B2 Sentence Structure 19 min read Medium

The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent)

The passive agent identifies the doer using 'por' while keeping the focus on the action's result.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'por' + agent to specify who performs the action in a passive sentence.

  • Use 'por' + article (pelo/pela) for specific agents: 'O livro foi escrito pelo autor.'
  • Use 'por' + agent for general or non-specific agents: 'A casa foi construída por operários.'
  • The agent must follow the past participle in a passive construction.
Object + ser (conjugated) + Past Participle + por + Agent

Overview

The agente da passiva, or passive agent, identifies the entity performing the action within a passive sentence. In Portuguese, its fundamental purpose is to shift the grammatical focus from the agent (the doer) to the action itself or the recipient of that action (the patient). This grammatical structure allows for nuanced emphasis, prioritizing the outcome or the affected subject over the performer.

For B2-level learners, mastering the passive agent unlocks greater expressive precision and sophistication in formal, academic, and journalistic contexts.

Consider the active sentence Os alunos escreveram a carta (The students wrote the letter). Here, os alunos is the direct subject and agent. When transformed into the passive voice with an agent, it becomes A carta foi escrita pelos alunos (The letter was written by the students).

Notice how a carta now occupies the subject position, and pelos alunos clarifies who performed the action, but in a secondary, attributive role. This structural inversion highlights the letter and its state of being written, rather than the students.

The agente da passiva is typically introduced by the preposition por (or its contractions like pelo, pela) or, less commonly, de. Its strategic use is vital for conveying objectivity, detailing responsibility without foregrounding the agent, or when the agent is obvious but still needs explicit mention. This structure is ubiquitous in media reports, scientific papers, and formal discourse, enabling you to construct sentences that subtly control the flow of information and emphasis.

Understanding this mechanism goes beyond simple translation; it involves grasping how Portuguese speakers prioritize information in a sentence. It enables you to communicate precisely, making your language more natural and authoritative, particularly when discussing complex topics where the result or impact takes precedence over the initiating force. The ability to manipulate sentence focus in this way is a hallmark of advanced language proficiency.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the agente da passiva functions by transforming an active sentence into a passive one, where the original direct object becomes the new subject, and the original subject (the agent) is demoted to a prepositional phrase. The passive voice always employs the auxiliary verb ser (to be) followed by the past participle of the main verb. The agente da passiva then specifies the doer of the action, even though it's no longer the grammatical subject.
This transformation is not merely cosmetic; it reflects a shift in communicative intent. In O governo implementou a política (The government implemented the policy), the government is central. In A política foi implementada pelo governo (The policy was implemented by the government), the policy and its implementation are foregrounded.
The grammatical mechanism ensures that the past participle agrees in gender and number with the new subject (the policy), not with the agent (the government). This agreement is a crucial aspect of forming the passive voice correctly.
Let's examine the structure: New Subject + Conjugated ser + Past Participle (agreed) + Preposition + Agent. The verb ser is conjugated to match the tense of the original active verb. If the active sentence was in the past, ser will be in the past.
For instance, if O ladrão roubou o carro (The thief stole the car), in the passive, roubou (past) dictates ser also be in the past: O carro foi roubado pelo ladrão. The participle roubado agrees with o carro (masculine singular).
Conversely, if the active sentence were Eles constroem casas (They build houses), constroem (present) means ser will be in the present: Casas são construídas por eles. Here, construídas agrees with casas (feminine plural). This dynamic interplay between the auxiliary ser, the agreeing past participle, and the agent's specific role distinguishes the Portuguese passive voice from simple subject-verb agreement, making it a critical area of focus for B2 learners.

Word Order Rules

The word order for sentences employing the agente da passiva is highly structured and generally follows a fixed pattern. Understanding this sequence is fundamental to both constructing and comprehending passive sentences accurately. The core pattern places the recipient of the action at the beginning, followed by the auxiliary verb, the main verb's participle, and finally, the agent.
Standard Word Order Pattern:
| Element | Description | Example (A decisão foi tomada pelos diretores.) |
| :---------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------- |
| New Subject | The entity receiving the action | A decisão (The decision) |
| Auxiliary Verb Ser | Conjugated to match original verb's tense | foi (was) |\
| Past Participle | Main verb, agreed with the New Subject | tomada (taken) |\
| Preposition | por (or contraction) or de | pelos (by the) |\
| Agent | The entity performing the action | diretores (directors) |
This strict ordering ensures clarity. Adverbs, if present, typically precede the auxiliary ser or follow the past participle, depending on their scope. For instance, A decisão rapidamente foi tomada pelos diretores (The decision was quickly taken by the directors) or A decisão foi tomada rapidamente pelos diretores.
Negative particles like não always precede the auxiliary verb: A encomenda não foi entregue pelo correio (The package was not delivered by the post office).
Consider these examples demonstrating the pattern:
  • Os convites foram enviados pelos organizadores. (The invitations were sent by the organizers.)
  • A peça será dirigida pelo renomado encenador. (The play will be directed by the renowned director.)
  • A cidade era defendida pelos seus habitantes. (The city was defended by its inhabitants.)
In all cases, the agent (pelos organizadores, pelo renomado encenador, pelos seus habitantes) appears at the end, introduced by the appropriate preposition, confirming its secondary role in the sentence's emphasis.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the passive voice with an agente da passiva involves a systematic transformation from an active sentence. This pattern ensures correct grammatical construction and proper agreement, which are paramount for accurate communication at the B2 level. Let's break down the steps and critical considerations, especially regarding preposition choice.
2
Step-by-Step Transformation:
3
Identify the components: Start with an active sentence, e.g., O artista pintou o quadro (The artist painted the painting).
4
Subject (Agent): O artista
5
Verb: pintou (Past tense)
6
Direct Object (Patient): o quadro
7
Make the Direct Object the New Subject: O quadro becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
8
Choose the Auxiliary Verb Ser: Conjugate ser to match the tense and mood of the original active verb. Since pintou is in the simple past, ser will also be in the simple past (foi).
9
Form the Past Participle: Use the past participle of the main verb (pintar -> pintado). Ensure it agrees in gender and number with the new subject. O quadro is masculine singular, so pintado remains masculine singular.
10
Select the Preposition: This is a crucial step. The vast majority of passive agents are introduced by por. However, de is used with specific verbs. For pintar, por is the correct choice.
11
Add the Agent: Reintroduce the original subject as the agent, preceded by the chosen preposition. Remember to contract por with articles (o, a, os, as).
12
por + o = pelo
13
por + a = pela
14
por + os = pelos
15
por + as = pelas
16
So, por + o artista becomes pelo artista.
17
Putting it all together: O quadro foi pintado pelo artista (The painting was painted by the artist).
18
Preposition Choice: Por vs. De
19
Por (and its contractions): This is the default and most common preposition for introducing the passive agent. It indicates the direct cause or performer of the action.
20
A lei foi aprovada pelo parlamento. (The law was approved by the parliament.)
21
A tarefa foi completada pelas estudantes. (The task was completed by the students.)
22
De: This preposition is used with a limited set of verbs, particularly those expressing state, feeling, mental action, or reputation. It implies a more inherent or indirect connection, often indicating "of" or "from" a source, rather than direct agency. Common verbs that often take de for the passive agent include:
23
acompanhar (to accompany) -> acompanhado de
24
amar (to love) -> amado de
25
conhecer (to know) -> conhecido de
26
estimar (to esteem) -> estimado de
27
rodear (to surround) -> rodeado de
28
respeitar (to respect) -> respeitado de
29
odiar (to hate) -> odiado de
30
Examples with de:
31
Ele era amado de todos. (He was loved by everyone.)
32
A casa está rodeada de árvores. (The house is surrounded by trees.)
33
O autor é conhecido de poucos. (The author is known by few.)
34
Note that while por emphasizes the active role of the agent, de often highlights the agent as a source or a characteristic context. This distinction is subtle but important for advanced learners to grasp.

When To Use It

The agente da passiva is a powerful tool for strategic communication, employed when specific rhetorical goals outweigh the simple desire to state who did what. Its usage signals a deliberate choice in how information is presented, affecting emphasis, tone, and objectivity. Understanding these contexts is crucial for effective B2-level communication.
  • Emphasis on the Patient or Action: The primary reason to use the passive voice with an agent is when the action performed or the entity affected by the action is more significant than the agent itself. This shifts the listener's or reader's focus immediately.
  • O projeto foi financiado por grandes empresas. (The project was funded by large corporations.) – Here, the funding of the project is paramount, and the identity of the funders, while important, is secondary to the project's success.
  • Formality and Objectivity: In formal writing, academic papers, scientific reports, news articles, and official documents, the passive voice often lends an air of objectivity and seriousness. It allows for the presentation of facts without overly personalizing the statements.
  • Os dados foram coletados por uma equipe independente. (The data was collected by an independent team.) – This structure provides authority and implies a rigorous process, emphasizing the reliability of the data rather than the specific individuals involved.
  • Agent is Obvious or Unimportant: Sometimes the agent is so self-evident or so irrelevant to the message that it could be omitted entirely. However, including the agente da passiva can still serve to complete the sentence structure or add a slight, reassuring confirmation, particularly in educational or instructional contexts.
  • A nova lei será promulgada pelo presidente. (The new law will be promulgated by the president.) – While it's generally understood that a president promulgates laws, explicitly stating pelo presidente reinforces the official process.
  • Varying Sentence Structure: Over-reliance on the active voice can lead to repetitive or monotonous prose. The passive voice with an agent provides a valuable alternative for stylistic variety, contributing to a more engaging and sophisticated writing style.
  • Avoiding Attribution of Blame (or Taking Credit): The passive voice can be strategically used to de-emphasize the agent, either to avoid assigning blame in negative situations or, conversely, to subtly claim credit in positive ones without sounding boastful. This is particularly common in corporate communications or political discourse.
  • O erro foi identificado pela equipe de auditoria. (The error was identified by the auditing team.) – Focuses on the identification of the error rather than directly blaming the team for it, while still acknowledging who found it.
In Brazilian Portuguese, while the agente da passiva is fully grammatical and used in formal contexts, spoken Portuguese (especially informal) often prefers alternative constructions (like the se passive or active voice with an indeterminate subject) for directness. However, in written communication in both PT-BR and PT-PT, the agente da passiva remains a standard and essential structure for conveying precise meaning and emphasis.

Common Mistakes

Even at the B2 level, learners frequently make specific errors when employing the agente da passiva. These mistakes often stem from an incomplete understanding of agreement rules or incorrect preposition usage. Identifying and correcting these patterns is crucial for achieving native-like fluency and accuracy.
  • Incorrect Participle Agreement: This is arguably the most common and persistent error. Learners often fail to make the past participle agree in gender and number with the new subject (the patient) of the passive sentence. They might mistakenly make it agree with the agent, or simply default to the masculine singular form (-ado).
  • Incorrect: As casas foram construído pelos trabalhadores. (The houses were built by the workers.) – construído (masculine singular) does not agree with as casas (feminine plural).
  • Correct: As casas foram construídas pelos trabalhadores.
  • Incorrect: A proposta foi aceito pelo conselho. (The proposal was accepted by the board.) – aceito (masculine singular) does not agree with a proposta (feminine singular).
  • Correct: A proposta foi aceita pelo conselho.
  • Using Ter instead of Ser as Auxiliary: The passive voice in Portuguese always uses ser as the auxiliary verb. Using ter (to have) is a common error, often influenced by other Romance languages or by direct translation from English where "have been" might appear in perfect tenses.
  • Incorrect: A carta tem sido escrita pela secretária. (The letter has been written by the secretary.)
  • Correct: A carta tem sido escrita pela secretária. (Present Perfect Continuous Passive, still using ser)
  • Correct (Simple Past): A carta foi escrita pela secretária.
  • Incorrect Preposition Choice: While por is the general rule, learners sometimes use para (for/to) or other prepositions, altering the meaning significantly. Para indicates purpose or destination, not agency.
  • Incorrect: O livro foi lido para o professor. (The book was read for the teacher, implying the teacher benefited or it was a gift, not that the teacher read it.)
  • Correct: O livro foi lido pelo professor. (The book was read by the teacher.)
  • Overuse of the Passive Voice: While important, the passive voice can sound cumbersome or overly formal if used excessively, especially in contexts where directness is preferred. Native speakers often opt for the active voice or the se passive in less formal situations.
  • Consider: O relatório foi escrito por mim. (The report was written by me.) vs. Eu escrevi o relatório. (I write the report.) – The active voice is more direct and natural here.
  • Tense Mismatch: Ensure the tense of the auxiliary verb ser correctly reflects the tense of the original active verb. A common mistake is to default to the simple past (foi) when another tense is required.
  • Incorrect: Active: Eles vão construir a ponte. (They are going to build the bridge.) Passive: A ponte foi construída por eles. (Incorrect tense for ser)
  • Correct: A ponte vai ser construída por eles. (Future tense, consistent with original meaning).
Addressing these common pitfalls systematically will significantly enhance your mastery of the agente da passiva.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly master the agente da passiva, it's essential to distinguish it from other seemingly similar grammatical structures in Portuguese. Confusion between these patterns is common, but understanding their specific uses and implications will clarify when and how to deploy each effectively.
  • Passive Voice Without an Agent:
  • Structure: New Subject + Conjugated ser + Past Participle (agreed).
  • Function: Used when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally omitted. The focus is entirely on the action and its recipient, with no emphasis on who performed it. This is often the case in formal announcements or when the agent is generalized.
  • Example: A janela foi quebrada. (The window was broken.) – We don't know or care who broke it.
  • Contrast: A janela foi quebrada pelo menino. (The window was broken by the boy.) – Here, the agent is explicitly stated, adding a layer of detail about responsibility.
  • The Se Passive (Syntactic Passive or Voz Passiva Sintética):
  • Structure: Verb (transitive direct) in 3rd person + se + New Subject.
  • Function: This construction is very common, especially in informal spoken Portuguese and general statements. It implies an unspecified or generalized agent, often translatable as "one," "they," or "people." It cannot explicitly name the agent with por/de.
  • Example: Vendem-se casas aqui. (Houses are sold here. / One sells houses here.) – The focus is on the availability of houses for sale; who sells them is not specified.
  • Contrast: Casas são vendidas por imobiliárias. (Houses are sold by real estate agencies.) – This explicitly names the agent, the real estate agencies, using the agente da passiva construction. The se passive is more generalized and less formal than the analytic passive with an agent.
  • Impersonal Se (Se Indeterminador do Sujeito):
  • Structure: Verb (intransitive, transitive indirect, or verb ser/estar + adjective/noun) in 3rd person singular + se + (preposition + object).
  • Function: This structure makes the subject truly indeterminate, meaning there is no specific agent to be identified, and the verb always remains in the 3rd person singular. It's used for general statements about people or situations.
  • Example: Precisa-se de ajuda. (Help is needed. / One needs help.) – The se indicates an unspecified human agent, and ajuda is the object of the preposition de, not the subject. The verb precisa remains singular.
  • Contrast: The agente da passiva explicitly names the agent, and the verb ser agrees with the new subject (the patient), which is why A ajuda foi solicitada por mim (The help was requested by me) is different from Precisa-se de ajuda.
By carefully observing the presence or absence of an explicit agent, the auxiliary verb used, and the agreement patterns, you can confidently navigate these related but distinct structures, choosing the most appropriate one for your communicative intent.

Real Conversations

Understanding the agente da passiva in theory is one thing; recognizing and using it naturally in contemporary Portuguese communication is another. Here are examples across various modern contexts, illustrating how native speakers deploy this structure to convey specific meanings and nuances.

1. Social Media Updates (Formal/News-like):

Often used in official announcements or reports, even on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook.

- Tweet from a government agency: O novo decreto foi assinado pelo Presidente da República hoje. (The new decree was signed by the President of the Republic today.)

- Analysis: Emphasizes the decree and its official status, with the President explicitly named as the authority behind it. Pelo Presidente clarifies responsibility in a concise, authoritative manner.

2. Professional Emails/Reports:

Crucial for conveying professionalism and objectivity in a business or academic setting.

- Email from a project manager: A apresentação final será preparada pela equipe de marketing até sexta-feira. (The final presentation will be prepared by the marketing team by Friday.)

- Analysis: Focuses on the task (the presentation) and its deadline, while clearly assigning responsibility to a equipe de marketing without making them the grammatical subject.

3. Customer Service Interactions (Online Chat/Email):

To explain actions taken or processes completed.

- Chatbot response: Seu pedido foi processado pelo nosso sistema e será enviado em breve. (Your order was processed by our system and will be shipped soon.)

- Analysis: Pelo nosso sistema provides a clear, technical agent, maintaining an impersonal but informative tone, explaining how the action occurred.

4. News Reporting/Journalism:

Standard practice for attributing actions to sources or authorities, ensuring impartiality.

- News headline: O escândalo financeiro foi revelado por um jornalista investigativo. (The financial scandal was revealed by an investigative journalist.)

- Analysis: Highlights the scandal's revelation, with um jornalista investigativo as the credible source, adding weight and context to the information.

5. Everyday Casual Conversation (When specific attribution is necessary for clarity):

Though less common than in formal contexts, it appears when details about the agent are important for understanding.

- Friend A: Quem decorou a sala para a festa? (Who decorated the room for the party?)

- Friend B: Ah, a sala foi decorada pela Ana e pelo Paulo. (Oh, the room was decorated by Ana and Paulo.)

- Analysis: Even in a casual exchange, pela Ana e pelo Paulo provides precise attribution, making it clear who did the decorating, while the focus remains on the decorated room.

These examples illustrate that the agente da passiva is not confined to dusty textbooks. It is an active, functional part of modern Portuguese, essential for communicating with precision and strategic emphasis across various social and professional registers.

Quick FAQ

Here are concise answers to common questions B2 learners have about the agente da passiva, reinforcing key principles and clarifying persistent doubts.
  • Can the agente da passiva be omitted?
Yes, absolutely. If the agent is unknown, obvious, irrelevant, or if you simply wish to avoid specifying it, you can use the passive voice without an agent. For example, A porta foi aberta (The door was opened) is perfectly grammatical when the doer is unimportant.
  • Does the passive agent always refer to a person?
No. The agent can be a person, an animal, an organization, an object, a concept, or even a natural phenomenon. For instance, A cidade foi destruída pelo terremoto (The city was destroyed by the earthquake), where o terremoto is the agent.
  • Is de a common preposition for the agente da passiva?
It's less common than por. De is primarily used with specific verbs that express states, feelings, or mental actions (e.g., acompanhado de, conhecido de, amado de). In most other cases, por (or its contractions) is the correct choice.
  • Can I use the passive voice with agente da passiva in all tenses?
Yes, the agente da passiva can be used across all tenses and moods in Portuguese. The auxiliary verb ser will be conjugated to reflect the tense of the original active verb (e.g., foi pintado, será pintado, tinha sido pintado).
  • Is the agente da passiva more formal than other passive constructions?
Generally, yes. The analytic passive voice (with ser + participle) with an explicitly stated agent tends to be more formal and objective, especially compared to the se passive, which is more common in general statements and often less formal in tone. It is a preferred structure in academic, journalistic, and legal contexts.
  • Can verbs that don't take a direct object in the active voice form a passive voice with an agent?
No. Only transitive direct verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can form the analytic passive voice with an agent. Intransitive verbs or transitive indirect verbs (which take an indirect object or a prepositional phrase) cannot form this type of passive construction.
  • Why is por often contracted with articles (o, a, os, as)?
The contraction (pelo, pela, pelos, pelas) is mandatory when por is followed by a definite article. It's a natural feature of Portuguese phonology and grammar, making the language flow more smoothly. Failure to contract is a grammatical error.

Passive Agent Contractions

Preposition Article Resulting Form
por
o
pelo
por
a
pela
por
os
pelos
por
as
pelas

Meanings

The 'by' phrase (agente da passiva) identifies the performer of an action in a passive sentence structure.

1

Agent of action

Identifying the specific person or entity performing the action.

“O relatório foi assinado pelo gerente.”

“A música foi composta pela cantora.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Ser + Participle + por + Agent
O bolo foi feito pelo chef.
Negative
Não + Ser + Participle + por + Agent
O bolo não foi feito pelo chef.
Question
Ser + Subject + Participle + por + Agent?
O bolo foi feito pelo chef?
Plural
Ser (plural) + Participle + pelos/pelas
Os bolos foram feitos pelos chefs.
Pronoun
Ser + Participle + por + Pronoun
O bolo foi feito por mim.
Proper Name
Ser + Participle + por + Name
O bolo foi feito por Maria.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
O relatório foi redigido pelo gerente.

O relatório foi redigido pelo gerente. (Workplace)

Neutral
O relatório foi escrito pelo gerente.

O relatório foi escrito pelo gerente. (Workplace)

Informal
O gerente escreveu o relatório.

O gerente escreveu o relatório. (Workplace)

Slang
O chefe fez o relatório.

O chefe fez o relatório. (Workplace)

Passive Agent Components

Passive Voice

Agent

  • pelo by the (masc)
  • pela by the (fem)

Verb

  • ser to be
  • particípio past participle
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Examples by Level

1

O livro foi escrito por ele.

The book was written by him.

2

A porta foi aberta por mim.

The door was opened by me.

3

O carro foi lavado por ela.

The car was washed by her.

4

O jantar foi feito por nós.

Dinner was made by us.

1

A casa foi pintada pelo meu pai.

The house was painted by my father.

2

A carta foi enviada pela secretária.

The letter was sent by the secretary.

3

O problema foi resolvido pelo técnico.

The problem was solved by the technician.

4

A decisão foi tomada pela diretora.

The decision was made by the director.

1

O projeto foi aprovado pelos investidores.

The project was approved by the investors.

2

As regras foram definidas pelas autoridades.

The rules were defined by the authorities.

3

O filme foi dirigido pelo famoso cineasta.

The movie was directed by the famous filmmaker.

4

A exposição foi organizada pelos alunos.

The exhibition was organized by the students.

1

A nova política foi implementada pela gerência.

The new policy was implemented by management.

2

O contrato foi assinado pelos advogados.

The contract was signed by the lawyers.

3

A pesquisa foi conduzida pelos cientistas.

The research was conducted by the scientists.

4

O relatório foi revisado pela equipe técnica.

The report was reviewed by the technical team.

1

A medida foi contestada pelos sindicatos.

The measure was contested by the unions.

2

A obra foi aclamada pela crítica especializada.

The work was acclaimed by specialized critics.

3

O tratado foi ratificado pelos países membros.

The treaty was ratified by the member countries.

4

A teoria foi refutada pelos especialistas.

The theory was refuted by the experts.

1

A decisão judicial foi fundamentada pela jurisprudência.

The judicial decision was based on jurisprudence.

2

O movimento foi impulsionado pela insatisfação popular.

The movement was driven by popular dissatisfaction.

3

A estrutura foi erguida pela engenharia moderna.

The structure was erected by modern engineering.

4

O texto foi interpretado pelos estudiosos.

The text was interpreted by scholars.

Easily Confused

The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent) vs Por vs Para

Learners often use 'para' to indicate the agent of a passive verb.

The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent) vs Analytical Passive vs Reflexive Passive

Learners confuse 'A casa foi vendida' with 'Vende-se a casa'.

The 'By' Phrase in Portuguese (Passive Agent) vs Passive Agent vs Active Voice

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

Common Mistakes

✗

O livro foi escrito para João.

✓

O livro foi escrito por João.

Using 'para' (for) instead of 'por' (by).
✗

A casa foi pintada por o pai.

✓

A casa foi pintada pelo pai.

Missing the contraction.
✗

O bolo foi feito de Maria.

✓

O bolo foi feito por Maria.

Using 'de' (of/from) instead of 'por'.
✗

O carro foi lavado com ele.

✓

O carro foi lavado por ele.

Using 'com' (with) instead of 'por'.
✗

A decisão foi tomada para a diretora.

✓

A decisão foi tomada pela diretora.

Incorrect preposition for agent.
✗

O relatório foi assinado por o gerente.

✓

O relatório foi assinado pelo gerente.

Failure to contract 'por' + 'o'.
✗

As cartas foram escritas por a secretária.

✓

As cartas foram escritas pela secretária.

Failure to contract 'por' + 'a'.
✗

O projeto foi feito por os alunos.

✓

O projeto foi feito pelos alunos.

Missing plural contraction.
✗

A lei foi aprovada por o governo.

✓

A lei foi aprovada pelo governo.

Missing contraction.
✗

A música foi composta por ela.

✓

A música foi composta por ela.

Actually correct, but learners often try to add 'pela' to pronouns.
✗

A obra foi criticada por os críticos.

✓

A obra foi criticada pelos críticos.

Missing contraction.
✗

O tratado foi assinado por os países.

✓

O tratado foi assinado pelos países.

Missing contraction.
✗

A teoria foi proposta por os cientistas.

✓

A teoria foi proposta pelos cientistas.

Missing contraction.
✗

O plano foi executado por a equipe.

✓

O plano foi executado pela equipe.

Missing contraction.

Sentence Patterns

O ___ foi feito pelo ___.

A ___ foi assinada pela ___.

Os ___ foram organizados pelos ___.

As ___ foram discutidas pelas ___.

Real World Usage

News report constant

A lei foi sancionada pelo presidente.

Work email very common

O projeto foi aprovado pela diretoria.

Academic paper very common

A pesquisa foi conduzida pelos cientistas.

Legal document constant

O contrato foi assinado pelas partes.

Social media post occasional

A foto foi tirada pelo meu amigo.

Food delivery app rare

O pedido foi preparado pelo restaurante.

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💡

Check the contraction

Always check if you need to contract 'por' with the article. It's the most common error.
⚠️

Don't use 'para'

Remember that 'para' is for recipients, 'por' is for agents.
🎯

Use it for focus

Only use the passive voice if you want to highlight the object, not the person.
💬

Regional variation

In Brazil, you might hear the active voice more often. Use the passive agent for formal writing.

Smart Tips

Use the passive agent to sound objective and professional.

O gerente aprovou o projeto. → O projeto foi aprovado pelo gerente.

Always check for the contraction.

O livro foi escrito por o autor. → O livro foi escrito pelo autor.

Use the passive voice to put the object at the start of the sentence.

A equipe terminou o trabalho. → O trabalho foi terminado pela equipe.

If the agent is unknown, omit the 'por' phrase entirely.

A casa foi pintada por alguém. → A casa foi pintada.

Pronunciation

PEH-loo / PEH-lah

Contraction

Pelo is pronounced /'pe.lu/ and pela is /'pɛ.lɐ/.

Declarative

O livro foi escrito ↘ pelo autor.

Falling intonation at the end of the sentence.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Por' is the door, the agent walks through it to the passive floor.

Visual Association

Imagine a stage where the actor (the agent) is standing behind a curtain labeled 'POR'. The object is in the spotlight, and the actor is revealed only when the curtain is pulled.

Rhyme

When the action is done by someone you see, use 'por' plus the article to make it agree.

Story

The king (subject) was crowned (passive verb) by the queen (agent). The queen walked through the 'por' gate. Now the king is happy because the queen is clearly identified.

Word Web

pelopelapelospelasporagente

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things in your house using the passive voice and identifying who bought or made them.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, the passive voice is often replaced by the 'se' construction in speech, but the 'por' agent remains standard in writing.

European Portuguese speakers use the analytical passive more frequently than Brazilians in formal contexts.

In legal documents, the passive agent is almost mandatory to maintain neutrality.

The construction comes from Latin 'per' (through) + the agent.

Conversation Starters

“

Quem escreveu o seu livro favorito?

“

Como o seu projeto foi avaliado?

“

A decisão foi tomada por quem?

“

O que foi feito pela equipe hoje?

Journal Prompts

Describe a famous building and who designed it.
Write about a recent law or rule in your country.
Reflect on a project you completed at work or school.
Discuss a piece of art and the artist's influence.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct contraction.

O carro foi lavado ___ (por + o) mecânico.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Por + o = pelo.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A carta foi escrita pela Maria.
Por + a = pela.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O projeto foi feito para os alunos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O projeto foi feito pelos alunos.
Por + os = pelos.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

O diretor assinou o contrato. (Passive: O contrato...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O contrato foi assinado pelo diretor.
Passive agent requires 'por'.
Match the agent. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo pai
Matches masculine singular.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Order: (foi / pela / a / assinada / lei / presidente)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A lei foi assinada pelo presidente.
Correct word order.
Select the correct preposition. Multiple Choice

A decisão foi tomada ___ diretoria.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Passive agent uses 'por'.
Fill in the blank.

As regras foram definidas ___ autoridades.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelas
Plural feminine.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct contraction.

O carro foi lavado ___ (por + o) mecânico.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo
Por + o = pelo.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A carta foi escrita pela Maria.
Por + a = pela.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O projeto foi feito para os alunos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O projeto foi feito pelos alunos.
Por + os = pelos.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

O diretor assinou o contrato. (Passive: O contrato...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O contrato foi assinado pelo diretor.
Passive agent requires 'por'.
Match the agent. Match Pairs

Match: A casa foi pintada...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelo pai
Matches masculine singular.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Order: (foi / pela / a / assinada / lei / presidente)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A lei foi assinada pelo presidente.
Correct word order.
Select the correct preposition. Multiple Choice

A decisão foi tomada ___ diretoria.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela
Passive agent uses 'por'.
Fill in the blank.

As regras foram definidas ___ autoridades.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pelas
Plural feminine.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Choose the correct verb/preposition combo. Fill in the Blank

O vídeo ___ visto ___ milhões de usuários.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: foi / por
Translate to Portuguese using the passive voice. Translation

The cake was made by my grandmother.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O bolo foi feito pela minha avó.
Which sentence correctly uses the agent 'de'? Multiple Choice

Choose the natural sounding option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele é muito respeitado de todos os colegas.
Build the question. Sentence Reorder

Arrange: [pelo, sugerido, Esse, foi, aplicativo, Google?]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esse aplicativo foi sugerido pelo Google?
Fix the tense. Error Correction

A casa será vendida para o corretor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa será vendida pelo corretor.
Match the active sentence to its passive counterpart. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O gato comeu o rato = O rato foi comido pelo gato
Complete the social media notification. Fill in the Blank

Sua foto foi curtida ___ 10 pessoas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: por
Translate to Portuguese: 'The laws were written by the king.' Translation

The laws were written by the king.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As leis foram escritas pelo rei.
Identify the passive agent in this sentence: 'O estádio foi construído pela empresa alemã.' Multiple Choice

Which part is the agent?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pela empresa alemã
Correct the agreement. Error Correction

Os documentos foi assinado pelo diretor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Os documentos foram assinados pelo diretor.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, if the agent is a proper name or a pronoun, e.g., 'por Maria' or 'por mim'.

It is common in formal writing and news, but less so in casual speech.

These are contractions of 'por' + 'o' and 'por' + 'a'.

No, 'para' means 'for', which changes the meaning of the sentence.

'Pelo' is singular, 'pelos' is plural.

Yes, the grammar is the same, but usage frequency varies.

Avoid it when you want to be direct or when the active voice is clearer.

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

Scaffolded Practice

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2

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

por + agente

Spanish does not contract 'por' + 'el'.

French moderate

par + agent

French uses 'par' without a following article.

German partial

von + Dative

German uses case endings instead of prepositions + articles.

Japanese low

ni + passive verb

Japanese uses a particle instead of a preposition.

Arabic low

min qibal

Arabic uses a phrase meaning 'from the side of'.

Chinese low

bei + agent

Chinese uses 'bei' as a marker.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Passive Voice: Introducing Agents with 'by' (pelo/pela)
Next
Passive Voice with 'se' (Voz Passiva Sintética)

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