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Quick Grammar Reference
P o r t u g u e s e O n l i n e

>>Verbs > Passive Voice

The passive voice is a form of the verb that turns the subject (doer of the action) into the verb's object. In the English phrase I am loved, "am loved" is in the passive voice. There is no true passive voice in Portuguese, so you will form a passive in one of two ways.

The most common way is to use the reflexive se himself, herself, itself, themselves with the verb. This can translate to a formal general subject like the one in one does it or a common passive like it is done:

Aqui se fala português Here Portuguese is spoken.
Se diz que... it is said that... (but in Portugal: diz-se que..)
Os cães se lavam the dogs are washed (literally the dogs wash themselves).

However, the truest passive is formed with the verb ser to be followed by the past participle. This is equivalent to English passive constructions such as it is done. In these cases, past participles are used as adjectives and must vary to match the number and gender of the noun they describe. In the passive phrase os apartamentos são construídos the apartments are built, the past participle of construir to build (construído built) describes the masculine plural noun apartamentos apartments, so it is modified to reflect that (apartamentos construídos built apartments).

The opposite of the passive voice is the active voice. They build apartments is in the active voice, whereas the apartments are built is passive.