obtémse

Obtém-se is a form of the Portuguese verb obter used to express impersonal passive voice. It conveys that something is obtained in a general sense, without specifying an agent, and can be translated as “one obtains” or “water is obtained,” depending on context. The construction is common in formal or technical writing and in notes about procedures, regulations, or processes.

Morphology and usage: The form is built from the present tense third-person singular of obter, obtém, plus the reflexive clitic se, yielding obtém-se. This impersonal construction does not require an explicit subject or agent, and it can introduce a direct object that denotes what is obtained (for example, "Obtém-se água" or "Obtém-se licença para operar"). In many contexts, it serves to present a general fact, rule, or outcome rather than a specific action performed by someone.

Orthography and variants: In modern Portuguese, the standard spelling is obtém-se, with a hyphen between the verb and the clitic. The variant obtémse (without the hyphen) is considered nonstandard in contemporary usage and may appear in older texts or typographical errors. The form is primarily used in European and Brazilian Portuguese, though the exact frequency can vary by register and region.

Examples:

- Obtém-se água deste poço utilizando métodos de captação.

- Obtém-se autorização para operar após a verificação de requisitos.

- Na economia circular, obtém-se benefício ambiental e econômico com reciclagem adequada.

See also: voz passiva, verbo pronominal, ob ter.