PORTUGUESE GRAMMAR

1- WORD ORDER

1 Basic S + V Eu durmo. I sleep.

2 Direct object S + V + DO Eu leio o livro. I read the book.

3 Indirect object S + V + IO + DO Eu dou o livro para ele. I give him the book.

4 Beneficiary S + V + DO + para + Beneficiary Eu compro um livro para ele. I buy a book for him.

5 IO pronoun S + IO + V + DO Eu lhe dou o livro. I give him the book.

6 Adjective S + ser/estar + Adj O livro é grande. The book is big.

7 Adverb S + V + Adv Ele lê rapidamente. He reads quickly.

8 Direct object + adverb S + V + DO + Adv Eu leio o livro rapidamente. I read the book quickly.

9 Time adverb S + V + Time Eu trabalho hoje. I work today.

10 Place adverb S + V + Place Ele mora lá. He lives there.

11 Location phrase S + estar + Location O livro está sobre a mesa. The book is on the table.

12 DO + location S + V + DO + Location Eu coloquei o livro sobre a mesa. I put the book on the table.

13 Determiner + noun Dem + N Este livro é novo. This book is new.

14 Determiner + adjective + noun Dem + Adj + N Este grande livro é novo. This big book is new.

15 Numeral + noun Num + N Dois livros são novos. Two books are new.

16 Conjunction Clause + Conj + Clause Eu leio e ele escreve. I read and he writes.

17 Conjunction + objects S + V + DO + Conj + S + V + DO Eu leio o livro e ele escreve uma carta. I read the book and he writes a letter.

18 Present passive S + ser + passive participle O livro é lido. The book is read.

19 Passive + agent S + ser + passive participle + por + Agent O livro é lido por ele. The book is read by him.

20 Passive + IO S + ser + passive participle + IO O livro é dado a ele. The book is given to him.

21 Passive + IO + agent S + ser + passive participle + IO + por + Agent O livro é dado a ele pelo professor. The book is given to him by the teacher.

22 Passive + adverb S + ser + passive participle + Time O livro é lido hoje. The book is read today.

23 Passive + location S + ser + passive participle + Location O livro é colocado sobre a mesa. The book is put on the table.

24 Passive + agent + adverb S + ser + passive participle + por + Agent + Time O livro é lido hoje por ele. The book is read by him today.

25 Passive + agent + IO + adverb S + ser + passive participle + IO + por + Agent + Time O livro é dado a ele pelo professor hoje. The book is given to him by the teacher today.

26 Perfect passive S + ser + passive participle O livro foi lido. The book was read / has been read.

27 Perfect passive + agent S + ser + passive participle + por + Agent O livro foi lido por ele. The book was read / has been read by him.

28 Future passive S + ser + passive participle O livro será lido. The book will be read.

29 Future passive + agent S + ser + passive participle + por + Agent O livro será lido por ele. The book will be read by him.

30 Modal passive S + modal + ser + passive participle O livro deve ser lido. The book must/should be read.

31 Negative S + não + V + DO Eu não leio o livro. I do not read the book.

32 Negative passive S + não + ser + passive participle + por + Agent O livro não é lido por ele. The book is not read by him.

33 Yes/no question S + V + DO? Você lê o livro? Do you read the book?

34 Passive question S + ser + passive participle? O livro é lido? Is the book being read?

35 Agent question Quem + V + DO? Quem lê o livro? Who is reading the book?

36 IO question Para quem + V + DO? Para quem você dá o livro? To whom do you give the book?

37 Imperative V + DO Leia o livro! Read the book!

38 Imperative + IO V + IO + DO Dê o livro para ele! Give him the book!

39 Passive imperative Deixe que + subjunctive Deixe que o livro seja lido! Let the book be read!

40 Verbal noun Noun form leitura reading

41 Verbal noun + DO verbal noun + de + noun a leitura do livro reading of the book

42 Infinitive Infinitive ler to read

43 Purpose S + V + para + infinitive Eu como para brincar. I eat in order to play.

44 Relative clause N + que + clause O livro que eu leio é interessante. The book that I read is interesting.

45 Passive relative N + que + ser + passive participle O livro que foi lido por ele é interessante. The book that was read by him is interesting.

46 Conditional se + future subjunctive, main clause Se eu tiver tempo, vou ler um livro. If I have time, I will read a book.

47 Conditional + passive se + future subjunctive passive, main clause Se o livro for lido, ele aprenderá. If the book is read, he will learn.

48 Reported speech S + dizer + que + clause Ele diz que está lendo um livro. He says that he is reading a book.

49 Reported question S + perguntar + se + clause Ele pergunta se eu estou lendo o livro. He asks if I am reading the book.

50 Reported command/request S + pedir + que + subjunctive Ele me pede que eu leia o livro. He asks me to read the book.

INDIRECT OBJECT:

1 Basic indirect object S + V + IO Eu obedeço a ele. I obey him.

2 DO + indirect object S + V + DO + a/para + IO Eu dou o livro para ele. I give the book to him.

3 IO pronoun S + IO pronoun + V + DO Eu lhe dou o livro. I give him the book.

4 1st person singular me Ele me deu o livro. He gave me the book.

5 2nd person singular te Eu te dei o livro. I gave you the book.

6 3rd person singular lhe Eu lhe dei o livro. I gave him/her the book.

7 1st person plural nos Ela nos deu o livro. She gave us the book.

8 2nd person plural vos Eu vos dei o livro. I gave you the book.

9 3rd person plural lhes Eu lhes dei o livro. I gave them the book.

10 Spoken Brazilian Portuguese para + pronoun Eu dei o livro para ele. I gave the book to him.

11 Beneficiary S + V + DO + para + beneficiary Eu comprei um livro para ele. I bought a book for him.

12 Common IO verbs V + a/para + IO Eu disse a verdade para ela. I told her the truth.

13 Question Para quem + V + DO? Para quem você deu o livro? Who did you give the book to?

GENITIVE:

1 Basic genitive N + de + possessor o livro de João John's book

2 Person's possession N + de + person a casa de Maria Maria's house

3 Thing's possession N + de + thing a porta da casa the door of the house

4 Plural possessor N + de + plural noun o carro dos alunos the students' car

5 Pronoun possessor N + de + pronoun o livro de mim my book / the book of me

6 Possessive determiner possessive + N meu livro my book

7 Multiple possession N + de + N + de + N o irmão do amigo de João John's friend's brother

8 Relationship N + de + N a mãe de João João's mother

9 Material/type N + de + N uma mesa de madeira a wooden table / a table of wood

10 Content N + de + N um copo de água a glass of water

11 Origin N + de + place vinho de Portugal wine from Portugal

12 Part/whole N + de + N a parte do livro part of the book

INDEPENDENT:

Person Masculine singular Feminine singular Masculine plural Feminine plural English

eu o meu a minha os meus as minhas mine

tu o teu a tua os teus as tuas yours

ele o seu a sua os seus as suas his

ela o seu a sua os seus as suas hers

você o seu a sua os seus as suas yours

nós o nosso a nossa os nossos as nossas ours

vós o vosso a vossa os vossos as vossas yours

eles o seu a sua os seus as suas theirs

elas o seu a sua os seus as suas theirs

vocês o seu a sua os seus as suas yours

Este livro é o meu. This book is mine.

Esta casa é a minha. This house is mine.

WAS GOING TO:

Eu ia + infinitive → Eu ia comer. I was going to eat.

Tu ias + infinitive → Tu ias comer. You were going to eat.

Ele/Ela/Você ia + infinitive → Ele ia comer. He/She/You was/were going to eat.

Nós íamos + infinitive → Nós íamos comer. We were going to eat.

Vós íeis + infinitive → Vós íeis comer. You were going to eat.

Eles/Elas/Vocês iam + infinitive → Eles iam comer. They/You were going to eat.

Was going to imperfect of ir + infinitive Eu ia comer. I was going to eat.

Was about to estar prestes a + infinitive Eu estava prestes a comer. I was about to eat.

Eu estava prestes a sair. I was about to leave.

Ela estava prestes a dormir. She was about to sleep.

1- NOUNS

A male noun ends with -o, and a female one ends with -a

ARTICLES:

DEFINITE ARTICLES (The):

o (The) -> (Male)

a (The) -> (Female)

os (The) -> (Male Plural)

as (The) -> (Female Plural)

INDEFINITE ARTICLES (a/an):

um (a/an) -> (Male)

uma (a/an) -> (Female)

uns (a/an) -> (Male Plural)

umas (a/an) -> (Female Plural)

PLURAL NOUNS:

To make a noun plural, we add the suffix -s

1- BASIC RULE:

casa -> casas

2- NOUNS ENDING IN -R, -Z OR -N

mulher -> mulheres (add -es)

3- NOUNS ENDING IN -M

homem -> homens (change -m to -n)

4- NOUNS ENDING IN -L

animal -> animais (Replace -l with -is)

papel -> papéis (Change the letter e to é if there is one before the L)

arol -> faróis (Change the letter o to ó if there is one before the L)

5- NOUNS ENDING IN -ão

avião -> aviões (replace ão with ões)

pão -> pães (replace with es)

mão -> mãos (replace with s)

You just have to memorize the plural form of the word in this case

6- NOUNS ENDING IN -s

lápis -> lápis (no change)

país -> países (if the word is stressed on the final syllable, then we add -es [a syllable is a unit of pronounciaion having one vowel sound] [stressed means focus on and trying to show importance of])

francês -> franceses (replace ê with e)

7- NOUNS ENDING IN -X

tórax -> tórax (no change)

8- FOREIGN WORDS

Some follow Portuguese rules, while others keep their original plural.

9- COMPOUND NOUNS

a compound noun is a noun that is two words instead of one (Example: bathroom, self-confidence)

guarda-chuva -> guarda-chuvas (add -s)

10- COLLECTIVE NOUNS

a collective noun is a noun that refers to a group of people, animals or things. (Example: Team, crowd)

equipe (we keep the word as it is unless it is plural)

ARTICLES MUST AGREE WITH THE PLURAL NOUN:

o livro -> os livros

a casa -> as casas

um carro -> uns carros

uma menina -> umas meninas

NOUN CASES:

Portuguese does not have cases, instead, we use prepositons, word order, articles or object pronouns (which have different forms but we will get to that later)

Quick Introduction: A case is something marks the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in a sentence

Nominative/Subject is the noun/pronoun that does the action (Example: I eat the apple, "I" is the nomative)

Accusative/Direct Object is the noun/pronoun that the action is done to (Example: I eat the apple, "apple" is accusative/direct object)

Dative/Indirect Object is the noun/pronoun that recieves the action (Example: I read the boy a story, boy is dative/indirect object)

Genitive is the noun/pronoun that has a possession, but the topic is the possession itself (Example: The boy's toy. "boy's" is genitive)

Ablative is a case used to express seperation, means cause, or location, often translated as "from", "by", "with" and "in" and etc...

Intrumental is the noun/pronoun that makes something happen, It is a part of ablative. (Example: I write with a pen. "pen" is instrumental")

Allative is the noun that another noun goes to (Example: I go to the shop [to the shop is allative])

Locative is the location

Vocative is the noun that is used to call someone (Example: Boy!)

1- MALE NOUN:

Definite Singular:

NOMINATIVE: o livro

ACCUSATIVE: o livro

DATIVE: ao livro

GENITIVE: do livro

LOCATIVE: no livro

INSTRUMENTAL: com o livro

ABLATIVE (From): do livro

ALLATIVE: ao livro

VOCATIVE: Livro!

.

Indefinite Singular:

NOMINATIVE: um livro

ACCUSATIVE: um livro

DATIVE: a um livro

GENITIVE: de um livro (or "dum livro")

LOCATIVE: num livro

INSTRUMENTAL: com um livro

ABLATIVE (From): de um livro

ALLATIVE: a um livro

VOCATIVE: Livro!

.

Plural Definite:

NOMINATIVE: os livros

ACCUSATIVE: os livros

DATIVE: aos livros

GENITIVE: dos livros

LOCATIVE: nos livros

INSTRUMENTAL: com os livros

ABLATIVE (From): dos livros

ALLATIVE: aos livros

VOCATIVE: Livros!

.

Plural Indefinite:

NOMINATIVE: uns livros

ACCUSATIVE: uns livros

DATIVE: a uns livros

GENITIVE: de uns livros (or "duns livros")

LOCATIVE: nuns livros

INSTRUMENTAL: com uns livros

ABLATIVE (From): de uns livros

ALLATIVE: a uns livros

VOCATIVE: Livros!

.

2- FEMALE NOUN:

Definite singular:

NOMINATIVE: a casa

ACCUSATIVE: a casa

DATIVE: à casa

GENITIVE: da casa

LOCATIVE: na casa

INSTRUMENTAL: com a casa

ABLATIVE (From): da casa

ALLATIVE: à casa

VOCATIVE: Casa!!

.

Indefinite singular:

NOMINATIVE: uma casa

ACCUSATIVE: uma casa

DATIVE: a uma casa

GENITIVE: de uma casa (or "duma casa")

LOCATIVE: numa casa

INSTRUMENTAL: com uma casa

ABLATIVE (From): de uma casa

ALLATIVE: a uma casa

VOCATIVE: Casa!

.

Plural definite:

NOMINATIVE: as casas

ACCUSATIVE: as casas

DATIVE: às casas

GENITIVE: das casas

LOCATIVE: nas casas

INSTRUMENTAL: com as casas

ABLATIVE (From): das casas

ALLATIVE: às casas

VOCATIVE: Casas!

.

Plural Indefinite:

NOMINATIVE: umas casas

ACCUSATIVE: umas casas

DATIVE: a umas casas

GENITIVE: de umas casas (or "dumas casas")

LOCATIVE: numas casas

INSTRUMENTAL: com umas casas

ABLATIVE (From): de umas casas

ALLATIVE: a umas casas

VOCATIVE: Casas!

2- ADJECTIVES

Adjectives agree with the noun

An adjective ends with -o if it is male, and ends with -a if it is female, and ends with -os if it is male, and -as if it is female

um carro bonito (a beautiful car) (the adjective is usually after the noun)

dois carros bonitos (two beautiful cars)

uma casa bonita (a beautiful house)

duas casas bonitas (two beautiful houses)

Some adjectives have one form for both genders:

1- Adjectives ending in -e:

grande (Big [singular])

grandes (Big [Plural])

2- Adjectives ending in -ista

otimista (optimistic [singular])

otimistas (optimistic [plural])

3- Adjectives ending in -z

feliz (happy [singular])

felizes (happy [plural])

4- Adjectives ending in -l

fácil (easy [singular])

fáceis (easy [plural])

5- Adjectives ending in -ar, -or, -az:

popular (popular [singular])

populares (popular [plural])

The adjective is after the noun if the adjective describes: Default position; objective descriptions, colors, size, nationality, shape, age, most adjectives

The adjective is before it if the adjective describes: Opinion, emphasis (to show importance of the role of the word in the sentence), figurative meaning, certain fixed expressions, literary style, or determiner-like adjectives

TO BE VERB:

1. SER — "to be"

Use ser for:

identity

profession

nationality/origin

characteristics

time/date

relationships

material/composition

generally permanent or defining situations

Present tense

Pronoun Ser English

eu sou I am

tu és you are

ele/ela/você é he/she/you are

nós somos we are

vós sois you are

eles/elas/vocês são they/you are

Examples

Eu sou estudante.

→ I am a student.

Ela é brasileira.

→ She is Brazilian.

Ele é meu irmão.

→ He is my brother.

Nós somos amigos.

→ We are friends.

Eles são altos.

→ They are tall.

2. ESTAR — "to be"

Use estar for:

temporary states

feelings

physical conditions

locations

situations that can change

actions in progress

Present tense

Pronoun Estar English

eu estou I am

tu estás you are

ele/ela/você está he/she/you are

nós estamos we are

vós estais you are

eles/elas/vocês estão they are

Examples

Estou cansado.

→ I am tired.

Ela está feliz.

→ She is happy.

Estamos em casa.

→ We are at home.

Eles estão doentes.

→ They are sick.

3. SER vs ESTAR

This is one of the most important distinctions in Portuguese.

English SER ESTAR

I am Brazilian Sou brasileiro. —

I am tired — Estou cansado.

I am a teacher Sou professor. —

I am at home — Estou em casa.

She is beautiful Ela é bonita. Ela está bonita.

He is happy Ele é feliz. Ele está feliz.

The food is good A comida é boa. A comida está boa.

The distinction is not simply "permanent vs temporary." It is more about what kind of state you are describing.

4. "I am happy"

Both can be possible, but the meaning changes.

Sou feliz.

→ I am a happy person / I am generally happy.

Estou feliz.

→ I am happy right now.

5. "She is beautiful"

Ela é bonita.

→ She is beautiful.

Describes her as a characteristic.

Ela está bonita.

→ She looks beautiful / She is looking beautiful.

Describes her current appearance.

6. "He is sick"

Ele está doente.

Use estar because being sick is a current condition.

7. "He is intelligent"

Ele é inteligente.

Use ser because intelligence is presented as a characteristic.

8. Location

Portuguese normally uses estar for location.

Estou em casa.

→ I am at home.

Ela está na escola.

→ She is at school.

O livro está na mesa.

→ The book is on the table.

However, ser is used for the location of an event:

A reunião é na sala 2.

→ The meeting is in room 2.

9. SER in the Past

Portuguese has several past forms.

Imperfect — era

Used for ongoing/background characteristics in the past.

Portuguese English

eu era I was

tu eras you were

ele era he was

nós éramos we were

eles eram they were

Examples:

Eu era estudante.

→ I was a student.

Ela era muito feliz.

→ She was very happy.

Preterite — fui

Used for completed past situations.

Portuguese English

eu fui I was

tu foste you were

ele foi he was

nós fomos we were

eles foram they were

Examples:

Ele foi meu professor.

→ He was my teacher.

Foi uma boa experiência.

→ It was a good experience.

⚠️ Fui is also the past of ir ("to go"):

Fui ao mercado.

→ I went to the market.

10. ESTAR in the Past

Imperfect — estava

Portuguese English

eu estava I was

tu estavas you were

ele estava he was

nós estávamos we were

eles estavam they were

Example:

Eu estava cansado.

→ I was tired.

Preterite — estive

Portuguese English

eu estive I was

tu estiveste you were

ele esteve he was

nós estivemos we were

eles estiveram they were

Example:

Estive em Portugal.

→ I was in Portugal / I have been to Portugal.

11. Future

SER

serei = I will be

Serei médico.

→ I will be a doctor.

ESTAR

estarei = I will be

Estarei em casa.

→ I will be at home.

12. Conditional

SER

seria = would be

Seria melhor.

→ It would be better.

ESTAR

estaria = would be

Estaria em casa.

→ I would be at home.

13. Perfect Forms

Portuguese uses ter + past participle.

SER

tenho sido

→ I have been

Example:

Tenho sido muito feliz.

→ I have been very happy.

ESTAR

tenho estado

→ I have been

Example:

Tenho estado muito cansado.

→ I have been very tired.

14. Continuous "Be"

This is especially important given your earlier questions about continuous tenses.

🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese

estar + gerund

Estou estudando.

I am studying.

Estava trabalhando.

I was working.

🇵🇹 European Portuguese

estar + a + infinitive

Estou a estudar.

I am studying.

Estava a trabalhar.

I was working.

15. "Be" + Adjective

SER

ser + adjective

Ele é alto.

→ He is tall.

ESTAR

estar + adjective

Ele está cansado.

→ He is tired.

The adjective agrees with the person/thing:

Ele está cansado.

Ela está cansada.

Eles estão cansados.

Elas estão cansadas.

16. "To Be" + Noun

Use ser for identity/classification.

Eu sou estudante.

→ I am a student.

Ela é médica.

→ She is a doctor.

Ele é meu amigo.

→ He is my friend.

17. "To Be" + Place

Use estar:

Estou no Brasil.

→ I am in Brazil.

Ela está em casa.

→ She is at home.

Os livros estão na mesa.

→ The books are on the table.

18. Infinitives

The infinitives are:

ser = to be

estar = to be

Examples:

Quero ser médico.

→ I want to be a doctor.

Quero estar em casa.

→ I want to be at home.

19. Imperatives

SER

Person Command

tu sê

você seja

nós sejamos

vocês sejam

Examples:

Sê paciente! 🇵🇹

→ Be patient!

Seja paciente!

→ Be patient!

ESTAR

Person Command

tu está

você esteja

nós estejamos

vocês estejam

Examples:

Está quieto!

→ Be quiet!

Esteja preparado!

→ Be prepared!

20. Subjunctive

Since you asked about the subjunctive earlier, these two verbs are especially important.

SER — Present Subjunctive

Person Form

eu seja

tu sejas

ele seja

nós sejamos

eles sejam

Espero que ele seja feliz.

→ I hope he is happy.

ESTAR — Present Subjunctive

Person Form

eu esteja

tu estejas

ele esteja

nós estejamos

eles estejam

Espero que ele esteja bem.

→ I hope he is well.

TENSES:

1. SER — "TO BE"

Indicative Mood — Modo Indicativo

Present — Presente

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu sou I am

tu és you are

ele/ela/você é he/she/you are

nós somos we are

vós sois you are

eles/elas/vocês são they/you are

Eu sou estudante. → I am a student.

Simple Past — Pretérito Perfeito

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu fui I was

tu foste you were

ele/ela/você foi he/she/you was/were

nós fomos we were

vós fostes you were

eles/elas/vocês foram they were

Eu fui estudante. → I was a student.

⚠️ fui is also the past of ir ("to go").

Imperfect — Pretérito Imperfeito

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu era I was

tu eras you were

ele/ela/você era he/she/you was/were

nós éramos we were

vós éreis you were

eles/elas/vocês eram they were

Eu era estudante. → I was a student.

The imperfect is especially common for ongoing/background past states.

Pluperfect — Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu fora I had been

tu foras you had been

ele/ela fora he/she had been

nós fôramos we had been

vós fôreis you had been

eles foram they had been

The simple pluperfect is formal/literary.

More commonly:

tinha sido = had been

Eu tinha sido professor.

→ I had been a teacher.

2. Compound Indicative Tenses of SER

Portuguese uses ter + sido.

Present Perfect

ter + sido

tenho sido = I have been

Pronoun Form

eu tenho sido

tu tens sido

ele tem sido

nós temos sido

eles têm sido

Tenho sido feliz.

→ I have been happy.

Pluperfect Compound

tinha + sido

Eu tinha sido → I had been

Ela tinha sido professora.

→ She had been a teacher.

Future Perfect

terei + sido

Eu terei sido

→ I will have been

Quando chegar, terei sido informado.

→ When I arrive, I will have been informed.

Conditional Perfect

teria + sido

Eu teria sido

→ I would have been

Eu teria sido mais feliz.

→ I would have been happier.

3. Future of SER

Simple Future — Futuro do Presente

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu serei I will be

tu serás you will be

ele será he/she will be

nós seremos we will be

vós sereis you will be

eles serão they will be

Serei médico.

→ I will be a doctor.

4. Conditional of SER

Conditional — Futuro do Pretérito

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu seria I would be

tu serias you would be

ele seria he/she would be

nós seríamos we would be

vós seríeis you would be

eles seriam they would be

Seria melhor.

→ It would be better.

5. Subjunctive — SER

Present Subjunctive

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu seja I be

tu sejas you be

ele seja he/she be

nós sejamos we be

vós sejais you be

eles sejam they be

Espero que ele seja feliz.

→ I hope he is happy.

Imperfect Subjunctive

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu fosse I were

tu fosses you were

ele fosse he/she were

nós fôssemos we were

vós fôsseis you were

eles fossem they were

Se eu fosse rico...

→ If I were rich...

Future Subjunctive

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu for I am/should be

tu fores you are/should be

ele for he is/should be

nós formos we are/should be

vós fordes you are/should be

eles forem they are/should be

Quando eu for rico...

→ When I am rich...

Se ele for bom...

→ If he is good...

6. Compound Subjunctive — SER

Present Perfect Subjunctive

tenha + sido

Espero que ele tenha sido feliz.

→ I hope he has been happy.

Pluperfect Subjunctive

tivesse + sido

Se ele tivesse sido mais cuidadoso...

→ If he had been more careful...

Future Perfect Subjunctive

tiver + sido

Quando ele tiver sido informado...

→ When he has been informed...

7. Imperative — SER

Affirmative

Person Form

tu sê

você seja

nós sejamos

vocês sejam

Sê feliz! 🇵🇹 → Be happy!

Seja feliz! → Be happy!

Sejam felizes! → Be happy! (plural)

Negative

Negative commands use the subjunctive:

Não sejas triste! → Don't be sad!

Não seja triste! → Don't be sad!

Não sejam tristes! → Don't be sad!

8. Non-finite Forms of SER

Form Portuguese English

Infinitive ser to be

Personal infinitive ser / seres / ser / sermos / serdes / serem to be

Gerund sendo being

Past participle sido been

Examples:

Quero ser médico.

→ I want to be a doctor.

Sendo honesto...

→ Being honest...

Tenho sido feliz.

→ I have been happy.

9. ESTAR — "TO BE"

Now the second "to be" verb.

Present

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu estou I am

tu estás you are

ele/ela/você está he/she/you are

nós estamos we are

vós estais you are

eles/elas/vocês estão they are

Estou cansado.

→ I am tired.

10. Past Tenses of ESTAR

Preterite

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu estive I was

tu estiveste you were

ele esteve he/she was

nós estivemos we were

vós estivestes you were

eles estiveram they were

Estive em Portugal.

→ I was in Portugal / I have been to Portugal.

Imperfect

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu estava I was

tu estavas you were

ele estava he/she was

nós estávamos we were

vós estáveis you were

eles estavam they were

Eu estava cansado.

→ I was tired.

Pluperfect

estivera, estiveras, estivera, estivéramos, estivéreis, estiveram

But in normal modern speech:

tinha estado = had been

Eu tinha estado em casa.

→ I had been at home.

11. Future of ESTAR

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu estarei I will be

tu estarás you will be

ele estará he/she will be

nós estaremos we will be

vós estareis you will be

eles estarão they will be

Estarei em casa.

→ I will be at home.

12. Conditional of ESTAR

Pronoun Portuguese English

eu estaria I would be

tu estarias you would be

ele estaria he/she would be

nós estaríamos we would be

vós estaríeis you would be

eles estariam they would be

Estaria em casa.

→ I would be at home.

13. Subjunctive — ESTAR

Present

Pronoun Form

eu esteja

tu estejas

ele esteja

nós estejamos

vós estejais

eles estejam

Espero que você esteja bem.

→ I hope you are well.

Imperfect

Pronoun Form

eu estivesse

tu estivesses

ele estivesse

nós estivéssemos

vós estivésseis

eles estivessem

Se eu estivesse em casa...

→ If I were at home...

Future

Pronoun Form

eu estiver

tu estiveres

ele estiver

nós estivermos

vós estiverdes

eles estiverem

Quando eu estiver em casa...

→ When I am at home...

14. Compound Subjunctive — ESTAR

Tense Formation Example English

Present perfect tenha estado tenho? → que eu tenha estado that I have been

Pluperfect tivesse estado se eu tivesse estado if I had been

Future perfect tiver estado quando eu tiver estado when I have been

Examples:

Espero que ele tenha estado bem.

→ I hope he has been well.

Se eu tivesse estado lá...

→ If I had been there...

Quando eu tiver estado lá...

→ When I have been there...

15. Imperative — ESTAR

Affirmative

Person Form

tu está

você esteja

nós estejamos

vocês estejam

Examples:

Está quieto! 🇵🇹

→ Be quiet!

Esteja preparado!

→ Be prepared!

Estejam atentos!

→ Pay attention / Be attentive!

Negative

Não estejas preocupado! 🇵🇹

Não esteja preocupado!

Não estejam preocupados!

→ Don't be worried!

16. Non-finite Forms of ESTAR

Form Portuguese English

Infinitive estar to be

Personal infinitive estar / estares / estar / estarmos / estardes / estarem to be

Gerund estando being

Past participle estado been

17. Continuous Forms

This is important because Portuguese does not have separate "continuous tenses" in the same way English does. It uses estar + gerund in Brazilian Portuguese or estar + a + infinitive in European Portuguese.

Present continuous

🇧🇷 Estou estudando.

🇵🇹 Estou a estudar.

→ I am studying.

Past continuous

🇧🇷 Estava estudando.

🇵🇹 Estava a estudar.

→ I was studying.

Future continuous

Estarei estudando. 🇧🇷

Estarei a estudar. 🇵🇹

→ I will be studying.

Conditional continuous

Estaria estudando. 🇧🇷

Estaria a estudar. 🇵🇹

→ I would be studying.

18. "Have Been" vs "Have Been -ing"

This distinction is especially useful:

I have been happy.

Tenho sido feliz.

→ ter + sido

I have been tired.

Tenho estado cansado.

→ ter + estado

I have been studying.

🇧🇷 Tenho estudado.

🇵🇹 Tenho estado a estudar.

→ The exact English have been -ing does not map to one single Portugues

3- PRONOUNS

NOMINATIVE:

eu -> I

tu -> you (informal)

você -> you (formal)

ele -> he

ela -> she

nós -> we

vós* -> you (plural, archaic)

vocês -> you (plural)

eles -> they (male)

elas -> they (female)

ACCUSATIVE:

me -> me

te -> you

o / a / lhe* -> him, her, it, you

nos -> us

vos -> you (plural)

os / as / lhes* -> them, you

DATIVE:

me -> to me

te -> to you

lhe -> to you/to him/to her

nos -> to us

vos -> to you (plural)

lhes -> to you (plural) / to them

POSSESSIVE (GENITIVE):

MALE SINGULAR:

meu (my/mine)

teu (your/yours)

seu (your [formal]/yours [formal] / his / her/hers)

nosso

vosso

seu / deles*

FEMALE SINGULAR:

minha (my/mine)

tua (your/yours)

sua (your/yours/his/his/her/hers)

nossa (our/ours)

vossa

sua / delas*

MALE PLURAL:

meus

teus

seus

nossos

vossos

seus / deles*

FEMALE PLURAL:

minhas

tuas

suas

nossas

vossas

suas / delas*

1. Demonstrative Pronouns

Portuguese demonstratives agree with the noun in gender and number.

There are three traditional distinctions:

Distance Masculine Feminine English

near speaker este esta this

near listener / intermediate esse essa that

far from both aquele aquela that over there

Plural:

Distance Masculine Feminine English

near speaker estes estas these

near listener esses essas those

far from both aqueles aquelas those over there

2. As Demonstrative Adjectives/Determiners

When they come directly before a noun:

demonstrative + noun

Este livro

→ this book

Esta casa

→ this house

Esse carro

→ that car

Essa mulher

→ that woman

Aquele homem

→ that man over there

Aquela casa

→ that house over there

Plural:

Estes livros

→ these books

Estas casas

→ these houses

Esses carros

→ those cars

Aqueles homens

→ those men over there

3. Demonstrative Pronouns Used Alone

They can also stand alone when the noun is understood.

Este é meu.

→ This one is mine.

Essa é bonita.

→ That one is beautiful.

Aquele é caro.

→ That one over there is expensive.

Estas são minhas.

→ These are mine.

Esses são bons.

→ Those are good.

Aquelas são novas.

→ Those over there are new.

4. Neuter Demonstratives

Portuguese has three important neuter demonstratives:

Portuguese English

isto this / this thing

isso that / that thing

aquilo that thing over there

These do not change for gender or number.

Isto

O que é isto?

→ What is this?

Isto é importante.

→ This is important.

Isso

O que é isso?

→ What is that?

Não faça isso!

→ Don't do that!

Aquilo

O que é aquilo?

→ What is that over there?

Aquilo é estranho.

→ That is strange.

5. Important Difference: "Isso" vs "Esse"

esse/essa/esses/essas

Normally refers to an identifiable noun.

Esse livro é bom.

→ That book is good.

isso

Refers to a thing, situation, idea, or something unspecified.

Isso é bom.

→ That's good.

So:

esse livro = that book

isso = that / that thing

6. Demonstratives in Brazilian vs European Portuguese

The three-way distinction exists traditionally in both varieties:

🇧🇷 este / esse / aquele

🇵🇹 este / esse / aquele

However, in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, esse/essa is often used more broadly for things that are not immediately near the speaker.

Example:

Esse livro que estou segurando...

→ This book I'm holding...

In formal writing, the traditional distinction is more likely to be maintained.

7. Contractions with Prepositions

Demonstratives combine with some prepositions.

de + este

deste

→ of/from this

desta

→ of/from this (feminine)

destes / destas

→ of/from these

de + esse

desse / dessa / desses / dessas

→ of/from that/those

de + aquele

daquele / daquela / daqueles / daquelas

→ of/from that/those over there

Examples:

Gosto deste livro.

→ I like this book.

Não gosto desse livro.

→ I don't like that book.

O dono daquele carro.

→ The owner of that car over there.

8. Contractions with "em"

em + este

neste / nesta / nestes / nestas

→ in/on this/these

Estou nesta casa.

→ I am in this house.

em + esse

nesse / nessa / nesses / nessas

Está nesse livro.

→ It is in that book.

em + aquele

naquele / naquela / naqueles / naquelas

Ele mora naquela casa.

→ He lives in that house over there.

9. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns indicate that the action comes back to the subject.

English:

I hurt myself.

Portuguese:

Eu me machuquei.

10. Main Reflexive Pronouns

Person Portuguese English

eu me myself

tu te yourself

ele se himself

ela se herself

você se yourself

nós nos ourselves

vós vos yourselves

eles se themselves

elas se themselves

vocês se yourselves

The basic forms are:

me, te, se, nos, vos, se

11. Reflexive Examples

Eu

Eu me lavei.

→ I washed myself.

Eu me machuquei.

→ I hurt myself.

Eu me vi no espelho.

→ I saw myself in the mirror.

Tu

Tu te lavaste.

→ You washed yourself.

Tu te machucaste.

→ You hurt yourself.

Ele / Ela / Você

Ele se lavou.

→ He washed himself.

Ela se viu no espelho.

→ She saw herself in the mirror.

Você se machucou.

→ You hurt yourself.

Nós

Nós nos lavamos.

→ We washed ourselves.

Nós nos vimos no espelho.

→ We saw ourselves in the mirror.

Eles / Elas / Vocês

Eles se machucaram.

→ They hurt themselves.

Elas se viram no espelho.

→ They saw themselves in the mirror.

12. Strong Reflexive Pronouns

Portuguese can emphasize the reflexive meaning with:

mesmo / mesma

mesmos / mesmas

or:

próprio / própria

Examples:

Eu mesmo fiz isso.

→ I myself did that. / I did that myself.

Ela mesma fez isso.

→ She herself did that.

Eles mesmos fizeram isso.

→ They themselves did that.

13. "Myself" as an Object

For emphasis:

Eu fiz isso por mim mesmo.

→ I did that myself.

For a female speaker:

Eu fiz isso por mim mesma.

The structure is:

por + mim + mesmo/mesma

Similarly:

Person Strong form

eu mim mesmo/mim mesma

tu ti mesmo/ti mesma

ele ele mesmo

ela ela mesma

nós nós mesmos/nós mesmas

eles eles mesmos

elas elas mesmas

14. "I Am Proud of Myself"

This is a good example of the difference between the ordinary reflexive pronoun and a strong form.

Tenho orgulho de mim.

→ I am proud of myself.

More emphatically:

Tenho orgulho de mim mesmo.

→ I am proud of myself.

Female:

Tenho orgulho de mim mesma.

15. Reflexive vs Non-reflexive

Compare:

He washed himself.

Ele se lavou.

The action returns to him.

He washed her.

Ele a lavou.

The action goes to another person.

So:

se = himself/herself/themselves

a = her

o = him

16. Reflexive with Body Parts

Portuguese often uses the definite article rather than a possessive.

English:

I washed my hands.

Portuguese:

Lavei as mãos.

Literally:

I washed the hands.

The context tells us they are my hands.

Similarly:

Ele lavou o rosto.

→ He washed his face.

Ela escovou os dentes.

→ She brushed her teeth.

You don't normally need:

❌ Ele lavou seu rosto.

although possessives are possible when clarification/emphasis is needed.

17. Reflexive Verbs

Some verbs are commonly used with se.

Verb Meaning

lavar-se to wash oneself

vestir-se to get dressed

levantar-se to get up

sentar-se to sit down

deitar-se to lie down/go to bed

machucar-se to hurt oneself

lembrar-se to remember

esquecer-se to forget

divertir-se to have fun

sentir-se to feel

Examples:

Eu me levanto cedo.

→ I get up early.

Ela se vestiu rapidamente.

→ She got dressed quickly.

Nós nos divertimos muito.

→ We had a lot of fun.

18. Brazilian vs European Portuguese Reflexive Pronoun Position

This is an important difference.

🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese

Pronouns frequently appear before the verb:

Eu me levanto cedo.

Ele se machucou.

Ela me viu.

🇵🇹 European Portuguese

Pronouns frequently appear after the verb in affirmative main clauses:

Levanto-me cedo.

Ele magoou-se.

Ela viu-me.

So:

🇧🇷 Eu me levanto.

🇵🇹 Levanto-me.

Both mean:

→ I get up.

19. Reflexive Pronouns with Infinitives

Brazilian Portuguese

Vou me lavar.

→ I am going to wash myself.

European Portuguese

Vou lavar-me.

→ I am going to wash myself.

20. Reflexive with Gerunds

Brazilian Portuguese:

Estou me vestindo.

→ I am getting dressed.

European Portuguese:

Estou a vestir-me.

→ I am getting dressed.

5- VERB TENSES:

Eu escrevo I write / I am writing

Tu escreves You write

Ele/Ela/Você escreve He/She/You writes/write

Nós escrevemos We write

Vós escreveis You write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escrevem They/You write

Eu escrevia I was writing / used to write

Tu escrevias You were writing

Ele/Ela/Você escrevia He/She/You was/were writing

Nós escrevíamos We were writing

Vós escrevíeis You were writing

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreviam They/You were writing

Eu escrevi I wrote

Tu escreveste You wrote

Ele/Ela/Você escreveu He/She/You wrote

Nós escrevemos We wrote

Vós escrevestes You wrote

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreveram They/You wrote

Eu escrevera I had written

Tu escreveras You had written

Ele/Ela/Você escrevera He/She/You had written

Nós escrevêramos We had written

Vós escrevêreis You had written

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreveram They had written

Eu escreverei I will write

Tu escreverás You will write

Ele/Ela/Você escreverá He/She/You will write

Nós escreveremos We will write

Vós escrevereis You will write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreverão They/You will write

Eu escreveria I would write

Tu escreverias You would write

Ele/Ela/Você escreveria He/She/You would write

Nós escreveríamos We would write

Vós escreveríeis You would write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreveriam They/You would write

Eu tenho escrito I have been writing / I have written repeatedly

Tu tens escrito You have been writing

Ele/Ela/Você tem escrito He/She/You has/have been writing

Nós temos escrito We have been writing

Vós tendes escrito You have been writing

Eles/Elas/Vocês têm escrito They/You have been writing

Eu tinha escrito I had written

Tu tinhas escrito You had written

Ele/Ela/Você tinha escrito He/She/You had written

Nós tínhamos escrito We had written

Vós tínheis escrito You had written

Eles/Elas/Vocês tinham escrito They had written

Eu terei escrito I will have written

Tu terás escrito You will have written

Ele/Ela/Você terá escrito He/She/You will have written

Nós teremos escrito We will have written

Vós tereis escrito You will have written

Eles/Elas/Vocês terão escrito They will have written

Eu teria escrito I would have written

Tu terias escrito You would have written

Ele/Ela/Você teria escrito He/She/You would have written

Nós teríamos escrito We would have written

Vós teríeis escrito You would have written

Eles/Elas/Vocês teriam escrito They would have written

Eu escreva I write / may write

Tu escrevas you write

Ele/Ela/Você escreva he/she/you write

Nós escrevamos we write

Vós escrevais you write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escrevam they/you write

Eu escrevesse I wrote/were to write

Tu escrevesses you wrote/were to write

Ele/Ela/Você escrevesse he/she/you wrote/were to write

Nós escrevêssemos we wrote/were to write

Vós escrevêsseis you wrote/were to write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escrevessem they/you wrote/were to write

Eu escrever if/when I write

Tu escreveres if/when you write

Ele/Ela/Você escrever if/when he/she/you writes

Nós escrevermos if/when we write

Vós escreverdes if/when you write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreverem if/when they/you write

Example:

Quando eu escrever, enviarei a carta.

→ When I write, I will send the letter.

Eu tenha escrito I have written

Tu tenhas escrito you have written

Ele/Ela/Você tenha escrito he/she/you has/have written

Nós tenhamos escrito we have written

Vós tenhais escrito you have written

Eles/Elas/Vocês tenham escrito they/you have written

Eu tivesse escrito I had written

Tu tivesses escrito you had written

Ele/Ela/Você tivesse escrito he/she/you had written

Nós tivéssemos escrito we had written

Vós tivésseis escrito you had written

Eles/Elas/Vocês tivessem escrito they/you had written

Eu tiver escrito if/when I have written

Tu tiveres escrito if/when you have written

Ele/Ela/Você tiver escrito if/when he/she/you has/have written

Nós tivermos escrito if/when we have written

Vós tiverdes escrito if/when you have written

Eles/Elas/Vocês tiverem escrito if/when they/you have written

— escreve! write! (tu)

— escreva! write! (você)

— escrevamos! let's write!

— escrevei! write! (vós)

— escrevam! write! (vocês)

Tu não escrevas! don't write!

Você não escreva! don't write!

Nós não escrevamos! let's not write!

Vós não escrevais! don't write!

Vocês não escrevam! don't write!

Pronoun Portuguese English

Eu escrever to write

Tu escreveres for you to write

Ele/Ela/Você escrever for him/her/you to write

Nós escrevermos for us to write

Vós escreverdes for you to write

Eles/Elas/Vocês escreverem for them/you to write

Example:

É importante escrever.

→ It is important to write.

É importante escrevermos.

→ It is important for us to write.

6- PASSIVE TENSES:

Eu sou escrito I am written*

Tu és escrito You are written

Ele é escrito He is written

Nós somos escritos We are written

Vós sois escritos You are written

Eles são escritos They are written

BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE:

Eu estou sendo escrito I am being written

Tu estás sendo escrito You are being written

Ele está sendo escrito He is being written

Nós estamos sendo escritos We are being written

Vós estais sendo escritos You are being written

Eles estão sendo escritos They are being written

EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE:

estou a ser escrito

estás a ser escrito

etc...

.

Eu fui escrito I was written

Tu foste escrito You were written

Ele foi escrito He was written

Nós fomos escritos We were written

Vós fostes escritos You were written

Eles foram escritos They were written

BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE:

Eu estava sendo escrito I was being written

Tu estavas sendo escrito You were being written

Ele estava sendo escrito He was being written

Nós estávamos sendo escritos We were being written

Vós estáveis sendo escritos You were being written

Eles estavam sendo escritos They were being written

EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE:

estava a ser escrito

estávamos a ser escritos

etc...

.

Eu era escrito I used to be written / I was written regularly

Tu eras escrito You used to be written

Ele era escrito He used to be written

Nós éramos escritos We used to be written

Vós éreis escritos You used to be written

Eles eram escritos They used to be written

Eu serei escrito I will be written

Tu serás escrito You will be written

Ele será escrito He will be written

Nós seremos escritos We will be written

Vós sereis escritos You will be written

Eles serão escritos They will be written

BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE:

Eu estarei sendo escrito I will be being written

Tu estarás sendo escrito You will be being written

Ele estará sendo escrito He will be being written

Nós estaremos sendo escritos We will be being written

Vós estareis sendo escritos You will be being written

Eles estarão sendo escritos They will be being written

EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE:

estarei a ser escrito

estarás a ser escrito

etc...

SUBJUNCTIVE:

eu seja escrito that I be written

tu sejas escrito that you be written

ele/ela/você seja escrito that he/she be written

nós sejamos escritos that we be written

vós sejais escritos that you be written

eles/elas/vocês sejam escritos that they be written

eu fosse escrito if I were written

tu fosses escrito if you were written

ele fosse escrito if he were written

nós fôssemos escritos if we were written

vós fôsseis escritos if you were written

eles fossem escritos if they were written

eu for escrito if/when I am written

tu fores escrito if/when you are written

ele for escrito if/when he is written

nós formos escritos if/when we are written

vós fordes escritos if/when you are written

eles forem escritos if/when they are written

eu tenha sido escrito that I have been written

tu tenhas sido escrito that you have been written

ele tenha sido escrito that he has been written

nós tenhamos sido escritos that we have been written

vós tenhais sido escritos that you have been written

eles tenham sido escritos that they have been written

eu tivesse sido escrito if I had been written

tu tivesses sido escrito if you had been written

ele tivesse sido escrito if he had been written

nós tivéssemos sido escritos if we had been written

vós tivésseis sido escritos if you had been written

eles tivessem sido escritos if they had been written

eu tiver sido escrito if/when I have been written

tu tiveres sido escrito if/when you have been written

ele tiver sido escrito if/when he has been written

nós tivermos sido escritos if/when we have been written

vós tiverdes sido escritos if/when you have been written

eles tiverem sido escritos if/when they have been written

The participle agrees with the grammatical subject.:

o livro seja escrito

a carta seja escrita

os livros sejam escritos

as cartas sejam escritas

7- NEGATION:

Eu não falo. I do not speak.

Tu não comes. You do not eat.

Ele não trabalha. He does not work.

Nós não estudamos. We do not study.

Eles não dormem. They do not sleep.

O livro não é escrito. The book is not written.

Não fales! Don't speak! (tu)

Não fale! Don't speak! (você)

Não falemos! Let's not speak!

Não faleis! Don't speak! (vós)

Não falem! Don't speak! (vocês)

Não vi ninguém. I didn't see nobody. I didn't see anybody. (The negative word comes before the subject when there are 2 negative words)

Não tenho nada. I don't have nothing. I don't have anything.

Nunca faço isso. Never I do that. I never do that.

Não faço nada. I don't do nothing. I don't do anything.

Não vou a lugar nenhum. I don't go to no place. I'm not going anywhere.

Eu não tinha falado. I had not spoken.

não not

nunca never

jamais never (stronger, more formal/literary)

ninguém nobody

nada nothing

nenhum / nenhuma no / none / not any

nem nor / not even

tampouco neither / nor (formal)

8- QUESTIONS:

YES/NO QUESTIONS:

There are two ways to make one:

1- Add a question mark (common in speech):

Você fala português? Do you speak Portuguese?

2- Switch the places of the subject and the verb and adding a question mark (formal):

Falas tu português? Do you speak Portuguese?

QUESTION WORDS:

quem who

o que / que what

qual which

quais which (plural)

quando when

onde where

para onde where to

de onde where from

como how

por que why

quanto how much

quantos how many (masculine plural)

quantas how many (feminine plural)

Who came? Quem veio?

Who did you see? Quem você viu?

What do you want? O que você quer?

What book do you want? Que livro você quer?

Where do you live? Onde você mora?

When does he arrive? Quando ele chega?

Why are you here? Por que você está aqui?

How did you do it? Como você fez isso?

Which car did you buy? Qual carro você comprou?

How many books do you have? Quantos livros você tem?

Whose book is this? De quem é este livro?

Who are you talking to? Com quem você está falando?

9- ADVERBS:

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

bem beng well

mal maw badly

assim ah-seeng like this; thus

melhor meh-lyor better

pior pee-or worse

depressa deh-preh-sah quickly

devagar deh-vah-gar slowly

rapidamente ha-pee-dah-men-chee quickly

lentamente len-tah-men-chee slowly

facilmente fah-seel-men-chee easily

dificilmente jee-fee-seel-men-chee with difficulty

calmamente kaw-mah-men-chee calmly

cuidadosamente koo-ee-dah-dah-men-chee carefully

claramente klah-rah-men-chee clearly

corretamente ko-heh-tah-men-chee correctly

incorretamente een-ko-heh-tah-men-chee incorrectly

perfeitamente pehr-fay-tah-men-chee perfectly

exatamente eh-zah-tah-men-chee exactly

diretamente jee-reh-tah-men-chee directly

indiretamente een-jee-reh-tah-men-chee indirectly

especialmente eh-speh-see-aw-men-chee especially

geralmente zheh-raw-men-chee generally

normalmente nor-maw-men-chee normally

naturalmente nah-too-raw-men-chee naturally

principalmente preen-see-paw-men-chee mainly

simplesmente seem-ples-men-chee simply

completamente kom-pleh-tah-men-chee completely

parcialmente par-see-aw-men-chee partially

totalmente toh-taw-men-chee totally

juntamente zhoon-tah-men-chee together

separadamente seh-pah-rah-dah-men-chee separately

silenciosamente see-len-see-oh-zah-men-chee silently

publicamente poo-blee-kah-men-chee publicly

secretamente seh-kreh-tah-men-chee secretly

propositalmente proh-poh-zee-taw-men-chee deliberately

acidentalmente ah-see-den-taw-men-chee accidentally

Common manner formations

Formation Transliteration English meaning

adjetivo + -mente ah-zheh-tee-vo + men-chee adjective + -ly

rápido → rapidamente hah-pee-do → ha-pee-dah-men-chee quick → quickly

lento → lentamente len-to → len-tah-men-chee slow → slowly

cuidadoso → cuidadosamente koo-ee-dah-do-zo → koo-ee-dah-dah-men-chee careful → carefully

natural → naturalmente nah-too-raw → nah-too-raw-men-chee natural → naturally

2. Time adverbs — Advérbios de tempo

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

agora ah-goh-rah now

hoje oh-zhee today

ontem on-ten yesterday

amanhã ah-mahn-yah tomorrow

anteontem ahn-chee-on-ten the day before yesterday

depois de amanhã deh-poys jee ah-mahn-yah the day after tomorrow

cedo seh-doo early

tarde tar-jee late

antes ahn-chees before

depois deh-poys after; afterwards

anteriormente ahn-cheh-ree-or-men-chee previously

posteriormente pos-teh-ree-or-men-chee subsequently

antigamente ahn-chee-gah-men-chee formerly

atualmente ah-too-aw-men-chee currently

recentemente heh-sen-chee-men-chee recently

ultimamente ool-tee-mah-men-chee lately

brevemente breh-veh-men-chee shortly

imediatamente ee-meh-jee-ah-tah-men-chee immediately

instantaneamente een-stahn-tah-neh-ah-men-chee instantly

logo loh-goo soon; therefore

já zha already; now

ainda ah-een-dah still; yet

ainda não ah-een-dah now not yet

sempre sem-preh always

nunca noon-kah never

outrora oh-troh-rah formerly

enfim en-feeng finally

finalmente fee-naw-men-chee finally

cedo seh-doo early

tarde tar-jee late

enquanto isso en-kwahn-too ee-soo meanwhile

entretanto en-treh-tahn-too meanwhile

de repente jee heh-pen-chee suddenly

subitamente soo-bee-tah-men-chee suddenly

3. Frequency adverbs — Advérbios de frequência

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

sempre sem-preh always

nunca noon-kah never

jamais zha-mah-ees never; ever

frequentemente freh-kwen-chee-men-chee frequently

frequentemente freh-kwen-chee-men-chee frequently

muitas vezes moo-ee-tahs veh-zes often; many times

muitas vezes moo-ee-tahs veh-zes often

geralmente zheh-raw-men-chee generally; usually

normalmente nor-maw-men-chee normally

habitualmente ah-bee-too-aw-men-chee habitually

regularmente heh-goo-lar-men-chee regularly

ocasionalmente oh-kah-zee-oh-naw-men-chee occasionally

ocasionalmente oh-kah-zee-oh-naw-men-chee occasionally

às vezes ahs veh-zes sometimes

às vezes ahs veh-zes sometimes

raramente hah-rah-men-chee rarely

dificilmente jee-fee-seel-men-chee hardly; rarely

diariamente jee-ah-ree-ah-men-chee daily

semanalmente seh-mah-naw-men-chee weekly

mensalmente men-saw-men-chee monthly

anualmente ah-noo-aw-men-chee annually

novamente noh-vah-men-chee again

repetidamente heh-peh-chee-dah-men-chee repeatedly

continuamente kon-tee-noo-ah-men-chee continuously

constantemente kon-stahn-chee-men-chee constantly

4. Place / location adverbs — Advérbios de lugar

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

aqui ah-kee here

cá kah here; over here

aí ah-ee there; near you

ali ah-lee there

lá lah there; over there

acolá ah-koh-lah over there

perto pehr-too near

longe lon-zhee far

acima ah-see-mah above

abaixo ah-bah-shoo below

dentro den-troo inside

fora foh-rah outside

adiante ah-jee-ahn-chee ahead

atrás ah-trahs behind

diante jee-ahn-chee in front

dentro den-troo inside

além ah-leng beyond

aquém ah-keng on this side of

junto zhoon-too together; nearby

ao redor ow heh-dor around

acima ah-see-mah above

em cima eng see-mah on top

embaixo eng-bah-shoo underneath

algures aw-goo-res somewhere

alhures ah-lyoo-res elsewhere

nenhures nen-yoo-res nowhere

por aqui por ah-kee around here

por aí por ah-ee around there

por ali por ah-lee around there

por lá por lah around there

em toda parte eng toh-dah par-chee everywhere

em todo lugar eng toh-do loo-gar everywhere

em nenhum lugar eng nen-oom loo-gar nowhere

5. Degree / intensity adverbs — Advérbios de intensidade

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

muito moo-ee-too very; much

pouco poh-koo little

bastante bahs-tahn-chee quite; enough; considerably

demais jeh-mice too much; extremely

demasiado deh-mah-zee-ah-doo excessively; too much

tão town so

tanto tahn-too so much; so many

mais mice more

menos meh-noos less

quase kwah-zee almost

apenas ah-peh-nahs barely; only

somente soh-men-chee only

completamente kom-pleh-tah-men-chee completely

totalmente toh-taw-men-chee totally

absolutamente ahb-soh-loo-tah-men-chee absolutely

inteiramente een-tay-rah-men-chee entirely

plenamente plen-ah-men-chee fully

extremamente es-treh-mah-men-chee extremely

demasiadamente deh-mah-zee-ah-dah-men-chee excessively

excessivamente eh-seh-see-vah-men-chee excessively

suficientemente soo-fee-see-en-chee-men-chee sufficiently

suficientemente soo-fee-see-en-chee-men-chee sufficiently

relativamente heh-lah-chee-vah-men-chee relatively

particularmente par-tee-koo-lar-men-chee particularly

sobretudo soh-breh-too-doo above all; especially

deveras deh-veh-rahs truly; very

deveras deh-veh-rahs indeed; very much

quase nada kwah-zee nah-dah almost nothing

um pouco oong poh-koo a little

pouco a pouco poh-koo ah poh-koo little by little

6. Focusing adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

apenas ah-peh-nahs only; merely

somente soh-men-chee only

só soh only; just

exclusivamente es-kloo-zee-vah-men-chee exclusively

unicamente oo-nee-kah-men-chee solely

justamente zhoos-tah-men-chee precisely; exactly

exatamente eh-zah-tah-men-chee exactly

precisamente preh-see-zah-men-chee precisely

particularmente par-tee-koo-lar-men-chee particularly

especialmente eh-speh-see-aw-men-chee especially

sobretudo soh-breh-too-doo above all

inclusive een-kloo-see-veh including; even

até ah-teh even

mesmo mez-moo even; really

também tahm-beng also

igualmente ee-gwaw-men-chee equally

ainda ah-een-dah still; even

justamente zhoos-tah-men-chee precisely

sobretudo soh-breh-too-doo especially

7. Affirmation adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

sim seeng yes

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

certamente que ser-tah-men-chee keh certainly

realmente heh-aw-men-chee really

verdadeiramente veh-dah-day-rah-men-chee truly

de fato jee fah-too in fact

de facto jee fak-too in fact

efetivamente eh-feh-chee-vah-men-chee indeed; effectively

realmente heh-aw-men-chee really

naturalmente nah-too-raw-men-chee naturally; of course

obviamente ob-vee-ah-men-chee obviously

evidentemente eh-vee-den-chee-men-chee evidently

claro klah-roo clearly; of course

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

sem dúvida seng doo-vee-dah without a doubt

com certeza kong seh-teh-zah certainly

8. Negation adverbs / negative adverbial forms

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

não nowng not

nunca noon-kah never

jamais zha-mah-ees never; ever

nem neng neither; not even

tampouco tahm-poh-koo neither; nor

de modo nenhum jee moh-doo nyoom in no way

de maneira nenhuma jee mah-nay-rah nyoo-mah in no way

de forma alguma jee for-mah aw-goo-mah in no way

absolutamente não ahb-soh-loo-tah-men-chee nowng absolutely not

de jeito nenhum jee zhay-too nyoom absolutely not

nunca mais noon-kah mice never again

ainda não ah-een-dah nowng not yet

não mais nowng mice no longer

9. Probability / possibility

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

talvez tahl-vez perhaps; maybe

possivelmente poh-see-vel-men-chee possibly

provavelmente proh-vah-vel-men-chee probably

provavelmente proh-vah-vel-men-chee probably

porventura por-ven-too-rah perhaps

quiçá kee-sah perhaps

eventualmente eh-ven-too-aw-men-chee possibly; eventually

acaso ah-kah-zoo perhaps; by chance

talvez sim tahl-vez seeng perhaps yes

talvez não tahl-vez nowng perhaps not

possivelmente não poh-see-vel-men-chee nowng possibly not

provavelmente não proh-vah-vel-men-chee nowng probably not

ao que parece ow keh pah-reh-seh apparently

pelo visto peh-loh veesh-too apparently; judging by appearances

10. Certainty

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

seguramente seh-goo-rah-men-chee surely

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

seguramente seh-goo-rah-men-chee surely

indubitavelmente een-doo-bee-tah-vel-men-chee undoubtedly

indiscutivelmente een-jees-koo-chee-vel-men-chee unquestionably

sem dúvida seng doo-vee-dah without doubt

com certeza kong seh-teh-zah certainly

sem dúvida alguma seng doo-vee-dah aw-goo-mah without any doubt

de fato jee fah-too indeed; in fact

realmente heh-aw-men-chee really

verdadeiramente veh-dah-day-rah-men-chee truly

inegavelmente ee-neh-gah-vel-men-chee undeniably

11. Doubt / uncertainty

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

talvez tahl-vez perhaps

possivelmente poh-see-vel-men-chee possibly

porventura por-ven-too-rah perhaps

quiçá kee-sah perhaps

provavelmente proh-vah-vel-men-chee probably

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

supostamente soo-pos-tah-men-chee supposedly

presumivelmente preh-zoo-mee-vel-men-chee presumably

alegadamente ah-leh-gah-dah-men-chee allegedly

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

12. Evidential / reportative adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

supostamente soo-pos-tah-men-chee supposedly

alegadamente ah-leh-gah-dah-men-chee allegedly

presumivelmente preh-zoo-mee-vel-men-chee presumably

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

pelo visto peh-loh veesh-too apparently

ao que parece ow keh pah-reh-seh apparently

segundo consta seh-goon-doo kon-stah reportedly

dizem dee-zeng they say

aparentemente sim ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee seeng apparently yes

13. Interrogative adverbs — Advérbios interrogativos

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

como koh-moo how

quando kwahn-doo when

onde on-jee where

aonde ah-on-jee where to

donde don-jee from where

por que por keh why

por quê por keh why

quanto kwahn-too how much

quão kwown how; to what degree

até quando ah-teh kwahn-doo until when

desde quando dez-jee kwahn-doo since when

para onde pah-rah on-jee where to

de onde jee on-jee from where

por quanto tempo por kwahn-too tem-poo for how long

com que frequência kong keh freh-kwen-see-ah how often

Examples

Como você está?

koh-moo voh-seh es-tah

= How are you?

Onde você mora?

on-jee voh-seh moh-rah

= Where do you live?

14. Relative adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

onde on-jee where

aonde ah-on-jee where to

donde don-jee from where

como koh-moo how; as

quando kwahn-doo when

quanto kwahn-too as much as

quão kwown how; to what degree

por onde por on-jee through/where

de onde jee on-jee from where

para onde pah-rah on-jee to where

15. Indefinite adverbial forms

Portuguese has several interrogative bases that form indefinite expressions.

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

algum lugar aw-goong loo-gar somewhere

em algum lugar eng aw-goong loo-gar somewhere

em qualquer lugar eng kwaw-kehr loo-gar anywhere

em todo lugar eng toh-doo loo-gar everywhere

em toda parte eng toh-dah par-chee everywhere

em nenhum lugar eng nen-oom loo-gar nowhere

de algum lugar jee aw-goong loo-gar from somewhere

de qualquer lugar jee kwaw-kehr loo-gar from anywhere

de nenhum lugar jee nen-oom loo-gar from nowhere

de algum modo jee aw-goong moh-doo somehow

de qualquer modo jee kwaw-kehr moh-doo anyway

de nenhum modo jee nen-oom moh-doo in no way

de alguma maneira jee aw-goo-mah mah-nay-rah somehow

de qualquer maneira jee kwaw-kehr mah-nay-rah anyway

de vez em quando jee vez eng kwahn-doo from time to time

em algum momento eng aw-goong moh-men-too at some point

16. Restriction / limitation

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

só soh only

somente soh-men-chee only

apenas ah-peh-nahs only; merely

unicamente oo-nee-kah-men-chee solely

exclusivamente es-kloo-zee-vah-men-chee exclusively

simplesmente seem-ples-men-chee simply; merely

meramente meh-rah-men-chee merely

tão somente town soh-men-chee only; merely

nada mais nah-dah mice nothing more

apenas isso ah-peh-nahs ee-soo just that

só isso soh ee-soo only that

pelo menos peh-loh meh-nos at least

no mínimo noo mee-nee-moo at minimum

no máximo noo mahk-see-moo at most

17. Approximation

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

aproximadamente ah-prok-see-mah-dah-men-chee approximately

cerca de ser-kah jee about

quase kwah-zee almost

por volta de por vol-tah jee around; approximately

mais ou menos mice ow meh-nos more or less

aproximadamente ah-prok-see-mah-dah-men-chee approximately

aproximadamente isso ah-prok-see-mah-dah-men-chee ee-soo approximately that

cerca ser-kah about

perto de pehr-too jee close to; approximately

em torno de eng tor-noo jee around

18. Comparison adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

mais mice more

menos meh-nos less

tão town as; so

tanto tahn-too as much

melhor meh-lyor better

pior pee-or worse

mais bem mice beng better; more well

mais mal mice maw worse

melhor ainda meh-lyor ah-een-dah even better

pior ainda pee-or ah-een-dah even worse

o mais oo mice the most

o menos oo meh-nos the least

tão...quanto town...kwahn-too as...as

tão...como town...koh-moo as...as

mais...que mice...keh more...than

menos...que meh-nos...keh less...than

19. Sequence / order adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

primeiro pree-may-roo first

primeiramente pree-may-rah-men-chee firstly

inicialmente ee-nee-see-aw-men-chee initially

depois deh-poys afterwards

então en-town then

em seguida eng seh-gee-dah next; afterwards

posteriormente pos-teh-ree-or-men-chee subsequently

finalmente fee-naw-men-chee finally

por fim por feeng finally

afinal ah-fee-naw after all; finally

enfim en-feeng finally

consecutivamente kon-seh-koo-chee-vah-men-chee consecutively

sucessivamente soo-seh-see-vah-men-chee successively

novamente noh-vah-men-chee again

20. Continuation / persistence

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

ainda ah-een-dah still; yet

ainda assim ah-een-dah ah-seeng even so; nevertheless

ainda mais ah-een-dah mice even more

ainda menos ah-een-dah meh-nos even less

continua kon-tee-noo-ah continues

continuamente kon-tee-noo-ah-men-chee continuously

constantemente kon-stahn-chee-men-chee constantly

sempre sem-preh always

até agora ah-teh ah-goh-rah until now

até hoje ah-teh oh-zhee until today

até então ah-teh en-town until then

21. Repetition

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

novamente noh-vah-men-chee again

de novo jee noh-voh again

outra vez oh-trah vez again

mais uma vez mice oo-mah vez once again

repetidamente heh-peh-chee-dah-men-chee repeatedly

sucessivamente soo-seh-see-vah-men-chee successively

reiteradamente hay-ee-teh-rah-dah-men-chee repeatedly

repetidas vezes heh-peh-chee-dahs veh-zes repeatedly

vez após vez vez ah-posh vez time after time

22. Result / consequence adverbs

Some of these are traditionally conjunctions or adverbial connectors rather than pure lexical adverbs, so they are best treated as adverbial conjunctions/connectors.

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

portanto por-tahn-too therefore

consequentemente kon-seh-kwen-chee-men-chee consequently

consequentemente kon-seh-kwen-chee-men-chee consequently

assim ah-seeng thus

logo loh-goo therefore

então en-town then; therefore

por isso por ee-soo therefore; because of that

desse modo deh-see moh-doo in this way

dessa forma deh-sah for-mah in this way

daí dah-ee hence; from there

daí que dah-ee keh hence the fact that

23. Purpose / reason adverbial expressions

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

para isso pah-rah ee-soo for this purpose

para tanto pah-rah tahn-too for that purpose

por isso por ee-soo for this reason

por esse motivo por eh-see moh-chee-voh for this reason

por essa razão por eh-sah rah-zown for this reason

daí dah-ee hence

justamente por isso zhoos-tah-men-chee por ee-soo precisely for that reason

24. Concessive adverbial expressions

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

mesmo assim mez-moo ah-seeng even so

ainda assim ah-een-dah ah-seeng nevertheless

apesar disso ah-peh-zar dee-soo despite that

contudo kon-too-doo however

todavia toh-dah-vee-ah however

entretanto en-treh-tahn-too however; meanwhile

porém poh-reng however

ainda ah-een-dah nevertheless

25. Speaker-attitude adverbs

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

felizmente feh-leez-men-chee fortunately

infelizmente een-feh-leez-men-chee unfortunately

felizmente feh-leez-men-chee fortunately

infelizmente een-feh-leez-men-chee unfortunately

infelizmente não een-feh-leez-men-chee nowng unfortunately not

sinceramente seen-seh-rah-men-chee sincerely; honestly

honestamente oh-nes-tah-men-chee honestly

francamente frahn-kah-men-chee frankly

pessoalmente peh-soh-aw-men-chee personally

particularmente par-tee-koo-lar-men-chee particularly

curiosamente koo-ree-oh-zah-men-chee interestingly

estranhamente es-trahn-yah-men-chee strangely

surpreendentemente soo-preh-en-den-chee-men-chee surprisingly

naturalmente nah-too-raw-men-chee naturally

obviamente ob-vee-ah-men-chee obviously

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

26. Sentence-level adverbs

These modify the whole proposition, rather than simply the verb.

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

talvez tahl-vez perhaps

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

provavelmente proh-vah-vel-men-chee probably

possivelmente poh-see-vel-men-chee possibly

obviamente ob-vee-ah-men-chee obviously

evidentemente eh-vee-den-chee-men-chee evidently

realmente heh-aw-men-chee really

certamente ser-tah-men-chee certainly

infelizmente een-feh-leez-men-chee unfortunately

felizmente feh-leez-men-chee fortunately

sinceramente seen-seh-rah-men-chee honestly

francamente frahn-kah-men-chee frankly

aparentemente ah-pah-ren-chee-men-chee apparently

supostamente soo-pos-tah-men-chee supposedly

presumivelmente preh-zoo-mee-vel-men-chee presumably

indubitavelmente een-doo-bee-tah-vel-men-chee undoubtedly

definitivamente jeh-fee-nee-chee-vah-men-chee definitely

provavelmente não proh-vah-vel-men-chee nowng probably not

sem dúvida seng doo-vee-dah undoubtedly

com certeza kong seh-teh-zah certainly

27. Adverbs ending in -mente

Portuguese has a highly productive adverb-forming pattern:

adjective → feminine adjective + -mente

Portuguese adjective Adverb English

rápido rapidamente quickly

lento lentamente slowly

cuidadoso cuidadosamente carefully

cuidadosa cuidadosamente carefully

feliz felizmente fortunately

provável provavelmente probably

possível possivelmente possibly

natural naturalmente naturally

especial especialmente especially

principal principalmente mainly

total totalmente totally

completo completamente completely

absoluto absolutamente absolutely

claro claramente clearly

direto diretamente directly

fácil facilmente easily

difícil dificilmente with difficulty

normal normalmente normally

geral geralmente generally

frequente frequentemente frequently

recente recentemente recently

atual atualmente currently

real realmente really

exato exatamente exactly

verdadeiro verdadeiramente truly

Important: because this formation is productive, Portuguese can create a very large number of adverbs with -mente. Therefore, there is no finite practical list of every possible Portuguese adverb.

28. Common adverbial expressions

Portuguese Transliteration English meaning

de repente jee heh-pen-chee suddenly

de novo jee noh-voh again

de fato jee fah-too in fact

de facto jee fak-too in fact

de maneira nenhuma jee mah-nay-rah nyoo-mah in no way

de modo algum jee moh-doo aw-goong in no way

de forma alguma jee for-mah aw-goo-mah in no way

de jeito nenhum jee zhay-too nyoom absolutely not

ao mesmo tempo ow mez-moo tem-poo at the same time

ao mesmo tempo que ow mez-moo tem-poo keh at the same time that

às vezes ahs veh-zes sometimes

de vez em quando jee vez eng kwahn-doo occasionally

pouco a pouco poh-koo ah poh-koo little by little

passo a passo pah-soo ah pah-soo step by step

lado a lado lah-doo ah lah-doo side by side

em breve eng breh-veh soon

por enquanto por en-kwahn-too for now

até agora ah-teh ah-goh-rah until now

até então ah-teh en-town until then

desde então dez-jee en-town since then

de agora em diante jee ah-goh-rah eng jee-ahn-chee from now on

daqui a pouco dah-kee ah poh-koo shortly

há pouco ah poh-koo a little while ago

há muito ah moo-ee-too long ago

por pouco por poh-koo narrowly; almost

no mínimo noo mee-nee-moo at minimum

no máximo noo mahk-see-moo at most

pelo menos peh-loh meh-nos at least

mais ou menos mice ow meh-nos more or less

por acaso por ah-kah-zoo by chance

porventura por-ven-too-rah perhaps

29. Core Portuguese adverb formation summary

Formation Transliteration English meaning

adjective + -mente ah-zheh-tee-vo + men-chee adjective → adverb

feminino + -mente feh-mee-nee-no + men-chee feminine adjective + -mente

muito + adjective/adverb moo-ee-too + adjective/adverb very

tão + adjective/adverb town + adjective/adverb so

mais + adjective/adverb mice + adjective/adverb more

menos + adjective/adverb meh-nos + adjective/adverb less

tão + ... + quanto/como town + ... + kwahn-too/koh-moo as ... as

mais + ... + que mice + ... + keh more ... than

menos + ... + que meh-nos + ... + keh less ... than

o mais + adjective/adverb oo mice + adjective/adverb the most

o menos + adjective/adverb oo meh-nos + adjective/adverb the least

10- CONJUNCTIONS:

# Portuguese English meaning Type

1 e and additive

2 nem nor / and not additive-negative

3 também also / too additive connector

4 mas but adversative

5 porém however / but adversative

6 todavia however / nevertheless adversative

7 contudo however / nevertheless adversative

8 entretanto however / meanwhile adversative

9 senão but rather / otherwise adversative/alternative

10 ou or alternative

11 ou...ou either...or alternative

12 ora...ora now...now / sometimes...sometimes alternative

13 quer...quer whether...or / either...or alternative

14 seja...seja whether...or / be it...or alternative

15 logo therefore / so conclusive

16 portanto therefore / thus conclusive

17 por isso therefore / for that reason conclusive

18 assim thus / so conclusive

19 pois therefore / then conclusive

20 por conseguinte consequently conclusive

Main coordinating patterns

Additive

e = and

nem = nor

Adversative

mas = but

porém = however

contudo = however

todavia = nevertheless

Alternative

ou = or

ou...ou = either...or

quer...quer = whether...or

Conclusive

portanto = therefore

logo = therefore

por isso = therefore

2. Subordinating conjunctions — Conjunções subordinativas

These introduce a subordinate clause.

A. Causal — cause/reason

Portuguese English

porque because

como since / as / because

pois que since / because

porquanto because / since

já que since / given that

visto que since / seeing that

uma vez que since / once

dado que given that

sendo que given that / while

por isso que because of the fact that

na medida em que insofar as / since

Example:

Eu fiquei em casa porque estava doente.

I stayed home because I was sick.

3. Conditional conjunctions

Portuguese English

se if

caso if / in case

contanto que provided that

desde que provided that / as long as

a menos que unless

a não ser que unless

salvo se unless / except if

exceto se except if

sem que without / without ... happening

na condição de que on condition that

desde quando since when

uma vez que provided that / once

Important

se has several functions:

Se chover, ficaremos em casa.

If it rains, we will stay home.

Não sei se ele vem.

I don't know whether he is coming.

4. Concessive conjunctions

These express contrast despite a condition.

Portuguese English

embora although / even though

ainda que although / even if

mesmo que even if / even though

mesmo se even if

se bem que although / admittedly

conquanto although / provided that

posto que although

apesar de que despite the fact that

por mais que however much / no matter how much

por menos que however little

por muito que however much

por pouco que however little

não obstante notwithstanding / although

malgrado despite / although

Example:

Embora esteja cansado, ele continua trabalhando.

Although he is tired, he continues working.

5. Final / purpose conjunctions

These express purpose.

Portuguese English

para que so that / in order that

a fim de que so that / in order that

que so that

porque so that (archaic/formal in this use)

com o objetivo de que with the objective that

com a finalidade de que with the purpose that

de modo que so that

de forma que so that

de maneira que so that

Example:

Estudo para que eu possa passar.

I study so that I can pass.

6. Consecutive / result conjunctions

These express a consequence or result.

Portuguese English

que that / so that

de modo que so that / thus

de forma que so that

de maneira que so that

de sorte que so that / such that

de maneira tal que in such a way that

de modo tal que in such a way that

tanto que so much that

tão...que so...that

tal...que such...that

tamanho...que such a large...that

a tal ponto que to such an extent that

Example:

Ele correu tanto que ficou cansado.

He ran so much that he became tired.

7. Comparative conjunctions

Portuguese English

como as / like

como se as if

assim como just as

tal como just as / such as

tal qual just as / such as

qual as / like

que than

do que than

quanto as / as much as

como...como as...as

tanto quanto as much as / as much as

mais...do que more...than

menos...do que less...than

tão...como as...as

tão...quanto as...as

tanto...quanto as much...as

Example:

Ele é mais alto do que eu.

He is taller than me.

8. Temporal conjunctions

Portuguese English

quando when

enquanto while

mal as soon as

assim que as soon as

logo que as soon as

apenas as soon as / once

depois que after

antes que before

até que until

desde que since

sempre que whenever

cada vez que every time that

toda vez que every time that

todas as vezes que every time that

agora que now that

já que now that / since

assim que as soon as

logo que as soon as

desde quando since when

até quando until when

enquanto que whereas / while

ao passo que whereas / while

Example:

Quando eu chegar, vou ligar para você.

When I arrive, I will call you.

9. Proportional conjunctions

These express proportional change.

Portuguese English

à medida que as / to the extent that

à proporção que as / in proportion as

ao passo que as / while / whereas

quanto mais...mais the more...the more

quanto mais...menos the more...the less

quanto menos...mais the less...the more

quanto menos...menos the less...the less

à medida em que as / to the extent that

Example:

À medida que envelhecemos, aprendemos mais.

As we grow older, we learn more.

10. Integrative / completive conjunctions

These introduce clauses functioning as a noun complement.

Portuguese English

que that

se whether / if

como how

quando when

onde where

quem who

quanto how much

o que what

The two most important true conjunções integrantes are:

que = that

se = whether / if

Example:

Eu sei que ele está aqui.

I know that he is here.

Não sei se ele está aqui.

I don't know whether he is here.

11. Explanatory conjunctions

These introduce an explanation or justification.

Portuguese English

porque because / for

que for / because

pois for / because

porquanto because / since

visto que since / seeing that

já que since

uma vez que since

Example:

Feche a janela, porque está frio.

Close the window, because it is cold.

12. Adversative / contrast connectors

These are especially important because several are technically conjunctional adverbs or connective expressions, depending on grammatical analysis.

Portuguese English

mas but

porém however

contudo however

todavia nevertheless

entretanto however / meanwhile

no entanto however

não obstante nevertheless

ainda assim nevertheless / even so

mesmo assim even so

apesar disso despite that

em contrapartida on the other hand

por outro lado on the other hand

ao contrário on the contrary

em vez disso instead

Strictly speaking, mas is the clearest coordinating conjunction here. Several others are more accurately classified as adverbs/connectors in modern grammatical analyses.

13. Alternative / correlative conjunctions

Portuguese English

ou...ou either...or

ora...ora now...now

quer...quer whether...or

seja...seja whether...or / be it...or

seja...ou whether...or

nem...nem neither...nor

não só...mas também not only...but also

não apenas...mas também not only...but also

não somente...mas também not only...but also

tanto...como both...and / as much...as

tanto...quanto both...and / as much...as

assim...como as well as

não...nem not...nor

Example:

Não só estudo português, mas também estudo espanhol.

I study not only Portuguese, but also Spanish.

14. Additive conjunctional expressions

Portuguese English

e and

nem nor

bem como as well as

assim como as well as

além de besides / in addition to

além de que besides the fact that

não só...mas também not only...but also

não apenas...como também not only...but also

tanto...como both...and

tanto...quanto both...and

bem como também as well as

15. Conjunctions with que

Portuguese uses que in many conjunctional constructions:

Formation English

para que so that

antes que before

depois que after

até que until

assim que as soon as

logo que as soon as

já que since

visto que since

uma vez que once / since

dado que given that

ainda que although

mesmo que even if

sem que without

como se as if

tal que such that

de modo que so that

de forma que so that

de maneira que so that

de sorte que so that

a fim de que in order that

por mais que however much

por menos que however little

ao passo que whereas

à medida que as

na medida em que insofar as

16. Concessive patterns

These are particularly useful for advanced Portuguese:

Formation English

embora + subjunctive although

ainda que + subjunctive even though

mesmo que + subjunctive even if

mesmo se + indicative/subjunctive even if

se bem que + indicative/subjunctive although

conquanto + subjunctive although

posto que + subjunctive although

por mais que + subjunctive however much

por muito que + subjunctive however much

por menos que + subjunctive however little

por pouco que + subjunctive however little

17. Conditional patterns

Formation English

se + indicative if

se + subjunctive if

caso + subjunctive if / in case

desde que + subjunctive provided that

contanto que + subjunctive provided that

a menos que + subjunctive unless

a não ser que + subjunctive unless

salvo se + indicative/subjunctive unless

exceto se + indicative/subjunctive except if

sem que + subjunctive without

desde que + subjunctive as long as

uma vez que + indicative once / given that

18. Purpose patterns

Formation English

para que + subjunctive so that

a fim de que + subjunctive in order that

de modo que + subjunctive so that

de forma que + subjunctive so that

de maneira que + subjunctive so that

para + infinitive in order to

a fim de + infinitive in order to

Note that para + infinitive is not technically a conjunction because it does not introduce a finite subordinate clause.

19. Result patterns

Formation English

tão + adjective + que so + adjective + that

tanto + verb + que so much + verb + that

tanto/a + noun + que so much/many + noun + that

tal + noun + que such + noun + that

tamanho + noun + que such a large + noun + that

de modo que so that

de forma que so that

de maneira que so that

de sorte que so that

20. Important words that can have different grammatical categories

Portuguese has several words whose classification depends on how they are used.

Word Possible function(s) Common meaning

como adverb / conjunction / preposition-like how / as / like

que conjunction / pronoun / determiner that / which / what

se conjunction / pronoun if / whether / oneself

porque conjunction because

pois conjunction / adverb because / therefore

como conjunction as / because

quando adverb / conjunction when

enquanto conjunction / adverb while

logo adverb / connective soon / therefore

assim adverb / conjunction-like connector thus / so

portanto connective adverb therefore

porém conjunction / connective adverb however

contudo conjunction / connective adverb however

todavia conjunction / connective adverb nevertheless

entretanto conjunction / adverb however / meanwhile

11- PREPOSITIONS:

# Portuguese English meaning Main use

1 a to, at destination, time, manner

2 ante before, in the presence of formal/literary

3 após after time/order

4 até until, up to, as far as limit

5 com with accompaniment, instrument

6 contra against opposition

7 de of, from, about possession, origin, material

8 desde since, from starting point

9 em in, on, at location/time

10 entre between, among position

11 para to, for destination, purpose

12 per through, by formal/literary

13 perante before, in the presence of formal

14 por by, through, for, because of means, cause, duration

15 sem without absence

16 sob under, beneath position

17 sobre on, over, about position/topic

These are the traditional simple prepositions.

2. Preposition a

Portuguese English

a to

a at

a toward

a on

a by

a per

a at a particular time

Examples

Vou a Lisboa.

I am going to Lisbon.

Cheguei às oito horas.

I arrived at eight o'clock.

3. Preposition ante

ante = before / in front of / in the presence of

Portuguese English

ante before

ante in the presence of

ante faced with

Example:

Ele ficou ante o problema.

He found himself faced with the problem.

It is relatively formal/literary.

4. Preposition após

após = after / following

Após a reunião, fomos embora.

After the meeting, we left.

5. Preposition até

até = until / up to / as far as

Use Example meaning

time until tomorrow

place as far as Lisbon

quantity/limit up to ten

endpoint up to the end

Trabalho até às cinco.

I work until five.

Caminhamos até a praia.

We walked as far as the beach.

6. Preposition com

com = with

Use Example

accompaniment with Maria

instrument with a knife

manner with care

possession/characteristic with blue eyes

material with sugar

Eu fui com ele.

I went with him.

7. Preposition contra

contra = against

Ele lutou contra o inimigo.

He fought against the enemy.

It can also express contact:

A bola bateu contra a parede.

The ball hit against the wall.

8. Preposition de

de is one of the most important Portuguese prepositions.

Use English

possession of

origin from

source from

material made of

subject/topic about

cause from/because of

time at/from

content of

characteristic of

manner in a... way

agent in some constructions by

Examples:

O livro de Maria.

Maria's book.

Eu sou de Portugal.

I am from Portugal.

Uma mesa de madeira.

A wooden table.

9. Preposition desde

desde = since / from

Moro aqui desde 2020.

I have lived here since 2020.

Desde segunda-feira, estou ocupado.

Since Monday, I have been busy.

10. Preposition em

em = in / on / at

Portuguese English

em casa at home

em Portugal in Portugal

em janeiro in January

em cima on top

em 2025 in 2025

em uma hora in one hour

Example:

Estou em casa.

I am at home.

11. Preposition entre

entre = between / among

O carro está entre as duas casas.

The car is between the two houses.

Entre amigos, podemos falar livremente.

Among friends, we can speak freely.

12. Preposition para

para is extremely important.

Use English

destination to

recipient for

purpose for / in order to

deadline by

direction toward

intended use for

opinion/perspective for

future reference for

Examples:

Vou para casa.

I am going home.

Isto é para você.

This is for you.

Estudo para aprender.

I study in order to learn.

13. Preposition per

per = through / by

It is uncommon as an independent modern preposition and is especially found in formal/literary or fixed expressions.

It commonly appears in contractions:

per + o → pelo

per + a → pela

Passamos pelo parque.

We passed through the park.

14. Preposition perante

perante = before / in the presence of / in the face of

Ele respondeu perante o juiz.

He answered before the judge.

Formal.

15. Preposition por

por has many functions.

Use English

agent by

cause because of

means through/by

route through

duration for

exchange for

distribution per

approximate location around

movement through/by

motivation for/because of

Examples:

O livro foi escrito por ele.

The book was written by him.

Passei por Lisboa.

I passed through Lisbon.

Fiquei lá por três dias.

I stayed there for three days.

16. Preposition sem

sem = without

Café sem açúcar.

Coffee without sugar.

Ele saiu sem mim.

He left without me.

17. Preposition sob

sob = under / beneath

O gato está sob a mesa.

The cat is under the table.

Also metaphorically:

Sob pressão.

Under pressure.

18. Preposition sobre

sobre = on / over / about / concerning

Use English

physical position on

higher position over

topic about

subject concerning

approximate quantity about

Examples:

O livro está sobre a mesa.

The book is on the table.

Falamos sobre política.

We talked about politics.

19. Prepositional contractions

Portuguese frequently combines prepositions with articles and other words.

a + articles

Combination Formation English

ao a + o to the

aos a + os to the

à a + a to the

às a + as to the

de + articles

Combination Formation English

do de + o of/from the

dos de + os of/from the

da de + a of/from the

das de + as of/from the

Also:

Combination Formation English

dum de + um of/from a

duns de + uns of/from some

duma de + uma of/from a

dumas de + umas of/from some

20. em + articles

Combination Formation English

no em + o in/on the

nos em + os in/on the

na em + a in/on the

nas em + as in/on the

Also:

Combination Formation English

num em + um in/on a

nuns em + uns in/on some

numa em + uma in/on a

numas em + umas in/on some

21. por + articles

Combination Formation English

pelo per + o through/by the

pelos per + os through/by the

pela per + a through/by the

pelas per + as through/by the

22. Prepositional pronoun contractions

Some prepositions combine with pronouns.

com

Portuguese English

comigo with me

contigo with you

consigo with himself/herself/yourself

conosco with us

convosco with you

a + pronoun

Portuguese English

a mim to me

a ti to you

a ele to him

a ela to her

a nós to us

a vocês to you

a eles to them

a elas to them

23. Compound prepositions — locuções prepositivas

Portuguese has a huge number of multi-word prepositional expressions.

Place / position

Portuguese English

acima de above

abaixo de below

dentro de inside

fora de outside

perto de near

longe de far from

diante de in front of / before

defronte de opposite / in front of

em frente de in front of

atrás de behind

ao lado de beside

junto de next to

junto a next to

perante before/in the presence of

por trás de behind

por cima de above/on top of

por baixo de underneath

em cima de on top of

embaixo de underneath

no interior de inside

no exterior de outside

ao redor de around

em torno de around

em volta de around

à volta de around

no meio de in the middle of

entre between/among

24. Time-related prepositional expressions

Portuguese English

antes de before

depois de after

antes de before

a partir de from / starting from

desde since

até until

até a until/to

ao longo de throughout

durante during

por volta de around/about

em torno de around/about

cerca de about

há cerca de about ... ago

daqui a in/from now

a contar de counting from

a partir de starting from

desde o início de since the beginning of

no decorrer de during/in the course of

ao fim de at the end of

no fim de at the end of

por ocasião de on the occasion of

25. Purpose / beneficiary

Portuguese English

para for

para o efeito de for the purpose of

a fim de in order to

a fim de que in order that

com o objetivo de with the objective of

com a finalidade de with the purpose of

com vista a with a view to

em benefício de for the benefit of

em favor de in favor of / for the benefit of

em prol de for the benefit of

em nome de in the name of

26. Cause / reason

Portuguese English

por causa de because of

por motivo de because of

em razão de because of

em virtude de by virtue of / because of

devido a due to

graças a thanks to

por conta de because of / on account of

em decorrência de as a result of

em consequência de as a consequence of

em função de due to / as a function of

por força de by virtue of / because of

à custa de at the expense of

em face de in view of / because of

27. Topic / reference

Portuguese English

sobre about

acerca de about / concerning

a respeito de concerning

em relação a regarding

com relação a regarding

quanto a as for / regarding

no que diz respeito a with regard to

no que concerne a concerning

no tocante a regarding

em matéria de in matters of

em termos de in terms of

relativamente a regarding

no âmbito de within the scope of

a propósito de about / concerning

em referência a with reference to

28. Opposition / comparison

Portuguese English

contra against

em oposição a in opposition to

em contraste com in contrast with

ao contrário de unlike / contrary to

em vez de instead of

em lugar de instead of

em comparação com compared with

comparado com compared with

diferentemente de unlike

à semelhança de similarly to / like

em conformidade com in accordance with

29. Means / instrument

Portuguese English

por meio de by means of

através de through

mediante by means of

por intermédio de through / by means of

com o auxílio de with the help of

com a ajuda de with the help of

por via de by way of

por intermédio de through

com base em based on

por meio de by means of

30. Possession / association

Portuguese English

de of

junto de with/near

em companhia de in the company of

em posse de in possession of

na posse de in possession of

em poder de in the possession/power of

por parte de on the part of

da parte de from/on the part of

31. Absence / exclusion

Portuguese English

sem without

sem contar not counting

à exceção de except for

com exceção de with the exception of

exceto except

salvo except / save

fora except / apart from

à parte de apart from

independentemente de regardless of

sem prejuízo de without prejudice to

32. Condition

Portuguese English

em caso de in case of

na hipótese de in the event of

em caso de in case of

sob condição de on condition of

sob pena de under penalty of

a depender de depending on

dependendo de depending on

mediante subject to / upon

33. According to / conformity

Portuguese English

segundo according to

conforme according to / in accordance with

consoante according to / in accordance with

de acordo com according to

em conformidade com in accordance with

em consonância com in accordance with

em concordância com in agreement with

em atenção a in accordance with / in consideration of

34. Relationship / connection

Portuguese English

em relação a in relation to

com relação a with regard to

relativamente a regarding

no que diz respeito a with regard to

no que concerne a concerning

quanto a as for

no tocante a regarding

em conexão com in connection with

em relação com in relation to

em associação com in association with

em conjunto com together with

35. Exchange / substitution

Portuguese English

em vez de instead of

em lugar de instead of

em troca de in exchange for

em substituição a in substitution for

em substituição de instead of

em troca de in exchange for

em compensação por in compensation for

36. Direction

Portuguese English

a to

para to/toward

em direção a toward

na direção de toward

rumo a toward

com destino a destined for

a caminho de on the way to

em sentido a toward

em direção de toward

37. Route / movement

Portuguese English

por through/by

através de through

ao longo de along

por entre through/between

por meio de through/by means of

via via

por intermédio de through

ao redor de around

38. Formal/literary prepositions and preposition-like forms

Portuguese English

ante before

após after

perante before/in the presence of

consoante according to

conforme according to

mediante by means of

salvo except

exceto except

malgrado despite

não obstante notwithstanding

durante during

via via

segundo according to

Some of these can be classified differently depending on the grammar framework.

39. Very common prepositional expressions

Portuguese English

a respeito de about

acerca de about

a partir de from / starting from

a fim de in order to

a favor de in favor of

a despeito de despite

a exemplo de as an example of

a caminho de on the way to

a cargo de in charge of

a custo de at the cost of

a par de alongside / aware of

a propósito de about

ao lado de beside

ao redor de around

ao invés de instead of

ao encontro de toward / in agreement with

ao contrário de unlike

ao longo de along / throughout

através de through

de acordo com according to

debaixo de under

dentro de inside

depois de after

diante de before / in front of

em cima de on top of

embaixo de underneath

em frente de in front of

em favor de in favor of

em face de in view of

em função de due to / depending on

em lugar de instead of

em nome de in the name of

em razão de because of

em relação a regarding

em torno de around

em vez de instead of

fora de outside

graças a thanks to

junto a next to

junto de next to

longe de far from

perto de near

por causa de because of

por cima de above

por baixo de below

por meio de by means of

por trás de behind

quanto a regarding

sem contar not counting

sob pena de under penalty of

40. Special combinations with de

de occurs in an enormous number of productive prepositional phrases.

Formation English

antes de before

depois de after

perto de near

longe de far from

dentro de inside

fora de outside

acima de above

abaixo de below

atrás de behind

diante de in front of

ao lado de beside

em cima de on top of

por cima de over

por baixo de under

por trás de behind

por causa de because of

em razão de because of

em virtude de because of

a respeito de about

acerca de about

em vez de instead of

em lugar de instead of

a fim de in order to

a despeito de despite

apesar de despite

graças a thanks to

41. Apesar de, antes de, etc. + infinitive

Portuguese frequently uses preposition + infinitive:

Portuguese English

antes de sair before leaving

depois de comer after eating

sem falar without speaking

para aprender in order to learn

apesar de estar despite being

a fim de estudar in order to study

em vez de trabalhar instead of working

ao chegar upon arriving

por fazer for doing / to be done, depending context

12- DETERMINERS

# Portuguese Transliteration English

1 o o the — masculine singular

2 a a the — feminine singular

3 os os the — masculine plural

4 as as the — feminine plural

Examples

Portuguese English

o livro the book

a casa the house

os livros the books

as casas the houses

2. Indefinite articles

# Portuguese Transliteration English

1 um um a / an / one

2 uma uma a / an / one

3 uns uns some / a few

4 umas umas some / a few

Examples

Portuguese English

um livro a book

uma casa a house

uns livros some books

umas casas some houses

3. Demonstrative determiners

Portuguese demonstratives indicate this, that, these, those and distinctions of distance.

Basic demonstratives

Portuguese English

este this — masculine singular

esta this — feminine singular

estes these — masculine plural

estas these — feminine plural

esse that — masculine singular

essa that — feminine singular

esses those — masculine plural

essas those — feminine plural

aquele that — masculine singular

aquela that — feminine singular

aqueles those — masculine plural

aquelas those — feminine plural

Examples

este livro

this book

essa casa

that house

aqueles carros

those cars

4. Neuter demonstratives

These normally do not directly determine an ordinary noun.

Portuguese English

isto this

isso that

aquilo that over there

They are normally demonstrative pronouns, rather than noun determiners.

For example:

Isto é importante.

This is important.

But:

este livro

this book

So the masculine/feminine forms are the ones normally used as determiners before nouns.

5. Emphatic demonstrative determiners

Portuguese can combine demonstratives with mesmo and próprio.

Portuguese English

este mesmo this very/same

esta mesma this very/same

esse mesmo that very/same

essa mesma that very/same

aquele mesmo that very/same

aquela mesma that very/same

o próprio the very/own

a própria the very/own

os próprios the very/own

as próprias the very/own

Examples:

este mesmo livro

this very book

a própria casa

the very house / the house itself

6. Possessive determiners

Portuguese possessives agree with the thing possessed, not with the possessor.

First person singular

Portuguese English

meu my — masculine singular

minha my — feminine singular

meus my — masculine plural

minhas my — feminine plural

meu livro — my book

minha casa — my house

Second person singular

Portuguese English

teu your — masculine singular

tua your — feminine singular

teus your — masculine plural

tuas your — feminine plural

teu livro — your book

tua casa — your house

Third person singular

Portuguese English

seu his/her/your — masculine singular

sua his/her/your — feminine singular

seus his/her/your — masculine plural

suas his/her/your — feminine plural

seu carro — his/her/your car

suas casas — his/her/your houses

Important: seu/sua can be ambiguous between his, her, and your depending on context.

First person plural

Portuguese English

nosso our — masculine singular

nossa our — feminine singular

nossos our — masculine plural

nossas our — feminine plural

Second person plural

Portuguese English

vosso your — masculine singular

vossa your — feminine singular

vossos your — masculine plural

vossas your — feminine plural

These are particularly associated with European Portuguese and formal/literary usage.

Third person plural

Portuguese English

seu their — masculine singular

sua their — feminine singular

seus their — masculine plural

suas their — feminine plural

In Brazilian Portuguese, dele/dela/deles/delas are often used to make the possessor explicit.

Portuguese English

dele his

dela hers

deles theirs — masculine/mixed

delas theirs — feminine

These are normally possessive pronouns/prepositional phrases, rather than basic possessive determiners.

7. Indefinite determiners

Portuguese has many indefinite forms.

Portuguese English

algum some / any

alguma some / any

alguns some / a few

algumas some / a few

nenhum no / none / not any

nenhuma no / none

nenhuns no / none — rare

nenhumas no / none — rare

todo every / all

toda every / all

todos all / every

todas all / every

qualquer any / whatever

quaisquer any / whatever

certo a certain

certa a certain

certos certain / some

certas certain / some

outro another / other

outra another / other

outros other / others

outras other / others

tal such / a certain

tais such / certain

cada each / every

ambos both

ambas both

demais other/rest — depending use

vários several

várias several

diversos several / various

diversas several / various

tamanho such a size / such

tanta so much

tanto so much

tantos so many

tantas so many

quanto as much / how much

quanta as much / how much

quantos how many / as many

quantas how many / as many

8. Algum — some / any

Portuguese English

algum livro some/any book

alguma casa some/any house

alguns livros some books

algumas casas some houses

Example:

Você tem algum livro de português?

Do you have any Portuguese book?

9. Nenhum — no / not any

Portuguese English

nenhum livro no book

nenhuma casa no house

nenhuns livros no books — uncommon

nenhumas casas no houses — uncommon

Example:

Não tenho nenhum livro.

I don't have any books.

10. Todo — every / all

Portuguese English

todo livro every book

toda casa every house

todos os livros all the books

todas as casas all the houses

Important distinction:

todo livro = every book / any book as a general category

todo o livro = the whole book

todos os livros = all the books

11. Cada — each / every

cada is invariable.

Portuguese English

cada livro each book

cada casa each house

cada aluno each student

cada pessoa each person

There is no cadas.

Cada aluno recebeu um livro.

Each student received a book.

12. Qualquer — any / whatever

qualquer has singular/plural forms:

Portuguese English

qualquer any

quaisquer any

qualquer pessoa

any person

quaisquer problemas

any problems

13. Outro — other / another

Portuguese English

outro another/other

outra another/other

outros other

outras other

Quero outro livro.

I want another book.

Outras pessoas chegaram.

Other people arrived.

14. Certo — a certain

Portuguese English

certo a certain

certa a certain

certos certain

certas certain

Certo homem veio falar comigo.

A certain man came to talk to me.

15. Tal — such / a certain

Portuguese English

tal such / a certain

tais such / certain

Tal pessoa não deveria fazer isso.

Such a person shouldn't do that.

Tais problemas são comuns.

Such problems are common.

16. Ambos / ambas — both

Portuguese English

ambos both — masculine/mixed

ambas both — feminine

Ambos os livros são interessantes.

Both books are interesting.

Ambas as mulheres chegaram.

Both women arrived.

17. Vários / várias — several

Portuguese English

vários several

várias several

Vários alunos chegaram.

Several students arrived.

18. Diversos / diversas — various / several

Portuguese English

diversos various / several

diversas various / several

Diversas pessoas participaram.

Various people participated.

19. Quantifying determiners

These specify quantity or amount.

Portuguese English

muito much

muita much

muitos many

muitas many

pouco little

pouca little

poucos few

poucas few

bastante enough / quite a lot of

bastantes enough / quite a few

tanto so much / as much

tanta so much

tantos so many

tantas so many

demasiado too much

demasiada too much

demasiados too many

demasiadas too many

suficiente enough

suficientes enough

mais more

menos fewer / less

Examples

muitos livros

many books

pouca água

little water

bastantes pessoas

quite a few people

demasiados problemas

too many problems

mais tempo

more time

menos dinheiro

less money

20. Tanto — so much / so many

Portuguese English

tanto so much

tanta so much

tantos so many

tantas so many

Há tantos livros aqui!

There are so many books here!

21. Quanto — how much / as much / as many

Portuguese English

quanto how much / as much

quanta how much

quantos how many / as many

quantas how many / as many

Quantos livros você tem?

How many books do you have?

Quantas pessoas vieram?

How many people came?

22. Numeral determiners

Cardinal numbers can determine nouns.

Cardinal numbers

Portuguese English

um / uma one

dois / duas two

três three

quatro four

cinco five

seis six

sete seven

oito eight

nove nine

dez ten

onze eleven

doze twelve

treze thirteen

quatorze / catorze fourteen

quinze fifteen

dezesseis / dezasseis sixteen

dezessete / dezassete seventeen

dezoito eighteen

dezenove / dezanove nineteen

vinte twenty

trinta thirty

quarenta forty

cinquenta fifty

sessenta sixty

setenta seventy

oitenta eighty

noventa ninety

cem / cento one hundred

mil thousand

milhão million

milhões millions

bilhão / bilião billion

bilhões / biliões billions

três livros

three books

cem pessoas

one hundred people

23. Ordinal determiners

Ordinal numbers can also determine nouns.

Portuguese English

primeiro / primeira first

segundo / segunda second

terceiro / terceira third

quarto / quarta fourth

quinto / quinta fifth

sexto / sexta sixth

sétimo / sétima seventh

oitavo / oitava eighth

nono / nona ninth

décimo / décima tenth

décimo primeiro / décima primeira eleventh

décimo segundo / décima segunda twelfth

vigésimo / vigésima twentieth

centésimo / centésima hundredth

milésimo / milésima thousandth

o primeiro capítulo

the first chapter

a segunda pergunta

the second question

24. Fractional determiners

Portuguese English

meio / meia half

terço / terça parte third

quarto / quarta parte quarter/fourth

quinto / quinta parte fifth

décimo / décima parte tenth

metade half

dobro double

triplo triple

quádruplo quadruple

Examples:

meia hora

half an hour

um quarto de hora

a quarter of an hour

These are generally treated as numeral/quantifying expressions, rather than a separate closed class of determiners.

25. Interrogative determiners

The main interrogative determiners are:

Portuguese English

que what / which

qual which

quais which

quanto how much / how many

quanta how much

quantos how many

quantas how many

Examples

Que livro você quer?

What/which book do you want?

Qual livro você quer?

Which book do you want?

Quais livros você quer?

Which books do you want?

Quantos livros você comprou?

How many books did you buy?

26. Exclamative determiners

Many interrogative forms can also be used exclamatively.

Portuguese English

que what / such

quanto how much

quanta how much

quantos how many

quantas how many

Examples:

Que casa linda!

What a beautiful house!

Quantos livros!

So many books!

Quanta comida!

So much food!

27. Relative determiner cujo

cujo expresses possession and agrees with the noun that follows it.

Portuguese English

cujo whose — masculine singular noun

cuja whose — feminine singular noun

cujos whose — masculine plural noun

cujas whose — feminine plural noun

Examples:

O homem cujo filho mora aqui.

The man whose son lives here.

A mulher cuja casa foi vendida.

The woman whose house was sold.

Important:

cujo agrees with filho/casa, not with homem/mulher.

28. Universal determiners

Portuguese English

todo every/all

toda every/all

todos all

todas all

cada each/every

ambos both

ambas both

Examples

Todo aluno deve estudar.

Every student should study.

Todos os alunos devem estudar.

All the students should study.

Cada aluno recebeu um livro.

Each student received a book.

Ambos os alunos passaram.

Both students passed.

29. Negative determiners

Portuguese English

nenhum no / not any

nenhuma no / not any

nenhuns no — rare

nenhumas no — rare

There is also nem um / nem uma, meaning not even one:

Não tenho nem um livro.

I don't have even one book.

30. Other quantity expressions

Portuguese English

uma quantidade de an amount/quantity of

uma série de a series of / a number of

um número de a number of

uma parte de a part of

uma porção de a portion of

uma grande quantidade de a large quantity of

uma pequena quantidade de a small quantity of

uma série de a series of

um grupo de a group of

um conjunto de a set of

uma variedade de a variety of

uma espécie de a kind/type of

um tipo de a type of

todo tipo de every kind of

todo tipo de all kinds of

These are quantifying noun phrases, rather than single-word determiners.

31. Determiner combinations

Portuguese determiners can occur in combinations.

Article + possessive

o meu livro

my book

a minha casa

my house

os meus amigos

my friends

as minhas coisas

my things

In Portuguese, especially European Portuguese, the definite article before possessives is very common.

Brazilian Portuguese can also use:

meu livro

without the article.

Demonstrative + noun

este livro

this book

essa casa

that house

aqueles carros

those cars

Quantifier + noun

muitos livros

many books

poucas pessoas

few people

várias casas

several houses

Quantifier + article + noun

todos os livros

all the books

todas as casas

all the houses

Numeral + noun

três livros

three books

duas casas

two houses

Demonstrative + possessive + noun

este meu livro

this book of mine

essa sua ideia

that idea of yours/his/hers

32. Main determiner formation table

Category Singular masculine Singular feminine Plural masculine Plural feminine

Definite article o a os as

Indefinite article um uma uns umas

This este esta estes estas

That esse essa esses essas

That over there aquele aquela aqueles aquelas

Possessive: my meu minha meus minhas

Possessive: your teu tua teus tuas

Possessive: his/her/your seu sua seus suas

Possessive: our nosso nossa nossos nossas

Possessive: your vosso vossa vossos vossas

Some/any algum alguma alguns algumas

No/not any nenhum nenhuma nenhuns* nenhumas*

Every/all todo toda todos todas

Other outro outra outros outras

Certain certo certa certos certas

Several vários várias vários várias

Various diversos diversas diversos diversas

Both ambos ambas — —

So much/many tanto tanta tantos tantas

Too much/many demasiado demasiada demasiados demasiadas

Enough suficiente suficiente suficientes suficientes

Such tal tal tais tais

Which qual qual quais quais

How many quanto quanta quantos quantas

Whose cujo cuja cujos cujas

* nenhuns/nenhumas are possible but uncommon in ordinary modern usage.

13- IF CONDITIONAL

If I study, I learn. Se + Present → Present Se estudo, aprendo.

If I study, I'll pass. Se + Future Subjunctive → Future Se estudar, passarei.

If I were rich, I'd travel. Se + Imperfect Subjunctive → Conditional Se fosse rico, viajaria.

If I had studied, I'd have passed. Se + Pluperfect Subjunctive → Conditional Perfect Se tivesse estudado, teria passado.

eu falaria I would speak

tu falarias you would speak

ele/ela/você falaria he/she would speak

nós falaríamos we would speak

vós falaríeis you would speak

eles/elas/vocês falariam they would speak

BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE:

estaria falando I would be speaking

estarias falando you would be speaking

estaria falando he would be speaking

estaríamos falando we would be speaking

estaríeis falando you would be speaking

estariam falando they would be speaking

EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE:

estaria a falar I would be speaking

estarias a falar you would be speaking

estaria a falar he would be speaking

estaríamos a falar we would be speaking

estaríeis a falar you would be speaking

estariam a falar they would be speaking

eu teria falado I would have spoken

tu terias falado you would have spoken

ele teria falado he would have spoken

nós teríamos falado we would have spoken

vós teríeis falado you would have spoken

eles teriam falado they would have spoken

BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE:

teria estado falando I would have been speaking

terias estado falando you would have been speaking

teria estado falando he would have been speaking

teríamos estado falando we would have been speaking

teríeis estado falando you would have been speaking

teriam estado falando they would have been speaking

EUROPEAN PORTUGUESE:

teria estado a falar I would have been speaking

terias estado a falar you would have been speaking

teria estado a falar he would have been speaking

etc....

gostaria would like

preferir Would Rather (male)

preferia Would Rather (female)

Você poderia ajudar-me? Could/Would you help me?

Você faria isso por mim? Would you do that for me?

if se

when quando

whenever sempre que

as soon as assim que, logo que

before antes que

after depois que

while enquanto

until até que

in case caso

unless a menos que, salvo se

provided that desde que, contanto que

even if mesmo que, ainda que

although embora, se bem que

so that para que, a fim de que

without sem que

because porque, já que, visto que

wherever onde quer que

whoever quem quer que

whatever o que quer que

whichever qualquer que

14- COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Comparative superiority mais + adj. + do que mais alto do que taller than

Comparative inferiority menos + adj. + do que menos alto do que less tall than

Comparative equality tão + adj. + quanto tão alto quanto as tall as

Noun equality tanto + noun + quanto tantos livros quanto as many books as

Absolute superlative muito + adj. muito alto very tall

Synthetic absolute superlative adj. + -íssimo altíssimo extremely tall

Relative superiority o mais + adj. o mais alto the tallest

Relative inferiority o menos + adj. o menos alto the least tall

Irregular "good" bom → melhor melhor better

Irregular "bad" mau → pior pior worse

Irregular "big" grande → maior maior bigger

Irregular "small" pequeno → menor menor smaller

Best o melhor o melhor the best

Worst o pior o pior the worst

Much more muito mais muito mais alto much taller

Much less muito menos muito menos alto much less tall

Even more ainda mais ainda mais bonito even more beautiful

The more...the more quanto mais..., mais... quanto mais estudo, mais aprendo the more I study, the more I learn

Adjectives agree with nouns:

o mais bonito livro

a mais bonita casa

os mais bonitos livros

as mais bonitas casas

The comparative itself does not change:

mais bonito

mais bonita

mais bonitos

mais bonitas (only the adjective agrees)

Portuguese often uses do que or que after comparatives:

mais alto do que eu

mais alto que eu (both correct)

Esta casa é mais bonita do que aquela. This house is more beautiful than that one.

Esta casa é menos bonita do que aquela. This house is less beautiful than that one.

Ele é tão alto como o irmão. He is as tall as his brother.

Ela é tão inteligente quanto você. She is as intelligent as you.

Este livro é tão interessante como aquele. This book is as interesting as that one.

Ele corre tão rapidamente como ela. He runs as quickly as she does.

15- RELATIVE CLAUSES

que who/which/that most common

quem who/whom people + preposition

o qual which/whom formal

a qual which/whom feminine

onde where places

cujo whose possession

quanto whatever/that which after tudo/tanto

O homem que chegou é meu pai. The man who arrived is my father.

O livro que li era bom. The book that I read was good.

A pessoa com quem falei saiu. The person I spoke with left.

A casa onde moro é velha. The house where I live is old.

O aluno cujo trabalho ganhou recebeu um prêmio. The student whose work won received a prize.

A cidade na qual nasci é pequena. The city in which I was born is small.

Portuguese often avoids a relative pronoun by using an infinitive.

I have something that I need to do. -> Tenho algo que preciso fazer.

Tenho algo para fazer.

The second one has no relative pronoun.

Both are correct.

It can be the same for object relative clauses, but not always:

A pessoa eu vi ontem era minha professora. The person I saw yesterday was my teacher.

(with que is correct also.)

16- REPORTED SPEECH AND DIRECT SPEECH

Direct Speech: Subject + verb of saying + quotation

Reported Speech:

Statement dizer + que + clause Ele disse que estava cansado. He said that he was tired.

Yes/no question perguntar + se + clause Ele perguntou se eu estava cansado. He asked if I was tired.

WH-question perguntar + question word + clause Ele perguntou onde eu morava. He asked where I lived.

Command dizer/mandar + que + subjunctive Ele mandou que eu saísse. He ordered me to leave.

Request pedir + que + subjunctive Ele pediu que eu o ajudasse. He asked me to help him.

Advice aconselhar + que + subjunctive Ele aconselhou que eu estudasse mais. He advised me to study more.

Suggestion sugerir + que + subjunctive Ele sugeriu que nós fôssemos de carro. He suggested that we go by car.

Promise prometer + que + clause Ele prometeu que voltaria. He promised that he would return.

Offer oferecer-se para + infinitive Ele ofereceu-se para me ajudar. He offered to help me.

Invitation convidar + alguém + para + infinitive Ele me convidou para jantar. He invited me to have dinner.

Wish esperar/desejar + que + subjunctive Ele desejou que eu tivesse sorte. He wished me good luck.

17- INFINITIVES AND VERBAL NOUNS

Infinitive falar to speak

Personal infinitive falarmos for us to speak

Gerund falando speaking

Present continuous estou falando I am speaking

Past continuous estava falando I was speaking

Future continuous estarei falando I will be speaking

Conditional continuous estaria falando I would be speaking

Use infinitive for the verb as an idea or after many verbs/prepositions:

Quero estudar. → I want to study.

Use gerund for an action in progress:

Estou estudando. → I am studying.

I am happy seeing you Estou feliz vendo você. (BP) Estou feliz a ver-te. (EP) adjective + gerund (BP) / adjective + a + infinitive (EP)

I am happy to see you Estou feliz por ver você. (BP) Estou feliz por te ver. (EP) adjective + por + infinitive

I plan to eat Planejo comer. (BP) Planeio comer. (EP) plan + infinitive

I plan eating Planejo comer. (BP) Planeio comer (EP). Portuguese normally uses infinitive

I see him run Vejo ele correr. (BP) / Vejo-o correr. (BP) Vejo-o correr. (EP) see + object + infinitive

I see him running Vejo ele correndo. (BP) / Vejo-o correndo. (BP) Vejo-o a correr. (EP) see + object + gerund (BP) / a + infinitive (EP)

I eat to play Como para jogar. (BP) Como para jogar. (EP) verb + para + infinitive

18- SUBJUNCTIVE

Wish Quero que venhas

Hope Espero que venha

Doubt Duvido que saiba

Emotion Fico feliz que estejas aqui

Necessity É preciso que estudes

Advice Recomendo que vás

Purpose Para que entendas

Although Embora seja difícil

Future time Quando chegares

Condition Se tiver tempo

Unknown relative Procuro alguém que saiba

19- TAG QUESTIONS

Isn't it? não é?

right? certo? / não é?

okay? está bem?

don't you? não? / não é?

isn't that true? verdade?

informal right? (Brazil) né?

formal confirmation pois não?

Don't you know? Você não sabe? (BP) / Tu não sabes? (EP)

Isn't he here? Ele não está aqui? (BP) / Ele não está aqui? (EP)

Didn't you go? Você não foi? (BP) / Tu não foste? (EP)

Won't you come? Você não virá? (BP) / Tu não virás? (EP)

Don't you want to eat? Você não quer comer? / (BP) Tu não queres comer? (EP)

Can't you help? Você não pode ajudar? (BP) / Tu não podes ajudar? (EP)

20- MODAL WORDS

# Portuguese Transliteration English meaning Main modality

1 poder po-der can / may / be able to ability, possibility, permission

2 dever de-ver must / should / ought to obligation, probability, advice

3 ter de ter de have to / must obligation

4 ter que ter ke have to / must obligation

5 precisar de pre-ci-zar de need to necessity

6 necessitar de ne-ce-si-tar de need to necessity

7 haver de a-ver de shall / be to / have to intention, obligation, future

8 querer ke-rer want to volition

9 pretender pre-ten-der intend to intention

10 desejar de-se-jar wish to desire

11 tentar ten-tar try to attempt

12 ousar ou-zar dare to willingness/courage

13 saber sa-ber know how to ability

14 conseguir con-se-guir manage to ability/possibility

15 costumar cos-tu-mar usually / tend to habituality

16 começar a co-me-çar a begin to inception

17 deixar de dei-xar de stop / cease to cessation

18 vir a vir a come to / eventually development

19 passar a pas-sar a start to / come to change of state

20 voltar a vol-tar a do again repetition

2. Poder — can / may / might

poder + infinitive

Portuguese English

posso I can/may

podes you can/may

pode he/she/you can/may

podemos we can/may

podem they/you can/may

Ability

Eu posso nadar.

I can swim.

Possibility

Ele pode chegar amanhã.

He may/might arrive tomorrow.

Permission

Você pode entrar.

You may/can enter.

Negative

Você não pode fumar aqui.

You cannot/may not smoke here.

3. Dever — must / should / ought to / probably

dever + infinitive has several meanings.

Obligation

Você deve estudar.

You must/should study.

Advice

Você deve descansar.

You should rest.

Probability

Ele deve estar em casa.

He is probably at home.

Past probability

Ele deve ter chegado.

He must/probably has arrived.

Conditional advice

Você deveria estudar mais.

You should study more.

4. Ter de / ter que — have to / must

Both are used to express necessity or obligation.

Portuguese English

tenho de ir I have to go

tens de ir you have to go

tem de ir he/she has to go

temos de ir we have to go

têm de ir they have to go

Also:

Tenho que trabalhar.

I have to work.

ter que is especially common in Brazilian Portuguese; ter de is also very common and often preferred in formal/European Portuguese.

5. Precisar de — need to

Preciso de estudar.

I need to study.

Precisamos de sair.

We need to leave.

In Brazilian Portuguese, precisar + infinitive is also common:

Preciso estudar.

I need to study.

6. Necessitar de — need to

More formal than precisar.

Necessitamos de encontrar uma solução.

We need to find a solution.

7. Haver de — shall / be destined to / have to

This construction is particularly important in European Portuguese and formal Portuguese.

Hei de voltar.

I shall/will return.

Hás de conseguir.

You will manage / you are sure to succeed.

Há de ser verdade.

It must be true / it will surely be true.

It can express future intention, expectation, determination, or inevitability.

8. Desire and volition

Querer — want

Quero ir.

I want to go.

Desejar — wish

Desejo falar com ele.

I wish to speak with him.

Pretender — intend

Pretendo estudar português.

I intend to study Portuguese.

Esperar — hope/expect

Espero conseguir.

I hope to succeed.

9. Ability expressions

Portuguese English

poder + infinitive can / be able to

saber + infinitive know how to

conseguir + infinitive manage to

ser capaz de + infinitive be able to

ter capacidade de + infinitive have the ability to

estar em condições de + infinitive be in a position to

ter condições de + infinitive be able to

estar apto a + infinitive be capable/qualified to

ter habilidade para + infinitive have the ability to

Examples:

Sei nadar.

I know how to swim.

Consigo fazer isso.

I can/manage to do this.

Sou capaz de fazer isso.

I am capable of doing this.

10. Permission

Portuguese English

poder can / may

ter permissão para have permission to

ter autorização para be authorized to

ser permitido be permitted

ser autorizado be authorized

estar autorizado a be authorized to

dar permissão para give permission to

permitir allow

deixar let / allow

autorizar authorize

Examples:

Pode entrar.

You may/can enter.

É permitido estacionar aqui.

Parking here is permitted.

Não é permitido fumar.

Smoking is not permitted.

11. Prohibition

Portuguese English

não poder cannot / must not

não dever should not / must not

ser proibido be prohibited

ser vedado be prohibited

ser interdito be prohibited

não ser permitido not be permitted

não ser autorizado not be authorized

não poder + infinitive may not / cannot

Examples:

Não pode entrar.

You cannot/may not enter.

Você não deve fazer isso.

You should not/must not do that.

É proibido fumar.

Smoking is prohibited.

12. Necessity

Portuguese English

ter de have to

ter que have to

precisar de need to

necessitar de need to

ser necessário be necessary

ser preciso be necessary

ser indispensável be indispensable

ser essencial be essential

ser obrigatório be obligatory/mandatory

fazer-se necessário become necessary

haver necessidade de there is a need to

é preciso it is necessary

é necessário it is necessary

Examples:

É preciso estudar.

It is necessary to study.

É necessário sair agora.

It is necessary to leave now.

13. Obligation

Portuguese English

dever must / should

ter de have to

ter que have to

haver de shall / have to

ser obrigado a be obliged to

ser forçado a be forced to

ser obrigado a be required to

estar obrigado a be obliged to

cumprir be required to/fulfill

ser obrigatório be mandatory

Example:

Sou obrigado a trabalhar.

I am obliged to work.

14. Advice / recommendation

Portuguese English

dever should

deveria should

ser melhor it would be better

ser aconselhável be advisable

ser recomendável be recommendable/advisable

ser conveniente be advisable/convenient

valer a pena be worth it

ser bom be good

convém it is advisable

recomenda-se it is recommended

Examples:

Você deveria descansar.

You should rest.

Convém estudar antes da prova.

It is advisable to study before the exam.

É aconselhável esperar.

It is advisable to wait.

15. Probability

Portuguese has many modal words for probability.

Portuguese English

talvez perhaps / maybe

provavelmente probably

possivelmente possibly

porventura perhaps

quiçá perhaps

eventualmente possibly / occasionally

decerto certainly / surely

certamente certainly

seguramente surely

provável probable

é provável it is probable

é possível it is possible

pode ser que it may be that

é possível que it is possible that

é provável que it is probable that

deve should/probably

deve ser must/probably is

pode may/might

pode ser may be

talvez seja perhaps it is

Example:

Talvez ele venha.

Maybe he will come.

Ele provavelmente virá.

He will probably come.

Pode ser que chova.

It may rain.

16. Certainty

Portuguese English

certamente certainly

com certeza certainly / for sure

sem dúvida undoubtedly

seguramente surely

decerto surely

indubitavelmente undoubtedly

inegavelmente undeniably

evidentemente evidently

obviamente obviously

claramente clearly

realmente really

de fato in fact

de facto in fact — European Portuguese

sem sombra de dúvida without a shadow of doubt

é certo que it is certain that

é evidente que it is evident that

é claro que it is clear that

não há dúvida de que there is no doubt that

17. Doubt / uncertainty

Portuguese English

talvez maybe

porventura perhaps

quiçá perhaps

possivelmente possibly

provavelmente probably

aparentemente apparently

supostamente supposedly

presumivelmente presumably

ao que parece apparently / it seems

pelo visto apparently / judging by appearances

parece que it seems that

não sei se I don't know if

é possível que it is possible that

é duvidoso que it is doubtful that

18. Evidential modality

These indicate that information is based on appearance, inference, report, or evidence.

Portuguese English

aparentemente apparently

supostamente supposedly

presumivelmente presumably

alegadamente allegedly

segundo parece apparently

ao que parece it appears that

pelo visto apparently

segundo consta according to reports

diz-se que it is said that

parece que it seems that

consta que it is reported that

há indícios de que there are indications that

19. Necessity vs possibility

This distinction is very important.

Portuguese Meaning

pode ser may be

deve ser must/probably is

tem de ser has to be

precisa ser needs to be

é possível que seja it is possible that it is

é provável que seja it is probable that it is

é necessário que seja it is necessary that it be

Compare:

Ele pode estar em casa.

He may be at home.

Ele deve estar em casa.

He is probably/must be at home.

Ele tem de estar em casa.

He has to be at home.

20. Volition / desire

Portuguese English

querer want

desejar wish

pretender intend

esperar hope

aspirar a aspire to

almejar aspire to

ter vontade de feel like / want to

ter intenção de intend to

ter o desejo de have the desire to

estar disposto a be willing to

Examples:

Quero viajar.

I want to travel.

Estou disposto a ajudar.

I am willing to help.

Tenho intenção de estudar.

I intend to study.

21. Willingness

Portuguese English

querer want to

estar disposto a be willing to

estar preparado para be prepared to

aceitar agree to / accept

consentir em consent to

concordar em agree to

não se importar de not mind

ter vontade de feel like

22. Intention

Portuguese English

pretender intend

planejar plan

planear plan — European Portuguese

ter intenção de intend to

ter planos de plan to

estar para be about to

ir + infinitive be going to

haver de be going to / shall

propor-se a undertake/intend to

tencionar intend

visar aim to

Example:

Vou estudar amanhã.

I am going to study tomorrow.

Estou para sair.

I am about to leave.

23. Imminence

Portuguese English

estar para + infinitive be about to

estar prestes a + infinitive be on the verge of

estar a ponto de + infinitive be about to

estar quase a + infinitive be almost about to

ir + infinitive be going to

Example:

Ele está prestes a sair.

He is about to leave.

24. Habitual modality

Portuguese English

costumar + infinitive usually/tend to

normalmente normally

geralmente generally

habitualmente habitually

tender a + infinitive tend to

ter o hábito de + infinitive have the habit of

estar acostumado a + infinitive be accustomed to

Example:

Costumo acordar cedo.

I usually wake up early.

25. Attempt

Portuguese English

tentar try

procurar try to / seek to

buscar seek to

esforçar-se para strive to

esforçar-se por strive to

tratar de try to / take care to

procurar + infinitive try to

Example:

Tentei abrir a porta.

I tried to open the door.

26. Capability / achievement

Portuguese English

conseguir manage to

ser capaz de be capable of

ser apto a be capable/qualified to

ter capacidade de have the ability to

ter condições de be in a position to

estar em condições de be in a position to

dar conta de manage to

ser competente para be competent to

27. Permission vs prohibition

Function Portuguese English

Permission poder can/may

Permission ser permitido be permitted

Permission ter autorização para have authorization

Permission estar autorizado a be authorized

Allowance deixar let/allow

Prohibition não poder cannot/may not

Prohibition ser proibido be prohibited

Prohibition não ser permitido not be permitted

Prohibition ser vedado be prohibited

28. Modal adjectives

Portuguese frequently expresses modality through ser + adjective + que + subjunctive.

Portuguese English

necessário necessary

preciso necessary

obrigatório obligatory

indispensável indispensable

essencial essential

possível possible

impossível impossible

provável probable

improvável improbable

certo certain

incerto uncertain

duvidoso doubtful

evidente evident

claro clear

necessário necessary

aconselhável advisable

recomendável advisable/recommended

conveniente advisable/appropriate

permitido permitted

proibido prohibited

obrigado obliged

capaz capable

incapaz incapable

provável likely

improvável unlikely

disposto willing

preparado prepared

Common formation

é + adjective + que + subjunctive

É necessário que ele venha.

It is necessary that he come.

É possível que ele venha.

It is possible that he may come.

É provável que ele venha.

It is probable that he will/may come.

É importante que ele venha.

It is important that he come.

29. Modal adverbs

Portuguese English

talvez perhaps

certamente certainly

provavelmente probably

possivelmente possibly

seguramente surely

decerto surely

porventura perhaps

quiçá perhaps

aparentemente apparently

supostamente supposedly

presumivelmente presumably

alegadamente allegedly

obviamente obviously

evidentemente evidently

realmente really

efetivamente indeed/effectively

definitivamente definitely

indubitavelmente undoubtedly

inegavelmente undeniably

naturalmente naturally/of course

francamente frankly

sinceramente sincerely/honestly

30. Modal nouns and expressions

Portuguese English

necessidade necessity

possibilidade possibility

probabilidade probability

certeza certainty

dúvida doubt

obrigação obligation

permissão permission

autorização authorization

capacidade ability

habilidade ability/skill

intenção intention

vontade desire/willingness

desejo desire

necessidade de need to

possibilidade de possibility of

probabilidade de probability of

certeza de certainty of

dúvida de doubt about

intenção de intention to

vontade de desire to

31. Very common fixed modal expressions

Portuguese English

é possível que it is possible that

é provável que it is probable that

é improvável que it is unlikely that

é necessário que it is necessary that

é preciso que it is necessary that

é importante que it is important that

é essencial que it is essential that

é obrigatório que it is obligatory that

é permitido que it is permitted that

é proibido que it is prohibited that

é certo que it is certain that

é evidente que it is evident that

é claro que it is clear that

não há dúvida de que there is no doubt that

pode ser que it may be that

parece que it seems that

ao que parece apparently

pelo visto apparently

sem dúvida undoubtedly

com certeza certainly

por certo certainly

quem sabe perhaps / who knows

se calhar perhaps — especially European Portuguese

tomara que let's hope that / hopefully

oxalá hopefully / may...

bem que indeed / certainly, depending context

deve ser que it must be that

há de ser it must/will be

tem de ser it has to be

tem que ser it has to be

32. Oxalá and tomara

These express strong wishes.

oxalá

Oxalá ele venha.

Hopefully / May he come.

tomara que

Tomara que tudo dê certo.

I hope everything works out.

These are optative/modal expressions, rather than ordinary modal verbs.

33. Modal particles and discourse expressions

Some Portuguese words can add speaker attitude or modality.

Portuguese English

sim indeed / yes

não no / not

mesmo indeed / really / even

justamente precisely / exactly

realmente really

de fato indeed / in fact

de facto indeed / in fact

afinal after all

aliás besides / actually

por acaso by any chance

talvez perhaps

quem sabe perhaps

se calhar perhaps

ora now / well

bem well

enfim anyway / finally

Some of these are particles, adverbs, or discourse markers, rather than strict modal words.

34. Subjunctive as a modal system

Portuguese modality is strongly connected to the subjunctive.

Modal meaning Example

possibility É possível que ele venha.

probability É provável que ele venha.

doubt Duvido que ele venha.

desire Quero que ele venha.

necessity É necessário que ele venha.

recommendation É importante que ele venha.

permission Permito que ele venha.

uncertainty Talvez ele venha.

condition Se ele vier...

concession Embora ele venha...

So:

modal expression + que + subjunctive

is one of the most important Portuguese modal patterns.

35. Conditional mood as modality

The Portuguese conditional also expresses hypothetical modality, politeness, and softened claims.

Portuguese English

eu faria I would do

eu poderia I could

eu deveria I should / ought to

eu gostaria I would like

eu quereria I would want

seria possível it would be possible

seria melhor it would be better

seria necessário it would be necessary

Examples:

Eu poderia ajudar.

I could help.

Eu gostaria de viajar.

I would like to travel.

Seria melhor esperar.

It would be better to wait.

36. Modal meanings with the conditional

Form Meaning

poderia could / might

deveria should / ought to

teria de would have to

teria que would have to

precisaria de would need to

gostaria de would like to

quereria would want

seria capaz de would be capable of

seria possível would be possible

seria necessário would be necessary

seria provável would be probable

37. Negative modality

Positive Negative English

pode não pode can / cannot

deve não deve should / should not

tem de não tem de has to / does not have to

precisa de não precisa de needs to / doesn't need to

é possível não é possível is possible / is not possible

é necessário não é necessário is necessary / is not necessary

é permitido não é permitido is permitted / is not permitted

é provável não é provável is probable / is not probable

Important:

não tem de generally means doesn't have to, not necessarily must not.

For prohibition:

não pode

cannot / must not

não deve

should not / must not

38. Modal words for “would”

Portuguese normally uses the conditional rather than a single equivalent of English would.

Portuguese English

iria would go

faria would do

poderia could/would be able

deveria should/would have to

teria would have

seria would be

estaria would be

quereria would want

gostaria would like

39. Modal words for “might”

There is no single Portuguese modal verb exactly equivalent to English might.

Common equivalents are:

Portuguese English

pode may/might

poderia might/could

talvez maybe

talvez possa might be able to

é possível que it is possible that

pode ser que it may/might be that

possivelmente possibly

provavelmente probably

40. Modal words for “must”

Portuguese English

dever must

ter de have to

ter que have to

ser obrigado a be obliged to

é necessário it is necessary

é obrigatório it is mandatory

deve ser must/probably is

há de ser must surely be / will be

Notice the difference:

Ele deve estudar.

He should/must study.

versus:

Ele deve estar em casa.

He must/probably is at home.

The second deve expresses epistemic probability, not obligation.

21- THERE IS / HAVE / BE

There is há / existe

There are há / existem

There was havia / existia

There were havia / existiam

There will be haverá / existirá

There has been tem havido

There had been tinha havido

There is going to be vai haver

There is not não há

Is there...? Há...?

There is a problem Tem um problema (BP) / Há um problema (BP) Há um problema (EP)

There are people Tem pessoas (BP) / Há pessoas (BP) Há pessoas (EP)

There was a mistake Tinha um erro (spoken) (BP) / Havia um erro (BP) Havia um erro (EP)

I have a car Tenho um carro

I had a car Tinha um carro

I had a problem Tive um problema

I will have Terei

I would have Teria

I have eaten Tenho comido / Comi

I have been studying Tenho estudado

I have to study Tenho que estudar 🇧🇷 / Tenho de estudar 🇵🇹

There is/are (Brazil spoken) Tem

eu tenho I have

tu tens you have

ele/ela/você tem he/she/you have

nós temos we have

vós tendes you have

eles/elas/vocês têm they/you have

🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese

Você tem um livro. You have a book.

🇵🇹 European Portuguese

Tu tens um livro. You have a book.

IMPERATIVES:

-AR VERBS:

(tu) fala speak!

(você) fale speak!

(nós) falemos let's speak!

(vocês) falem speak!

-ER VERBS:

(tu) come eat!

(você) coma eat!

(nós) comamos let's eat!

(vocês) comam eat!

-IR VERBS:

(tu) abre open!

(você) abra open!

(nós) abramos let's open!

(vocês) abram open!

IRREGUALR:

(tu) sê Be!

(você) seja Be!

(nós) sejamos Let's be!

(vocês) sejam Be!

(tu) está Be!

(você) esteja Be!

(nós) estejamos Let's be!

(vocês) estejam Be!

(tu) tem Have!

(você) tenha Have!

(nós) tenhamos Let's have!

(vocês) tenham Have!

PASSIVE:

Be respected! Seja respeitado! (BP) Sê respeitado! (EP)

Don't be forgotten! Não seja esquecido!

Tell me! Me diga! (BP) Diz-me! (EP)

Have it repaired! Mande consertar! (BP) Manda reparar! (EP)

🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese:

Respeite-me. Respect me. (formal / written)

Me respeite. Respect me. (common spoken form)

🇵🇹 European Portuguese:

Respeita-me. Respect me. (informal "tu")

Respeite-me. Respect me. (formal "você/o senhor/a senhora")