se + Verb

Passive Se Construction

Level 4

The Passive Se (Voz Passiva Sintética) is used to show that the subject is receiving an action. It is very common in formal writing, signs, and advertisements (e.g., 'Vende-se casa').

How It Works

The Passive Se construction is a concise alternative to the analytical passive (ser + past participle).

1. When to use it:
It is used when the focus is on the object being acted upon rather than who is doing the action. It is the standard choice for public notices, real estate signs, and formal reports. Note that in this construction, you cannot mention the agent (the person doing the action).

2. Verb Agreement:
The noun following the verb is the grammatical subject. Therefore:

  • Singular subject: Aluga-se um apartamento.
  • Plural subject: Alugam-se apartamentos.

3. Verb Types:
This works with Transitive Direct Verbs (e.g., vender) and Transitive Direct and Indirect Verbs (e.g., entregar algo a alguém). The key is that there must be a direct object to become the subject. If the verb only takes an indirect object (like precisar de), it is an impersonal construction and the verb stays singular.

4. Compound Tenses:
When using auxiliary verbs (like dever, poder, querer), the auxiliary verb agrees with the subject: Podem-se ouvir os pássaros (The birds can be heard).

5. Placement:
In formal writing, the pronoun usually follows the verb with a hyphen (Vende-se). However, certain words like negations or question words trigger proclisis, moving the 'se' before the verb.

Examples (5)

  1. Vendem-se carros usados nesta loja.

    Used cars are sold in this store.

    Word by Word: Sell-themselves cars used in this store.

    The verb 'vendem' is plural to agree with 'carros usados'.

  2. Não se aceitam devoluções após trinta dias.

    Returns are not accepted after thirty days.

    Word by Word: Not themselves accept returns after thirty days.

    Because of the negative word 'não', the pronoun 'se' moves before the verb (proclisis).

  3. Construiu-se uma nova escola no bairro.

    A new school was built in the neighborhood.

    Word by Word: Built-itself a new school in the neighborhood.

    The verb is singular because 'uma nova escola' is singular.

  4. Entregou-se o prêmio ao vencedor.

    The prize was delivered to the winner.

    Word by Word: Delivered-itself the prize to the winner.

    This construction works with verbs that have both a direct and indirect object; 'o prêmio' is the subject.

  5. Devem-se vender as casas rapidamente.

    The houses should be sold quickly.

    Word by Word: Should-themselves sell the houses quickly.

    In compound tenses, the auxiliary verb agrees with the subject 'as casas'.

Common Mistakes

  • Failing to make the verb plural when the subject is plural.

    Aluga-se apartamentos no centro.
    Alugam-se apartamentos no centro.

    In the passive voice, 'apartamentos' is the subject, so the verb 'alugar' must be plural ('alugam-se').

  • Trying to add the agent (the 'by someone' part).

    Vende-se a casa pelo corretor.
    A casa é vendida pelo corretor.

    The 'Passive Se' cannot be used with an agent. If you want to say 'by the realtor', use the analytical passive with 'ser'.

How It Connects

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se + VerbLevel 4Passive Se Construction

Learn This First

To understand the Passive Se construction, a learner must first be comfortable with the pronoun 'se' and the general concept of the passive voice. They also need to understand how verbs agree with subjects, as the verb in this construction must agree with the inanimate object that functions as the grammatical subject.

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