut to say something is done without needing to name who did it.

Think of it as the grammar behind signs, headlines, and official announcements. It's less 'I am selling houses' and more 'Houses for sale.' We're going to break it down so you can use it without breaking a sweat.

The passive voice with se, officially called voz passiva sintética, is how you shift focus from the doer of an action to the thing being acted upon. Instead of saying, “Someone cleaned the rooms,” you say, Limparam-se os quartos (The rooms were cleaned). The se particle is your magic wand here.

It signals that the grammatical subject isn't performing the action but receiving it. This is super common in both spoken and written Portuguese, especially when the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or just obvious from the context. You'll see it everywhere, from apartment rental ads (Alugam-se apartamentos) to news articles (Discutiu-se a nova lei).

It's a sleeker, more concise alternative to the longer passive voice (Os quartos foram limpos por alguém).

Word Order Rules

Getting the word order right is key, and it changes slightly between Brazil and Europe. The basic building block is Verb + se + Subject. However, where you place that se is the big question.
  • European Portuguese (EP): Generally prefers enclisis, where the pronoun comes after the verb, attached with a hyphen. Example: Vende-se o carro. (The car is sold.) This is the default in most simple, affirmative sentences. It sounds a bit more formal to the Brazilian ear, but it's standard in Portugal.
  • Brazilian Portuguese (BP): Strongly prefers proclisis, where the pronoun comes before the verb. Example: Se vende o carro. In casual, spoken BP, you'll almost always hear the se first. In more formal writing, Brazilians will follow stricter rules, often avoiding starting a sentence with se, but in daily conversation, proclisis rules.
One major rule they both agree on: if there’s a negative word like não, nunca, or ninguém before the verb, the se must come before the verb (proclisis) in both dialects. Example: Não se falam essas coisas aqui. (Those things are not said here.)

How This Grammar Works

The real trick to mastering this is understanding that the se here is a passive particle (partícula apassivadora). It's not the same as the reflexive se (he washes himself) or the impersonal se (one needs...). This passive se only works with transitive direct verbs—verbs that take a direct object (like comprar, ver, fazer, dizer).
Here’s the core mechanism:
  1. 1Take an active sentence: Alguém vendeu a casa. (Someone sold the house.)
  2. 2The direct object (a casa) becomes the new subject.
  3. 3The verb (vendeu) is conjugated in the 3rd person and gets the se particle.
  4. 4The verb must agree in number with the new subject.
  • Vendeu-se a casa. (The house was sold.) - Singular subject, singular verb.
  • Venderam-se as casas. (The houses were sold.) - Plural subject, plural verb.
This verb agreement is the #1 mistake learners make. If you see Vendem-se casas, it’s not that multiple people are selling; it’s that multiple casas are being sold. It’s a bit like a programming rule: if subject == plural, then verb == plural.
Messing this up is like trying to charge your phone with a banana—it just won’t work.

Formation Pattern

1
Let's build this structure from scratch. It's easier than it looks.
2
Identify your verb: Choose a transitive direct verb (a verb that does something to an object). Let's use discutir (to discuss).
3
Identify your object: What is being discussed? O novo plano (The new plan).
4
Choose your tense: Let's go with the simple past (Preterite Perfect).
5
Assemble the sentence: Conjugate the verb in the 3rd person singular to match o novo plano. The preterite of discutir is discutiu.
6
Add the se: Discutiu-se o novo plano. (The new plan was discussed.)
7
Now let's try a plural subject:
8
Verb: confirmar (to confirm).
9
Object: Os detalhes (The details).
10
Tense: Present.
11
Assemble: Conjugate confirmar in the 3rd person plural to match os detalhes. That's confirmam.
12
Add the se: Confirmam-se os detalhes. (The details are confirmed.)
13
See? The subject is the boss. The verb just follows orders.

Pattern Variations

The biggest variation is the Impersonal se (índice de indeterminação do sujeito). It looks identical but behaves differently, and this is what trips everyone up. It's like a twin with a totally different personality.
  • Passive se: Used with verbs that have a direct object. The verb changes to match the subject's number.
  • Aluga-se carro. (Car is for rent.)
  • Alugam-se carros. (Cars are for rent.)
  • Impersonal se: Used with verbs that do NOT have a direct object (intransitive or transitive indirect verbs like precisar de, gostar de, morar). The verb is ALWAYS singular.
  • Precisa-se de voluntários. (Volunteers are needed.) - Even though voluntários is plural, the verb precisar is singular because de voluntários is an indirect object. The se here just means 'someone' or 'one'.
  • Vive-se bem aqui. (One lives well here.)
So, before you make the verb plural, always ask: is that noun a direct object or is it hiding behind a preposition like de? No preposition? It's the boss (passive se).
Preposition? The verb stays put (impersonal se). It's a small detail that makes a huge difference.
You wouldn't want to post a sign saying Precisam-se de funcionários; it's a classic grammar gaffe.

Real Conversations

Let's see how this pops up in modern contexts. It's not just for dusty old books.

S

Scenario 1

Texting about a party
A

Ana

E aí, tudo pronto pra hoje à noite?
P

Pedro

Quase! Compraram-se as bebidas e os salgadinhos. Só falta a música.
A

Ana

Boa! Resolveu-se o maior problema então. Haha.
T

Translation

*
A

Ana

Hey, everything ready for tonight?
P

Pedro

Almost! The drinks and snacks were bought. Only the music is missing.
A

Ana

Nice! The biggest problem was solved then. Haha.
S

Scenario 2

Reading an online news comment section
U

User123

Discutem-se tantas coisas inúteis neste fórum, mas ninguém fala do problema real da cidade.
M

Moderator

Olá! Pedem-se sugestões de pautas. Por favor, envie a sua através do link no nosso perfil.
T

Translation

*
U

User123

So many useless things are discussed in this forum, but nobody talks about the city's real problem.
M

Moderator

Hello! Suggestions for topics are requested. Please send yours via the link in our profile.
S

Scenario 3

Talking about a new series on Netflix
L

Lia

Você viu a nova série? É ótima!
M

Marcos

Ainda não. Falam-se maravilhas dela, mas não tive tempo. Zero spoilers!
L

Lia

Relaxa! Mas sério, criou-se um universo incrível ali.
T

Translation

*
L

Lia

Did you see the new series? It's great!
M

Marcos

Not yet. Wonderful things are said about it, but I haven't had time. Zero spoilers!
L

Lia

Relax! But seriously, an incredible universe was created there.

Common Mistakes

Let's put the most common slip-ups under a microscope so you can avoid them. Think of it as a cheat sheet for not sounding like a gringo.
  1. 1Forgetting Verb Agreement: The big one. Saying ✗ Vende-se apartamentos is wrong. The subject (apartamentos) is plural, so the verb must be too.
  • ✗ Vende-se apartamentos.
  • ✓ Vendem-se apartamentos.
  1. 1Confusing Passive se with Impersonal se: Making the verb plural when you have an indirect object. Remember the de? It's your red flag.
  • ✗ Precisam-se de atores.
  • ✓ Precisa-se de atores. (Because it's 'need of actors')
  1. 1Wrong Pronoun Placement in Brazil: While Vende-se is grammatically perfect, it can sound a bit stiff or formal in casual Brazilian conversation. Starting with Se vende is often more natural.
  • Formal BP/Standard EP: Entregam-se as pizzas em 30 minutos.
  • Casual BP: Se entregam as pizzas em 30 minutos.
  1. 1Using se with ser: Don't mix the two passive forms. The se form (passiva sintética) is a replacement for the ser form (passiva analítica), not an addition.
  • ✗ Foi-se vendido o carro.
  • ✓ Vendeu-se o carro. OR O carro foi vendido.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is aluga-se the same as 'for rent'?

Exactly! It's a concise way to say 'is rented' or 'for rent.' It’s the standard you'll see on signs all over Brazil and Portugal for rentals, sales, and services.

Q

Can I use this with any verb tense?

Yep! You can use it in the present (vendem-se), past (venderam-se), future (vender-se-ão), subjunctive (espero que se resolvam os problemas), and more. The agreement rule always applies.

Q

Why does Duolingo sometimes mark Se vende as wrong?

Some apps can be very strict about formal grammar, where starting a sentence with a pronoun like se is frowned upon. In formal writing, Vende-se is preferred. But in daily spoken Brazilian Portuguese, Se vende is extremely common and natural.

Q

So, is Falam-se português e espanhol correct?

Excellent question! The subject here is 'Português e espanhol,' which is plural. So yes, falam-se is perfect. You nailed the agreement rule!

Synthetic Passive Agreement

Object Number Verb Form Example
Singular
3rd Person Singular
Vende-se a casa
Plural
3rd Person Plural
Vendem-se as casas
Singular
3rd Person Singular
Aluga-se o carro
Plural
3rd Person Plural
Alugam-se os carros
Singular
3rd Person Singular
Faz-se o bolo
Plural
3rd Person Plural
Fazem-se os bolos

Meanings

The synthetic passive is used to express an action where the agent is unknown or irrelevant, focusing entirely on the object of the action.

1

Passive Voice

Focusing on the object receiving the action.

“Consertam-se relógios.”

“Aceitam-se cartões.”

2

Impersonal Passive

Used with intransitive verbs where there is no object.

“Vive-se bem aqui.”

“Dormiu-se pouco ontem.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + se + Object
Vendem-se casas
Negative
Não + se + Verb + Object
Não se vendem casas
Question
Verb + se + Object + ?
Vendem-se casas?
Plural
Verb (Plural) + se + Object (Plural)
Comem-se maçãs
Singular
Verb (Singular) + se + Object (Singular)
Come-se a maçã
Impersonal
Verb (Singular) + se
Vive-se bem

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Vendem-se casas nesta localidade.

Vendem-se casas nesta localidade. (Real Estate)

Neutral
Vendem-se casas aqui.

Vendem-se casas aqui. (Real Estate)

Informal
A gente vende casa aqui.

A gente vende casa aqui. (Real Estate)

Slang
Tem casa pra vender.

Tem casa pra vender. (Real Estate)

Synthetic Passive Logic

Voz Passiva Sintética

Agreement

  • Singular Verb singular
  • Plural Verb plural

Passive vs Indeterminate

Passive
Vendem-se casas Houses are sold
Indeterminate
Precisa-se de ajuda Help is needed

Decision Flow

1

Is there a direct object?

YES
Use Passive (Agree verb)
NO
Use Indeterminate (Singular)

Common Verbs

🛠️

Services

  • • Consertar
  • • Alugar
  • • Fazer
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Examples by Level

1

Aluga-se casa.

House for rent.

1

Vendem-se livros aqui.

Books are sold here.

2

Conserta-se relógio.

Watch repair.

3

Aceitam-se cartões.

Cards are accepted.

4

Procura-se emprego.

Job wanted.

1

Fazem-se traduções.

Translations are done.

2

Comem-se muitas frutas.

Many fruits are eaten.

3

Constroem-se prédios.

Buildings are built.

4

Não se vendem ingressos.

Tickets are not sold.

1

Observam-se mudanças climáticas.

Climate changes are observed.

2

Discutem-se novos projetos.

New projects are discussed.

3

Publicam-se artigos científicos.

Scientific articles are published.

4

Reconhecem-se os esforços.

The efforts are recognized.

1

Preveem-se grandes impactos.

Great impacts are foreseen.

2

Adotam-se medidas rigorosas.

Rigorous measures are adopted.

3

Rejeitam-se tais argumentos.

Such arguments are rejected.

4

Entendem-se as consequências.

The consequences are understood.

1

Depreendem-se destas falas novas conclusões.

New conclusions are inferred from these statements.

2

Concebem-se novas formas de arte.

New forms of art are conceived.

3

Percebem-se nuances sutis.

Subtle nuances are perceived.

4

Almejam-se objetivos elevados.

High goals are aimed for.

Easily Confused

Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética) vs Indeterminate Subject

Both use 'se' and look similar.

Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética) vs Reflexive 'se'

Both use 'se'.

Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética) vs Analytic Passive

Both are passive.

Common Mistakes

✗

Vende-se casas

✓

Vendem-se casas

Verb must agree with plural object.
✗

Aluga-se apartamentos

✓

Alugam-se apartamentos

Plural object requires plural verb.
✗

Precisa-se de casas

✓

Precisam-se de casas (Incorrect, should be Precisa-se de casas)

Confusing passive with indeterminate subject.
✗

Vê-se os resultados

✓

Vem-se os resultados (Incorrect, should be Vêem-se os resultados)

Incorrect conjugation of 'ver' in plural.

Sentence Patterns

___-se ___ aqui.

Não se ___ ___.

___-se que ___.

___-se ___ na empresa.

Real World Usage

Shop Sign constant

Aluga-se.

Job Ad very common

Procura-se assistente.

News Report common

Observam-se melhorias.

Social Media occasional

Diz-se que vai chover.

Academic Paper common

Conclui-se que...

Restaurant Menu common

Aceitam-se reservas.

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💡

Check the Object

Always look at the object. If it's plural, make the verb plural. It's the #1 rule.
⚠️

Don't confuse with Indeterminate

If the verb is followed by 'de', it's not a passive, it's an indeterminate subject. Keep it singular!
🎯

Sound Professional

Use this in emails to sound more formal and objective.
💬

Regional Variation

In Brazil, you might hear 'Tem' instead of 'Há' or passive 'se' in speech.

Smart Tips

Immediately pluralize your verb.

Vende-se livros. → Vendem-se livros.

Use the synthetic passive instead of 'a gente'.

A gente faz o trabalho. → Faz-se o trabalho.

Try to make the object plural. If the sentence still makes sense, it's passive.

Precisa-se de ajuda. → Precisa-se de ajudas (Doesn't work, so it's not passive).

Always use the synthetic passive.

Nós alugamos casa. → Aluga-se casa.

Pronunciation

Vendem-se-casas

Linking

The 'se' often links to the next word.

Statement

Vendem-se casas ↘

Neutral declarative tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Se the object, make the verb match.

Visual Association

Imagine a scale. On one side, you have the verb; on the other, the object. If you add more objects (plural), you must add more weight to the verb (plural).

Rhyme

Se o objeto é plural, o verbo também é, afinal.

Story

Maria opened a shop. She put a sign: 'Vendem-se roupas'. A customer asked: 'Why plural?' Maria replied: 'Because I have many clothes!' The customer understood and bought a dress.

Word Web

VenderAlugarFazerAceitarProcurarConstruir

Challenge

Go to a local store website or look at signs and find 3 examples of the synthetic passive.

Cultural Notes

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, people often drop the 'se' or use 'tem' instead.

The synthetic passive is used more strictly in formal writing.

It is the preferred way to maintain neutrality in reports.

Comes from the Latin reflexive pronoun 'se'.

Conversation Starters

“

Que tipo de serviços são oferecidos na sua cidade?

“

O que se vende nas lojas do seu bairro?

“

Como se diz 'it is said' em português?

“

O que se espera de um bom funcionário?

Journal Prompts

Descreva os serviços da sua cidade usando a voz passiva sintética.
Escreva um anúncio para vender algo.
Como se vive no seu país?
O que se discute nas notícias hoje?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct verb form.

___-se casas aqui. (Vender)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem
Casas is plural.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Alugam-se apartamentos
Agreement.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Conserta-se relógios.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Consertam-se relógios
Agreement.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

A loja vende livros. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem-se livros
Passive conversion.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

The verb must always be singular in synthetic passive.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It must agree with the object.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que se faz aqui? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazem-se pães
Agreement.
Order the words. Sentence Building

casas / vendem-se / aqui

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct
Word order is flexible.
Sort into Passive or Indeterminate. Grammar Sorting

Vendem-se casas / Precisa-se de ajuda

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Passive / Indeterminate
Direct vs Prepositional object.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct verb form.

___-se casas aqui. (Vender)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem
Casas is plural.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Alugam-se apartamentos
Agreement.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Conserta-se relógios.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Consertam-se relógios
Agreement.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

A loja vende livros. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem-se livros
Passive conversion.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

The verb must always be singular in synthetic passive.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It must agree with the object.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que se faz aqui? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazem-se pães
Agreement.
Order the words. Sentence Building

casas / vendem-se / aqui

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All are correct
Word order is flexible.
Sort into Passive or Indeterminate. Grammar Sorting

Vendem-se casas / Precisa-se de ajuda

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Passive / Indeterminate
Direct vs Prepositional object.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'fazer'. Fill in the Blank

Antigamente, não _______ tantas perguntas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se faziam
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vendem-se casas com piscina.
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Consertam-se o relógio na hora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Conserta-se o relógio na hora.
Translate the following sentence into Portuguese. Translation

Information is requested at the front desk.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pedem-se informações na recepção.
Match the beginning of the sentence with its correct ending. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'discutir' in the past tense. Fill in the Blank

Na reunião de ontem, _______-se vários tópicos importantes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: discutiram
Choose the correct option. Multiple Choice

Which of these uses the IMPERSONAL 'se'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Trata-se de um assunto delicado.
Put the words in order (formal European Portuguese style). Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Publicar-se-ão os resultados amanhã.
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Não se viu os acidentes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não se viram os acidentes.
How would you write 'Cars are not rented here' in Portuguese? Translation

Translate the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não se alugam carros aqui.
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

_______-se em Deus.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Acredita

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

Only with transitive verbs that take a direct object.

Because it's a short, compressed form compared to the analytic 'ser' + participle.

Yes, it's standard in writing and formal speech.

The 'se' usually precedes the verb, and the pronoun follows.

Yes: 'Venderam-se casas'.

Yes, but often replaced by 'tem' or active voice in casual speech.

Failing to make the verb plural with a plural object.

Reflexive means doing something to oneself; passive means something is done to the object.

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

Pasiva refleja

The usage is almost identical.

French moderate

Forme pronominale

French doesn't use 'se' as a primary passive marker.

German low

Passiv

German relies on auxiliary verbs.

Japanese low

Passive form

Japanese is agglutinative, not using particles like 'se'.

Arabic low

Passive voice

Arabic changes the verb root itself.

Chinese low

Bei construction

Chinese uses a specific particle 'bei' before the agent.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent)
Next
The 'Se' Passive Voice (Vendem-se casas)

Learn These First

B1 Requires

Passive Voice with Ser: "It was done"

Overview The passive voice with `ser` in Portuguese allows you to describe an action where the focus shifts from the per...

Continue With

B2 Builds On

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

Overview The 'se' passive voice, known in Portuguese as the **`voz passiva sintética`** or **`pronominal`**, is a versa...
C1 Requires

Formal & Academic Passive (The 'Se' Particle)

Overview Mastering the formal passive `se`, also known as the **synthetic passive voice** (`voz passiva sintética`), is...
C1 Builds On

The Impersonal Se (Formal Usage)

Overview The impersonal `se` stands as a cornerstone of advanced Portuguese grammar, crucial for expressing actions or s...
C1 Builds On

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

Ever walked past a dusty window in Lisbon and seen a sign saying `Vende-se`? Or maybe you were scrolling through a Brazi...

Related Grammar Rules

C1

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

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C2

Anacoluthon for Rhetorical Effect (Broken Sentence Logic)

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A1

Portuguese Word Order: SVO Basics

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B2

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

Overview The 'se' passive voice, known in Portuguese as the **`voz passiva sintética`** or **`pronominal`**, is a versa...
C1

The Impersonal Se (Formal Usage)

Overview The impersonal `se` stands as a cornerstone of advanced Portuguese grammar, crucial for expressing actions or s...
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