precisa-se de + Noun
Impersonal Se with De
The pattern precisa-se de + noun is used to say 'Wanted' or 'One needs' in a general, impersonal way. It is common in job ads and formal writing.
How It Works
This pattern is essential for formal Portuguese and is frequently seen on signs and in classified ads.
1. Grammatical Mechanics:
This construction is used with Transitive Indirect Verbs—verbs that require a preposition (like precisar de, confiar em, or acreditar em). Because the subject is unknown or generalized, the verb is locked in the 3rd person singular. Even if the noun following it is plural, the verb does not change.
2. Placement of 'Se':
In formal writing and European Portuguese, the se is attached after the verb with a hyphen (enclisis). However, if there is a negative word like não or nunca, the pronoun must move before the verb (proclisis), as in Não se precisa de ajuda. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear it before the verb in most contexts, but precisa-se remains the standard for signs.
3. Active vs. Passive:
Unlike the Passive Se (e.g., Vende-se casa), this is technically an active construction. Because of the preposition de, the noun is an indirect object, not a subject. This is why it never pluralizes (e.g., Precisa-se de médicos, not Precisam-se).
Examples (4)
- Precisa-se de novos funcionários para a loja.
New employees are needed for the store.
Word by Word: Needs-itself of new employees for the store.
A classic job advertisement style. Note that even though 'funcionários' is plural, the verb 'precisa' remains singular.
- Nesta empresa, precisa-se de muita paciência.
In this company, one needs a lot of patience.
Word by Word: In-this company, needs-itself of much patience.
Used here to describe a general requirement or state of being within an environment.
- Precisa-se de doadores de sangue urgentemente.
Blood donors are needed urgently.
Word by Word: Needs-itself of donors of blood urgently.
Commonly seen in public service announcements where the specific person needing the blood isn't the focus.
- Confia-se em soluções pacíficas para o conflito.
One trusts in peaceful solutions for the conflict.
Word by Word: Trusts-itself in solutions peaceful for the conflict.
This uses the verb 'confiar' which, like 'precisar', requires a preposition ('em'). The verb remains singular because the subject is impersonal.
Common Mistakes
Pluralizing the verb when the following noun is plural.
Precisam-se de funcionários.Precisa-se de funcionários.Because 'de funcionários' is an indirect object (due to the preposition 'de'), it cannot be the subject. The verb must stay in the 3rd person singular.
Omitting the mandatory preposition 'de'.
Precisa-se funcionários.Precisa-se de funcionários.The verb 'precisar' requires the preposition 'de' when it means 'to need'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'precisa-se de', a learner must first know how to conjugate regular -ar verbs in the third person. They also need to understand that certain verbs in Portuguese require the preposition 'de' to connect to a noun. Finally, familiarity with the particle 'se' is required to recognize its role in making the sentence impersonal (indicating that 'someone' needs something, rather than a specific subject).
- me/te/se/nos/vos/seReflexive Pronouns
The particle 'se' is the core marker of this impersonal construction, and the learner needs to be familiar with 'se' as a pronoun.
Level 1 - gostar de + Noun/InfinitiveGostar De
This pattern introduces the concept of verbs that require the preposition 'de' (regência verbal), which is necessary for 'precisar de'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- vende-se/aluga-sePassive Se Examples
This is the 'Passive Se'. Unlike 'precisa-se', these verbs do NOT use a preposition and MUST agree in plural (e.g., 'Vendem-se casas').
Level 4 - Passive Se vs Impersonal Se
The core conceptual guide for distinguishing when 'se' makes a sentence passive versus when it makes the subject indeterminate.
Level 4 - Enclisis (Pronoun After Verb)
Explains the formal placement of the 'se' particle after the verb, which is standard for this pattern.
Level 2 - a genteA Gente (Informal We)
An informal alternative to the impersonal 'se' for expressing 'one' or 'we' in casual conversation.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice precisa-se de + Noun in Bubblegum
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