Passive Participle Agreement

Level 4

When using the passive voice (e.g., 'The letters were written'), the past participle acts like an adjective. It must change its ending to agree with the subject: -o (masc. sing.), -a (fem. sing.), -os (masc. plur.), or -as (fem. plur.).

How It Works

In the periphrastic passive voice, the past participle functions as a verbal adjective. This means it is bound by the rules of adjective agreement.

1. The Four Forms
Every regular participle has four possible endings:

  • Masculine Singular (-o): O livro foi lido.
  • Feminine Singular (-a): A revista foi lida.
  • Masculine Plural (-os): Os livros foram lidos.
  • Feminine Plural (-as): As revistas foram lidas.

2. Mixed Gender Subjects
If the subject consists of nouns of different genders, the participle follows the masculine plural rule: O carro e a mota foram vendidos.

3. Verbos Abundantes (Double Participles)
Some verbs have two participle forms: a regular one (ending in -ado/-ido) and an irregular one (shorter). In passive constructions with ser or estar, you must use the irregular form and make it agree: A luz foi acesa (not acendida).

4. Passive vs. Active (The 'Ter' Rule)
It is crucial to distinguish this from active compound tenses. When you use ter or haver to form a past tense (e.g., 'I have eaten'), the participle is invariable (always masculine singular). Agreement happens when the auxiliary verb is ser, estar, or other linking/aspectual verbs like ficar, ir, or permanecer.

Examples (5)

  1. As propostas foram aceitas pela diretoria.

    The proposals were accepted by the board.

    Word by Word: The proposals were accepted by-the board.

    The participle 'aceitas' is feminine plural to agree with 'as propostas'.

  2. Os criminosos serão perseguidos pela polícia.

    The criminals will be pursued by the police.

    Word by Word: The criminals will-be pursued by-the police.

    'Perseguidos' is masculine plural because the subject 'os criminosos' is masculine plural.

  3. A nova lei já está sancionada.

    The new law is already sanctioned.

    Word by Word: The new law already is sanctioned.

    Even with 'estar' (resultative passive), the participle 'sancionada' must agree with the feminine singular 'lei'.

  4. O documento foi assinado pelo diretor.

    The document was signed by the director.

    Word by Word: The document was signed by-the director.

    Since 'o documento' is masculine singular, the participle ends in '-o'.

  5. Estas cartas foram escritas à mão.

    These letters were written by hand.

    Word by Word: These letters were written at hand.

    The irregular participle 'escritas' agrees with the feminine plural 'estas cartas'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine singular form as a default in the passive voice.

    As janelas foram fechado.
    As janelas foram fechadas.

    In English, 'closed' doesn't change, but in Portuguese, it must agree with the feminine plural subject 'as janelas'.

  • Applying agreement to active compound tenses (using 'ter').

    Elas tinham compradas as flores.
    Elas tinham comprado as flores.

    When the auxiliary verb is 'ter', the participle never changes. Agreement only happens in the passive voice (with 'ser/estar').

  • Matching the participle to the agent (the doer) instead of the subject.

    O livro foi escrita por elas.
    O livro foi escrito por elas.

    The participle agrees with the subject ('o livro'), not the people who performed the action ('elas').

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Passive Participle AgreementLevel 4

Learn This First

To learn passive participle agreement, you first need to understand the basic structure of the passive voice (ser + past participle). Since the participle in this construction acts as a descriptor for the subject, you must also be familiar with standard adjective-noun agreement rules for gender and number.