Passive Voice with Ser and Se in Brazilian Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Form a direct passive with ser and a past participle
A direct passive uses ser plus a past participle. The participle agrees in gender and number with the subject: O relatório foi enviado (The report was sent); As mensagens foram enviadas (The messages were sent).
Use this pattern when you want to emphasize the person or thing receiving the action. You can name the agent with por, but it is optional when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O convite foi enviado ontem. | The invitation was sent yesterday. |
| As portas foram fechadas às seis. | The doors were closed at six. |
| A música foi composta por uma brasileira. | The music was composed by a Brazilian woman. |
Recognize se when the agent is not the focus
A se construction can present an action without naming who performs it. You may encounter it on signs and in written notices: Vende-se apartamento (Apartment for sale) or Alugam-se quartos (Rooms for rent). In standard agreement, the verb may match the noun; informal usage can vary, so learners may hear a singular verb with a plural noun as well.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Vendem-se ingressos na entrada. | Tickets are sold at the entrance. |
| Alugam-se quartos mobiliados. | Furnished rooms are available for rent. |
| Precisa-se de voluntários. | Volunteers are needed. |
Choose the clearest focus for your sentence
A passive sentence can sound formal when the speaker does not need that emphasis. Brazilian Portuguese often uses an active sentence with an unspecified subject instead: Alguém fechou a porta (Someone closed the door) or Fecharam a porta (They closed the door). These are not identical grammatically, but they can communicate a similar idea.
- Receiver matters: O pacote foi entregue.
- A notice describes availability: Vendem-se livros usados.
- Everyday report: Fecharam a rua. (They closed the street.)
Remember: Rewrite one sentence with ser + participle, with se where it fits, and as an active sentence. Notice which version sounds clearest in context.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
The invitation was sent yesterday.
Show a Portuguese answer
O convite foi enviado ontem.
The doors were closed at six.
Show a Portuguese answer
As portas foram fechadas às seis.
The music was composed by a Brazilian woman.
Show a Portuguese answer
A música foi composta por uma brasileira.
Tickets are sold at the entrance.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vendem-se ingressos na entrada.
Furnished rooms are available for rent.
Show a Portuguese answer
Alugam-se quartos mobiliados.
Volunteers are needed.
Show a Portuguese answer
Precisa-se de voluntários.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Rewrite one sentence with ser + participle, with se where it fits, and as an active sentence. Notice which version sounds clearest in context.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Passive Voice with Ser and Se in Brazilian Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
Browse all learning guides
