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Observam-se as amostras no laboratório.

Observam-se as amostras no laboratório.
The samples are observed in the laboratory.
From Lesson 227:Formal causal connectors (já que, visto que...)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Observam-se as amostras no laboratório.

Why is the verb plural (observam) instead of singular (observa)?
When using the passive se, the verb must agree with the thing being acted upon, which becomes the grammatical subject. Since as amostras (the samples) is plural, the verb takes the plural form observam-se.
Could observam-se also mean they observe each other?
Grammatically, yes. The pronoun se can be reflexive (themselves) or reciprocal (each other). However, because inanimate objects like as amostras cannot look at things, common sense tells us this is the passive voice.
Why is the pronoun se attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen?
In European Portuguese, object pronouns attach to the end of the main verb in basic affirmative sentences. This is a helpful reminder, as earlier lessons showed that certain words (like question words or negative words) would pull the pronoun before the verb.
How would the pronoun placement change if this were a negative sentence?
Adding a negative word like não pulls the pronoun to the front of the verb. The sentence would become Não se observam as amostras no laboratório.

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