Particípio Passado (Past Participle)
The Past Participle (Particípio Passado) in Portuguese is used to form compound tenses, passive voice constructions, and as an adjective. It is an essential component of Portuguese grammar and can appear with auxiliary verbs like ter (to have), haver (to have – formal/literary), and ser (to be).
Formation
The past participle of regular verbs in Portuguese is formed based on the infinitive endings -ar, -er, and -ir:
| Ending | Example Verb | Past Participle Form |
|---|---|---|
| -ar | falar (to speak) | falado |
| -er | comer (to eat) | comido |
| -ir | partir (to leave) | partido |
Irregular Past Participles
Some Portuguese verbs have irregular past participles. In some cases, a verb can have two forms:
- Regular → usually used with ter or haver in compound tenses.
- Irregular → usually used with ser in passive voice or as an adjective.
| Verb | Infinitive | Regular (with ter/haver) | Irregular (with ser/adjective) |
|---|---|---|---|
| abrir (to open) | — | — | aberto |
| escrever (to write) | — | — | escrito |
| fazer (to do/make) | — | — | feito |
| ver (to see) | — | — | visto |
| pôr (to put) | — | — | posto |
Note: Many verbs only have one valid past participle form.
Usage
The past participle is used in several contexts:
1. Forming Compound Tenses
Used with the auxiliaries ter or haver.
- Eu tenho falado muito. (I have spoken a lot.)
- Ela havia partido antes do amanhecer. (She had left before dawn.)
2. Passive Voice
Used with the auxiliary ser.
- O livro foi escrito pelo autor. (The book was written by the author.)
- As portas foram abertas. (The doors were opened.)
3. As an Adjective
The past participle can function as an adjective, agreeing in gender and number with the noun it describes.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| falado | falados |
| falada | faladas |
- A carta escrita está na mesa. (The written letter is on the table.)
- As portas abertas deixam entrar a luz. (The open doors let in light.)
Differences Between Brazilian and European Portuguese
- The use of the past participle is consistent in both Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP).
- In EP, the auxiliary haver is more frequently used in formal writing; in BP, ter is preferred in most contexts.
Summary
The Past Participle in Portuguese is used to:
- Form compound tenses with ter or haver.
- Form the passive voice with ser.
- Act as an adjective, agreeing with the noun in gender and number.
Examples
- Compound tense: Eu tenho terminado o trabalho. (I have finished the work.)
- Passive voice: A casa foi construída em 1990. (The house was built in 1990.)
- Adjective: As janelas abertas deixaram entrar a brisa. (The open windows let in the breeze.)
