Forming Passive Voice with the Verb

This grammar works by using a helper verb and a main action verb. The helper is always ser (to be). The main verb takes the form of a past participle. These two work together like a tandem bicycle. The verb ser tells us when the action happened. It can be in the past, present, or future. The past participle tells us what actually happened. But here is the catch: the past participle is moody. It acts like an adjective. This means it must change to match the subject. If the subject is feminine, the participle ends in -a. If it is plural, it ends in -s. It is a game of matching colors and shapes. If you say O livro foi lido, that is perfect. If you say A carta foi lido, you have a mismatch. It should be A carta foi lida. Think of it as a grammar harmony. Every piece must sing the same note.

1. 1Building this is like following a recipe. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Identify the object of your active sentence. This becomes your new subject.
3. 3Choose the correct tense for the verb ser. If the original action was yesterday, use the preterite foi.
4. 4Add the past participle of the main verb. For -ar verbs, use -ado. For -er and -ir verbs, use -ido.
5. 5Match the participle to your new subject. Check the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
6. 6Optional: Add the "agent" using the preposition por. Remember that por combines with articles: pelo, pela, pelos, pelas.
7. 7Example: O mecânico consertou os carros (Active) becomes Os carros foram consertados pelo mecânico (Passive).
8. 8Os carros (New Subject)
9. 9foram (ser in plural preterite)
10. 10consertados (Participle matching masculine plural)
11. 11pelo mecânico (The agent).

You should use the passive voice when you want to be formal. It is perfect for writing a report at work. Use it when the action is the headline. "A nova lei foi aprovada" (The new law was approved) sounds much more official than "They approved the law." It is also great for mystery. If you find a broken window, you say A janela foi quebrada. You do not know who did it, so the window is the star of the story. Use it in job interviews to sound objective about your achievements. "Este projeto foi coordenado por mim" sounds very professional. It is also common in literature to create a specific atmosphere. Basically, use it whenever you want to sound like a serious adult or a news anchor.

Do not use the passive voice for everything! If you do, you will sound like a legal contract. In casual conversation with friends, it feels a bit stiff. If you are at a bar, do not say "A cerveja foi pedida por mim." Just say "Eu pedi a cerveja." It is much more natural. Also, avoid it if the sentence becomes too long and confusing. Portuguese speakers love the "Se" passive for general statements. Instead of Apartamentos são alugados, we usually say Alugam-se apartamentos. The ser passive is for specific actions, while the se passive is for general rules or states. If your sentence feels like a tongue twister, try the active voice instead. Grammar should be a tool, not a barrier to your coffee order.

The biggest trap is the gender agreement. Many people forget that the participle is an adjective here. They say A porta foi aberto instead of A porta foi aberta. Do not let the participle stay masculine by default! Another mistake is using the wrong auxiliary verb. Some learners try to use estar. While A porta está aberta is a valid sentence, it describes a state (The door is open), not an action (The door was opened). For the passive voice of action, you must use ser. Also, watch out for irregular participles. You cannot say foi escrevido. It must be foi escrito. It is like a grammar traffic light; if you ignore the red light of irregulars, you might crash your sentence. Finally, watch your prepositions. It is always por, never de or com to introduce the agent.

You might confuse this with the Voz Passiva Sintética (the one with se). The ser passive is "Analytic." It is longer and uses more words. It is used when we want to mention who did the action. The se passive is "Synthetic." It is short and snappy. You use se when you do not care who did the action at all. For example, A casa foi vendida pelo corretor (Analytic) vs Vendeu-se a casa (Synthetic). Another contrast is with the resultative state using estar. A comida foi feita means someone cooked it (Action). A comida está feita means it is ready on the table (Result). Knowing the difference makes you sound like a pro. It is the difference between describing a movie and looking at a still photo.