The Evaluative Impersonal Infinitive
When you want to state that an action is highly recommended, necessary, or generally true—without directing it at a specific person—use the impersonal structure ser de followed by an infinitive.
Most often used in the present tense as é de, this translates well to English phrases like "it is to be [verb]ed" or "it is worth [verb]ing". It is highly useful for giving strong, general advice, such as when foraging for food in the wild.
| Picking any unknown wild mushroom is to be avoided. | É de evitar colher qualquer cogumelo silvestre desconhecido. |
| Now, it is to be noted that the uncertainty demands a cautious expert. | Ora, é de notar que a incerteza exige um perito cauteloso. |
Highlighting Facts and Dangers
This pattern pairs wonderfully with verbs like evitar (to avoid), notar (to note), and destacar (to highlight) to establish clear rules and important facts.
| It is to be highlighted that a toxic mushroom is lethal. | É de destacar que um cogumelo tóxico é letal. |
| Eating that is to be avoided, since it causes poisoning. | É de evitar comer isso, já que causa uma intoxicação. |
| It is to be noted that boiling the mushroom does not eliminate the danger. | É de notar que ferver o cogumelo não elimina o perigo. |
Expressing Regret, Expectation, and Surprise
You can also use this same structure to express impersonal judgments about a situation. Common combinations include é de lamentar (it is to be regretted / it is a pity), é de esperar (it is to be expected), and é de admirar (it is surprising).
| Any mistake when identifying a lethal species is to be regretted. | É de lamentar qualquer erro ao identificar uma espécie letal. |
| Given that he is not cautious, it is to be expected that he will eat a toxic mushroom. | Dado que não é cauteloso, é de esperar que coma um cogumelo tóxico. |
| It is surprising that the patient survives the lethal poisoning. | É de admirar que o paciente sobreviva à intoxicação letal. |
