Understanding the Passive Voice in Portuguese
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. In English, an example would be: “The book was read by Maria.” In Portuguese, this concept is similar, but the structure and usage can differ.
Active vs. Passive Voice
To understand the passive voice, let’s first look at the difference between active and passive sentences:
- Active voice: Maria leu o livro. (Maria read the book.)
- Passive voice: O livro foi lido por Maria. (The book was read by Maria.)
In the passive voice, the object of the active sentence (o livro) becomes the subject, and the original subject (Maria) is either omitted or introduced with “por”.
Types of Passive Voice in Portuguese
Portuguese has two main types of passive voice: the analytic (or formal) passive and the synthetic (or pronominal) passive. Let’s examine each one.
1. Analytic Passive Voice (Passive with “ser”)
This form uses the verb ser (to be) plus the past participle of the main verb. The agent (the one who does the action) can be introduced with por (by), but it is often omitted if it’s not important or unknown.
Structure: Subject + ser (in the appropriate tense) + past participle (+ por + agent)
- O bolo foi feito pela Ana. (The cake was made by Ana.)
- As cartas serão enviadas amanhã. (The letters will be sent tomorrow.)
2. Synthetic Passive Voice (Passive with “se”)
This passive form is more common in everyday Portuguese and uses the pronoun se with the verb in the third-person. The agent is never mentioned.
Structure: Verb (third-person) + se (+ subject)
- Vendem-se casas. (Houses are sold.)
- Aluga-se apartamento. (Apartment for rent.)
Notice that in the synthetic passive, the verb agrees in number with the subject. For example, Vende-se casa (House is sold) vs. Vendem-se casas (Houses are sold).
When to Use the Passive Voice in Portuguese
The passive voice is used in Portuguese when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It’s common in formal writing, such as news articles, scientific texts, and instructions, but also appears in everyday speech, especially with the synthetic passive.
Some typical situations where passive voice is used:
- When the agent is unknown: Os documentos foram roubados. (The documents were stolen.)
- When the agent is not important: O evento será realizado amanhã. (The event will be held tomorrow.)
- For instructions or announcements: Abrem-se inscrições para o curso. (Registrations for the course are open.)
Common Mistakes with the Passive Voice in Portuguese
- Incorrect verb agreement: Remember that in the synthetic passive, the verb must agree with the subject in number and gender.
- Mixing passive forms: Don’t combine analytic and synthetic passive structures in the same sentence.
- Misplacing “por”: In the analytic passive, use por to introduce the agent, not de or other prepositions.
Tips for Mastering the Passive Voice
- Read Portuguese texts, such as news articles or instructions, to see real-life examples of passive voice.
- Practice transforming active sentences into passive ones and vice versa.
- Try using AI-powered language learning tools like Talkpal to get instant feedback on your usage of the passive voice.
Conclusion
Understanding and using the passive voice in Portuguese is essential for achieving fluency and expressing yourself in a variety of contexts. By learning the difference between analytic and synthetic passive constructions, practicing verb agreement, and observing real-world examples, you can master this important aspect of Portuguese grammar. For more tips and personalized practice, consider using resources like Talkpal to accelerate your language learning journey.
