B2 (Upper Intermediate)Lesson 3: Passive Constructions & Alternatives
While Portuguese has formal passive voice constructions, Brazilians overwhelmingly prefer active alternatives using impersonal structures, third-person plural, or reflexive constructions, making speech sound more natural and dynamic.
ser + past participle (formal passive) → se + verb, 3rd person plural, a gente, or restructured active sentences
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Formal passive (ser + participle) sounds stiff in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Se-passive is the most common alternative: "Vende-se casa" (House for sale)
3rd person plural without subject creates passive meaning: "Roubaram meu celular" (My phone was stolen)
"A gente" for general statements: "A gente nunca sabe" (One never knows)
Active restructuring flips sentence focus: "O livro que João escreveu" instead of "O livro foi escrito por João"
Ter/estar + participle for states: "A porta está fechada" (The door is closed)
Passive with "se" requires agreement with subject in formal writing
Regional preferences vary, with São Paulo using more "se" constructions
Want to sound like a Brazilian instead of a textbook? Then ditch the passive voice! While "foi feito" (was done) is grammatically correct, Brazilians will say "fizeram" (they did) or "se fez" (it was done) in casual conversation. Master these alternatives and you'll instantly sound more natural, avoid the awkward "pelo/pela" constructions, and navigate everything from WhatsApp messages to business emails with authentic Brazilian flair.
The formal passive voice exists in Portuguese, but using it in everyday conversation is like wearing a tuxedo to the beach – technically acceptable but completely out of place. Brazilians have developed creative ways to express passive meanings while keeping their sentences active and flowing.
The traditional passive uses ser + past participle + por:
Active: "João escreveu o livro" (João wrote the book)
Passive: "O livro foi escrito por João" (The book was written by João)
| Active Element | Passive Transformation |
|---|---|
| Subject (João) | Agent with "por" (por João) |
| Verb (escreveu) | ser + participle (foi escrito) |
TV News: "O suspeito foi detido pela polícia"
WhatsApp: "Prenderam o cara" / "O cara foi preso"
Newspaper: "As medidas serão implementadas em janeiro"
Coffee chat: "Vão implementar as medidas em janeiro"
"Aceita-se vale-refeição" (Meal vouchers accepted)
"Não se devolve dinheiro" (No refunds / Money is not returned)
"Aqui se come bem e barato" (Here one eats well and cheap)
"Fazem entrega?" (Do they deliver?)
Sometimes Brazilians do use formal passive:
Emphasis on completion:
"Já foi pago" (It's already been paid) - emphasizes it's done
"Tá feito" also works but "foi feito" = more definitive
Official announcements:
"O voo foi cancelado" (The flight has been cancelled)
News/airports use passive for gravity
Unknown/irrelevant agent:
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