B2 (Upper Intermediate)Lesson 3: Passive Constructions & Alternatives
Brazilian Portuguese expresses passive voice through multiple constructions including ser + past participle (formal passive), reflexive se (common alternative), indeterminate subject, and active reformulations, with the choice depending on formality, region, and whether you want to hide, reveal, or be vague about who performed the action.
Formal passive: ser + past participle (foi feito)
Reflexive passive: se + verb (fez-se, vende-se)
Estar passive: estar + participle (está fechado)
Indeterminate: 3rd plural verb (fizeram, roubaram)
Active alternative: a gente + active verb
Participle agrees with subject in gender/number
Agent introduced by "por" (by)
Ser passive = action, estar passive = resulting state
Mastering passive constructions is like having a Swiss Army knife for Brazilian Portuguese – each tool perfect for different situations! While your textbook teaches "foi construído por" (was built by), real Brazilians might say "construíram," "se construiu," or "a gente construiu" depending on context. You'll see formal passive in newspapers ("Presidente foi reeleito"), reflexive passive on signs ("Vende-se casa"), and hear indeterminate subjects in gossip ("Roubaram meu celular!"). Understanding all these options lets you navigate from boardrooms where "foi decidido pela diretoria" sounds professional, to street markets where "me roubaram!" feels natural.
ser + past participle (by agent: por/pelo/pela) OR se + 3rd person verb OR 3rd plural active OR a gente active
Sign up to save your progress, practice exercises and unlock all grammar content.
Brazilian Portuguese offers multiple ways to express passive meaning, each with distinct uses:
| Construction | Example | Usage | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ser + participle | Foi construído | Action passive | Very formal |
| Estar + participle | Está construído | State passive | Neutral |
| Se + verb | Construiu-se | Reflexive passive | Formal |
| 3rd plural | Construíram | Indeterminate | Informal |
| A gente | A gente construiu | Active alternative | Very informal |
"O presidente foi reeleito com 55% dos votos" (The president was reelected with 55% of votes)
"Três suspeitos foram presos pela polícia" (Three suspects were arrested by police)
"Foi anunciado novo lockdown" (New lockdown was announced)
"A lei será votada na próxima sessão" (The law will be voted on in the next session)
"Vende-se apartamento com vista para o mar" (Apartment with sea view for sale)
"Alugam-se quartos para estudantes" (Rooms for rent to students)
"Consertam-se sapatos" (Shoes repaired)
"Procura-se cozinheiro com experiência" (Experienced cook wanted)
"Aceita-se Pix e cartão" (Pix and card accepted)
Some verbs rarely appear in ser passive:
❌ "É tido" (is had) → Use "se tem" or "há"
❌ "É havido" (is had) → Use "há" or "existe"
❌ "É custado" → Use "custa"
✅ Exception: "ser" itself: "Foi sido difícil" (literary only)
Brazilians often forget participle agreement:
Formal: "As casas foram construídas"
Common error: "As casas foram construído"
With "se": Often no agreement in speech
Get full access to grammar lessons, exercises, vocabulary and personalized review with a free Falando account.
