Introduction
The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the subject performing it. It is a useful grammatical structure in both written and spoken Portuguese.
Structure
The passive voice in Portuguese is formed using the verb "ser" (to be) conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Formula:
Subject + "ser" (conjugated) + past participle + (by agent)
Examples
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| O professor corrigiu os exames. | Os exames foram corrigidos pelo professor. |
| A empresa lançou um novo produto. | Um novo produto foi lançado pela empresa. |
| Maria escreveu a carta. | A carta foi escrita por Maria. |
Verb Conjugation
"Ser" in Different Tenses
| Tense | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Present | é |
| Preterite | foi |
| Imperfect | era |
| Future | será |
| Present Perfect | tem sido |
| Past Perfect | tinha sido |
Common Usage
Present Passive Voice
- Active: O João limpa a casa.
- Passive: A casa é limpa pelo João.
Past Passive Voice
- Active: O João limpou a casa.
- Passive: A casa foi limpa pelo João.
Future Passive Voice
- Active: O João limpará a casa.
- Passive: A casa será limpa pelo João.
Past Participle Agreement
In Portuguese, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| limpa (feminine) | limpas (feminine) |
| limpo (masculine) | limpos (masculine) |
Additional Examples
- A janela foi quebrada pelo vento. (The window was broken by the wind.)
- Os livros foram lidos pelos alunos. (The books were read by the students.)
- O relatório será entregue amanhã. (The report will be delivered tomorrow.)
Conclusion
The passive voice is an essential tool for highlighting actions or the recipients of actions in Portuguese. By mastering this structure, you can create more focused and nuanced sentences, especially in formal writing or when the doer of the action is unknown or less important.