Dra Book Simple PDF

Driving Around.
Chap
ters
Chapters.
1 Booking a Car p. 03
2 At the Rental p. 22
3 Traffic Laws p. 47
4 Expressways p. 67
5 Driving in the City p. 89
6 At the Gas Station p. 109
7 Returning the Car p. 128
8 Grammar Guide p. 148

1
Booking
a car.
Chapter 1 Video Script Vocabulary Vocabulary Activities Grammar Grammar Activities
Part 1.
Video Script Many people believe it is hard to drive in the United States. But it can be easier
than it seems if you follow some nice tips. Before you actually start driving
around, you will probably want to rent a car that will suit you, and for that you
must know how to make the right questions and provide the correct answers too.
In this chapter, you are going to learn this and a little more. Now look at the script
of Booking a car.
BOOKING A CAR
[In the living room]

Steph:
Hi, guys! My husband David and I decided to start recording this
series because we’ve realized that, when travelers come to America,
sometimes they can be nervous about driving and renting a car. There
are so many differences between driving here and anywhere else in the
world. You know, we use miles, there’s requirements that you don’t have
in other countries for renting a car…
So we decided to drive around Los Angeles and share our experience

with you guys. And Los Angeles happens to have the worst traffic in all
of America.
David:
So, what’s a very important step? You’re going to want to make your
online car reservation in advance. Why? – you ask. So you can get the
car that you want. I’m a bigger guy, so I can’t be in a compact car, I’m
going to need a mid-size SUV, or maybe even a big truck. There’s some
other factors…
Steph:
You’re going to get better deals when you book online. And again, as
David said, availability.
So, how do you choose your perfect car?
Well, you have to ask yourself a few questions: how many people are
coming? Do you have luggage? How far are you going to go? What
kind of car do you want? Do you want a luxury car? Do you want a
< voltar para o índice

4
convertible? Do you want an economy? What’s your budget? Where

do you want to pick up the car? If you want to drop it off in a different
location, you can. You can choose all of that online, which is super, super
practical. So we highly recommend it.
[Going through the car rental agency app]

David:
Alright, guys. Steph and I are going to walk you through the steps. It’s
very simple.
So obviously you’re going to choose where you’re picking up the car

from. We’re going to be returning it to the same place. Because you can,
if you want to, go to Las Vegas, have fun, and drop it off there. But we’re
not doing that this time.
When are we picking it up? It’s going to be June 1st, 2019. And we’re
going to be returning it on June 28th, 2019.
So, there’s different cars: there’s the standard pick-up truck. You have
the bigger pick-up truck, the compact SUV – not doing that… The mid-
size SUVs, as I’m a bigger guy, are good for me. You have your premium
models, your standard models, and your economy. So, let’s go ahead
and select. Awesome!
And the last step: you’re going to go ahead and put your name in there
and your email, and we’re good, we’re booked! We’re good to go.
Steph:
Did you actually book it?
David:
Yeah!
Steph:
Cancel it! Cancel it!
David:
We already have a reservation, guys! We’re going to…
Steph:
I got it, I got it…
David:
Cool!
Steph:
Thank you!

5
RESERVANDO UM CARRO
[Na sala de estar]

Steph:
Oi, pessoal! Eu e meu marido, David, decidimos começar a gravar esta
série porque percebemos que, quando viajantes vêm para os Estados
Unidos, às vezes podem ficar nervosos ao dirigir e alugar um carro.
Existem muitas diferenças entre dirigir aqui e em qualquer outro lugar no
mundo. Nós usamos milhas, e há requisitos que não existem em outros
países para alugar um carro... Então, decidimos dirigir por Los Angeles e
compartilhar nossa experiência com vocês. E acontece que Los Angeles
tem o pior tráfego dos Estados Unidos.
David:
Então, qual passo é muito importante? Fazer sua reserva de carro on-
line antecipadamente. Por quê? – talvez você pergunte. Para que você
consiga o carro que deseja. Eu sou um cara grande; então, não posso
ficar em um carro compacto. Vou precisar de um utilitário médio ou
talvez até de uma caminhonete grande. Existem alguns outros fatores...
Steph:
Você vai conseguir preços melhores quando reservar on-line. E
novamente, como o David falou, tem a questão da disponibilidade.
Mas como você escolhe o carro que é perfeito para você?
Bem, você deve se fazer algumas perguntas: quantas pessoas estão

vindo? Você está levando bagagem? Que distância você planeja
percorrer? Que tipo de carro você quer? Você quer um carro de luxo? Um
conversível? Você quer um econômico? Qual o seu orçamento? Onde
você quer retirar o carro? Se você quer entregá-lo em um local diferente,
você pode. Você pode escolher tudo isso on-line, o que é super,
superprático. Então, nós recomendamos muito!
[Mostrando o aplicativo da agência locadora de carros]

David:
OK, pessoal. A Steph e eu vamos mostrar o passo a passo. É bem fácil!
Então, obviamente vamos escolher o lugar onde vamos pegar o carro.

Nós vamos devolver o carro no mesmo lugar, porque você pode, caso
queira, ir para Las Vegas se divertir e entregar o carro lá. Mas não vamos
fazer isso desta vez.
Quando nós vamos pegar o carro? Será dia 1º de junho de 2019. E

vamos devolvê-lo no dia 28 de junho de 2019.

6
Há carros diferentes: tem a caminhonete padrão. Tem as caminhonetes

maiores, os utilitários compactos... Não, esse não. Os utilitários médios,
como sou um cara grande, são bons para mim. Tem os modelos
premium, os modelos normais, e os econômicos. Então, vamos escolher.
Ótimo!
E o último passo: você vai colocar seu nome e seu e-mail. E pronto,
reserva feita! Tudo certo!
Steph:
Você realmente fez a reserva?
David:
Sim!
Steph:
Cancela! Cancela!
David:
Nós já temos uma reserva, pessoal! Nós vamos...
Steph:
Deixa comigo.
David:
Beleza!
Steph:
Obrigada.

7
Part 2.
Vocabulary We will start by making an online car reservation. It is much more comfortable and safer to
arrive at your destination with your reservation in hand. The good things about making an
online car reservation in advance are availability and good deals. So we have the following tips
for you:
Book your car in advance to guarantee better deals and availability.

Reserve seu carro com antecedência para garantir preços melhores e
disponibilidade.
Note that we used the word book as a verb, which, in the context, means the same as to make
a reservation. So, we could also say:
Make your reservation in advance to guarantee better deals and availability.

Faça sua reserva com antecedência para garantir preços melhores e
disponibilidade.
You can use the verb book in any other context involving reservations. For example:
I’d like to book a table.

Gostaria de reservar uma mesa.
I’d like to book a room.

Gostaria de reservar um quarto.
So in order to book the right car, you need to take a moment and answer a few questions. The
first one is:
What kind of car would you like to rent?

Que tipo de carro você gostaria de alugar?

8
CAR CATE GORIES
Economy SUV Standard

Econômico Utilitário Standard/Padrão
Full-size
Compact Carro grande - indicado Minivan
Compacto para até cinco pessoas Minivan
So, to choose the ideal car for your trip, there are some aspects you must
consider. The first one is:
What’s your budget?

Qual é o seu orçamento?
You should know how much you are willing to pay for your rental. Once you have
settled that, there is a second aspect you must consider:
How many people are coming with you?

Quantas pessoas estão viajando com você?
That means thinking about the number of people who will be riding with you.
Notice that how many is an expression used to ask about quantity.
If you need to check the number of people that fit in each of those categories, you
can ask someone or do some online research. For instance, you can type on the
website:

9
How many people fit in a minivan?

Quantas pessoas cabem numa minivan?
It is possible to use the same sentence structure to research the other types of
cars by replacing the word minivan with the car you wish.
Having enough room for your luggage is something else you should pay attention
to. The words bag or suitcase refer to each unit of luggage you are taking with
you. Each bag is going to take up a certain amount of space in the trunk. So you
can count them. This is what you will want to know before you choose your car:
How many bags are you taking?

Quantas malas você está levando?
Then you check online if they will fit in your rental. You can type something like:
How many bags fit in a minivan trunk?

Quantas malas cabem no porta-malas de uma minivan?
The answers may come in volume measurements, like this:
There are 532 liters of cargo space.

O bagageiro comporta 532 litros.
Or in number of suitcases, like this:
The trunk can fit up to nine large suitcases.

O porta-malas comporta até nove malas grandes.
On some car rental websites, you will be able to

find this information when you select the car. It is
usually next to a suitcase icon, like this one:

10
Besides your luggage, you have to consider the distance you will be driving. So,
thing about the following:
How far will you go?

Qual a distância que você vai percorrer?
Note that we used how far to ask a question about distance.

When you book a car online, the insurance is usually charged apart from the daily
rate because it is considered an additional service. These are the most common
types of insurance you will find:
T YPES OF INSURANCE
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

Seguro contra danos de colisão
Roadside Assistance Insurance

Cobertura de assistência na estrada
Personal Effects Coverage (PEC)

Cobertura de perda ou roubo de pertences dentro do carro
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)

Cobertura de acidentes pessoais
Additional Liability Insurance (ALI)

Seguro de danos contra terceiros
Most travelers choose the Collision Damage Waiver or CDW, which covers all the
damages that your car and the other cars involved in a collision may suffer, including
cases of total loss. If you are going to take the road, it is advisable to purchase the
Roadside Assistance Insurance as well, just in case you need your car to be towed
or something. The Personal Effects Coverage or PEC could be a good idea if you
need to spend the night in dangerous areas, with your luggage inside the car and
no private parking lot. Finally, the Personal Accident Insurance or PAI, and the
Additional Liability Insurance, or ALI, are considered secondary insurances, for they
will cover more drastic events, such as death as a consequence of an accident.
After having decided on all these aspects, it is time to make your online
reservation. The next information you have to type in is:

11
1. Choose the pick-up date, time, and spot.

Escolha a data, a hora, e o local de retirada do carro.
2. Choose the drop-off date, time, and spot.

Escolha a data, a hora, e o local de devolução do carro.
3. Select the kind of car you want.

Selecione o tipo de carro que você quer.
4. Select the additional services you want.

Escolha os serviços adicionais que você quer.
5. Type in your personal information, email address, and credit card

information.
Insira seus dados pessoais, e-mail e dados do cartão de crédito.
6. Confirm the reservation and check the voucher in your mailbox.

Confirme a reserva e verifique o comprovante na caixa de entrada do
seu e-mail.
Now you know which aspects must be considered before

you go through the steps of booking a car online.

12
Part 3.
Vocabulary
A. Number the columns according to the translation of the words.
Activities
( 1 ) Budget ( 7 ) Car rental company ( ) Ótimos preços ( ) Local de retirada

(do carro)
( 2 ) Online car ( 8 ) Insurance ( ) Mala
reservation ( ) Carro alugado
( 9 ) Additional ( ) Seguro
( 3 ) Great deals services ( ) Reserva de carro
( ) Orçamento
online
(4)S
pecial offers ( 10 ) Pick-up spot /
( ) Reservar
location ( ) Utilitário
( 5 ) Bag / suitcase
( ) Serviços adicionais
( 11 ) SUV ( ) Locadora de carros
( 6 ) Rental car / rental
( 12 ) To book ( )O
fertas especiais
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word.
e. availability
d. spot
Activity B – Answers
a) The can fit up to nine large suitcases.
O porta-malas comporta até nove malas grandes.
c. kind / type
b. budget
b) What’s your ? a. trunk
Qual é o seu orçamento?

Activity A – Answers
c) Select the of car you want.

10 / 6 / 2 / 11 / 7 / 4
3 / 5 / 8 / 1 / 12 / 9 /
d) Choose the drop-off date, time, and .

Escolha a data, a hora, e o local de devolução do carro.
e) Book your car in advance to guarantee better deals and .

Reserve seu carro com antecedência para garantir preços melhores e
disponibilidade.

13
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, you will learn how to give instructions using the imperative form, how to use the
question word how and some of its variations, as well as understand the difference between
countable and uncountable nouns.
Let’s start by talking about the imperative form, which is frequently used to give instructions. The
structure of this verb form is pretty simple. In the affirmative form, you will use the base form of
the verb followed by the complement. Let’s take a look:
Select the kind of car you want.

The verb select is in the imperative, followed by the complement of the verb, the kind of car you want.
Let’s see other examples:
Select the additional services you want.

Selecione os serviços adicionais que você quer.
Choose the pick-up date, time, and spot.

Escolha a data, a hora, e o local de retirada do carro.
The negative form of the imperative is made by placing the auxiliary verb do + not before the verb
in its base form. Take a look:
NE GATIVE FORM
Do not confirm the reservation.

Don’t confirm the reservation.
Não confirme a reserva.
As you can see, the negative is made by the auxiliary do + not, followed by the base form of the
verb and the complement. Do not emphasizes an instruction of something that is not supposed to
be done. For that reason, the contracted form don’t will be used more often.

14
The imperative is used not only for instructions, but also to give orders and ask
for favors. The structure of the sentences is the same for all these functions,
which means that context and intonation will help you understand the speaker’s
intentions. Take a look:
Check the voucher in your mailbox.

Verifique o comprovante na caixa de entrada do seu e-mail.
Type in the requested information.

Insira as informações solicitadas.
Don’t forget to select the pick-up spot.

Não se esqueça de selecionar o local de retirada do carro.
All the previous sentences can be regarded as instructions or orders, depending

on the context.
However, when you use the imperative to ask for favors, you should mind the
tone of your voice and preferably say please. Check it out:
Type in your personal information, please.

Insira suas informações pessoais, por favor.
This sentence in the imperative might come up during some personal interaction
with a clerk or a salesperson, for example. It may also come up in a set of instructions.
Now, have a look at the following example:
Sign here, please.

Assine aqui, por favor.
This is a very common sentence as you close a deal. So, right before signing the
papers of a contract, for instance, you will probably hear this sentence. It can be
understood either as an instruction or a favor.
If you wish to give an order, that is, to tell someone to do something, you will
probably do it straight. The tone of voice may be a bit harsher, but it is still
important to avoid sounding rude. Take a look at some examples that can be
easily understood as orders:

15
Wear the seat belt.

Use o cinto de segurança.
Don’t drive too fast.

Não dirija muito rápido.
Keep the car clean.

Mantenha o carro limpo.
You can also ask for instructions using the imperative. Look:
Tell me how to book a car online, please.

Me explique como reservar um carro on-line, por favor.
Note that the verb tell is in the imperative. When you say this, you are asking for
instructions. And the answer could be:
First, download the rental service app.

Primeiro, baixe o aplicativo da locadora.
Then, choose the car you want.

Depois, escolha o carro que quiser.
As you can see, all the answers can also be built in the imperative.
Using the imperative is not the only way to ask for instructions. The question
word how is also widely used to do so. For example:
HOW + INTERROGATIVE FORM
MODAL VERB CAN

How can I rent a car online?
Como eu posso alugar um carro pela internet?
This way of asking for instructions is, in fact, a question. That’s why we use the
question word how followed by the interrogative form. We chose to use the
modal verb can because it refers to the ability or possibility of doing something.

16
When we ask for instructions, we are looking for possible ways to perform an action.
So, let’s break this question down: first, we use the question word how; then the
modal verb can; after this, the subject I followed by the main verb rent. Finally,
we add the complement: a car online.
Let’s see another example of asking for instructions using how:
HOW + INTERROGATIVE FORM
SIMPLE PRESENT
How do I start the car?
Como eu ligo o carro?
Now we have an example using how and the interrogative form of the simple
present. After the question word how, there is the auxiliary verb do, then the
subject I, the main verb start, and the complement: the car. This is a way to ask
for instructions on how to do something.
The question word how can also be combined with other words to form
expressions used to ask about several other subjects. One possibility is the
variation how far. Have a look:
HOW FAR + INTERROGATIVE FORM
How far will you go?

Qual é a distância que você vai percorrer?
How far from New York is Miami?

Qual é a distância de Miami a Nova York?
Use how far to ask about distance. Note that the structure of the questions is the
same: how far + interrogative form.
As seen in the vocabulary part of this chapter, how can also be combined with
many and much to ask questions about quantity. But they cannot be used
interchangeably. Have a look at this example:
HOW MANY + COUNTABLE NOUNS
How many suitcases fit in the trunk?

Quantas malas cabem no porta-malas?

17
In this sentence, we are talking about suitcases, which is a countable noun, that
is, it is possible to count suitcases. In short, all countable nouns can be counted.
Some examples of countable nouns are: cars (carros), people ( pessoas), hours
(horas), dollars (dólares), suitcases ( malas), among others.
When we want to ask about the quantity of countable nouns, we use how
many. Notice that, in the question, how many is followed by the countable noun
in the plural form. In the case of the previous example, how many + suitcases.
Pay close attention to irregular plural forms. There are few of them in English,
but they can’t be ignored. Check these examples out:
HOW MANY + COUNTABLE NOUNS
How many people are coming with you?

How many people fit in a minivan?

Quantas pessoas cabem numa minivan?
We will say one person, but two people. The word people seems to be singular
because it does not end in S, but it is actually a plural form for the noun person.
One good tip to notice if the noun is countable or not is this one: if there is a plural
form, it is countable. And, consequently, if it is countable, we will use how many
to ask about quantity.
Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, are different. We can’t pick them up and
count them, so they have no plural form. We can’t use how many to ask questions
about their quantity. We use how much instead. Have a look at the example:
HOW MUCH + UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
How much money do you have for a rental car?

Quanto dinheiro você tem para um carro alugado?
Here, we want to know the amount of money the person has to rent the car.
Money is an uncountable noun in English. We don’t say, for example, “one
money,” “two moneys.” That is, it is not possible to count money, just currency,
such as dollars, euros, reais. So, since it is a question about the quantity of an
uncountable noun, we are supposed to use how much.
If we were to answer the question about budget, we could say:

18
I have one thousand dollars.

Eu tenho mil dólares.
Since the question is about the amount of money available, when you answer I have
one thousand dollars, it makes perfect sense. You are choosing to say the exact
quantity of dollars you have, even though dollar is a countable noun used to answer
a question with how much. In the context, it is a completely acceptable answer.
The same goes for space. For example:
HOW MUCH + UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
How much cargo space is there in the trunk?

Quanto de capacidade tem o porta-malas?
Qual é a capacidade do porta-malas?
Cargo space is an uncountable noun, as you cannot count it, so we use

how much. As you can see, once again how much is being followed by an
uncountable noun, which, as we know, does not have a plural form. That’s why
we have how much + cargo space.
Here is a possible answer to that question:
532 liters.
As you can see, the answer is in liters, which is a countable noun. 532 litros.
Once again, there is no problem answering a question with how
much with a countable noun, as long as it makes sense within the
context.
Now you know that you can use the imperative form to
give orders, ask for favors and instructions, and even give
instructions. You also know how to use the question word how
to ask for instructions and use the question phrases how much
and how many to ask about the quantity of countable and
uncountable nouns.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Go the Grammar Guide section
at the end of your book to learn Imperative Page 154
more about these important Question Word How Page 180
language items. Interrogative Form Page 159
Countable and Uncountable Nouns Page 149

19
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Number the sentences according to their functions:
Activities
( 1 ) Asking for instructions ( 2 ) Giving instructions
a) ( ) First, download the rental service app.

Primeiro, baixe o aplicativo da locadora.
b) ( ) Tell me how to book a car online, please.

Me explique como reservar um carro on-line, por favor.
c) ( ) Type in your personal information, please.

Insira suas informações pessoais, por favor.
d) ( ) How can I rent a car online?

e) ( ) Don’t forget to select the pick-up spot.

Não se esqueça de selecionar o local de retirada do carro.
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word(s) according to the translation in bold.
a) How many are coming with you?

b) drive too fast.

Não dirija muito rápido.

20
c) can I rent a car online?
e. How much
f. How many
d. How far
d) from New York is Miami?
Qual é a distância de Miami a Nova York?
b. Don’t / Do not
a. people
c. How
e) money do you have for a rental car?
Quanto dinheiro você tem para um carro alugado?
f) suitcases fit in the trunk?
d. 1
e. 2
Quantas malas cabem no porta-malas?
b. 1
a. 2
c. 2

Notes

21
2
At the
Rental.
Part 1.
Video Script You have booked your car, now it is time to pick it up. There are many things you
will want to know in order to get exactly what you need and avoid spending more
time and money than necessary. To do so, you should be ready to ask the right
questions and give the right answers as well. So in this chapter you are going
to learn what to do and say when you go pick up your rental, and you will also
be introduced to some vocabulary and grammar that will help you improve your
English.
Now look at the script of At the Rental:
AT THE RENTAL
Steph:
We have just landed in Los Angeles.
David:
Usually when you land there’s going to be a sign that says, “Car
Rentals.” There’s usually a shuttle or a tram, or, you know, a service that
will take you to the car rental dealership.
Steph:
However, just know this: it can take a while to pick up your car and get
all the paperwork done. So, make sure that you allow enough time to do
that; don’t plan any activity right after you’ve landed.
Here’s another tip: it’s convenient to rent a car at the airport, that’s for
sure! But you might end up paying a bit more. This is because rental
companies pay fees to the airport where they do business and pass
these fees on to the costumer. On average, airport car-rental costs are
higher than what you’ll find away from the airport property. So, compare
the costs. Many hotels are also car-rental points, and it might pay off to
get a cab from the airport to your hotel and pick up your car there! That
is what we have decided to do!
[At the hotel lobby]

Car-rental point clerk:
Hi, how may I help you?
David:
So…We want to rent a car.

23

Great, what size car are you looking for?
David:
Compa...? No, not compact. We need, like, a mid-sized SUV.
Steph:
Look at this guy! We’ve got to fit him in!

Fantastic! And will there be additional drivers?
Steph:
Yes, me.
David:
Yes, this lovely lady right here.

Love it! Would you like full-coverage insurance on that?
David:
Yeah, we definitely need that.
Steph:
So, as you can see, David is taking care of the car-rental process. He’s
filling out the questionnaire. She’s going to ask for his credit card, his
driver’s license, all the things that you would normally do. So it’s pretty,
pretty straightforward. Maybe she’s going to ask if we want a car seat –
if we had a kid, but we don’t.
So yeah. We’re going to get our car and I’m so excited!

So, now I’ll need a copy of your driver’s license and credit card.
[At the pick-up spot just outside the hotel]

Steph and David, are you guys ready? Just sign right here.
David:
Thank you!
Steph:
That was fast!

I know!

24
Steph:
Thank you! I got the keys!
David:
Yes, you do, as per usual.
Steph:
Is that everything?

Yes, right this way!
David:
Awesome!
[In the car]

Steph:
Awesome! Seat belts?
David:
Check! Push the start button.
Steph:
Good! Brakes. California, here we come!
So now, cars here might look different than they do where you’re
coming from. So you want to make sure that you know the parts,
because you don’t want to get into any trouble.
So, we have the side-view mirrors; there’s two of them. Then, here you
have the rearview mirror, to always look behind you to see who’s behind
you; very, very important.
David:
In most newer cars, all you do is push this button and it’ll start. You don’t
need a key to start, but you do need a key to get in the car. So you do
like so: you push the button, and you’re good to go.
Steph:
Right here we have the gears, so we have “park,” “reverse,” “neutral,”
and “drive.” Neutral is so the car stays still, but do not use neutral when
you are on a hill, because it might roll down, OK? You always want to
use park and the e-brake when you’re on a hill.
David:
The emergency brake, where is it? Well, in this car we don’t have a lever
and that’s not to worry, because there is a pedal by the driver’s side
door that you’ll just step on and you’ll be good to go.

25
Steph:
Right here you have the dashboard, which tells you how much gas you
have left, and how fast you are going.
David:
So as far as the gas tank is concerned, it could be on the left side or the
right side. But if you want to check in the car, on the fuel gauge, there’s
a little arrow letting you know if it’s going to be on the left or the right
side. So you have two options: get outside and check, or check the fuel
gauge.
So, on newer cars like this one, the windshield wipers and the
headlights are automatic. But, if you’re in an older model, you can
turn on the headlights right here, as so, with this button. Just switch it
and you’re good to go! For the windshield wipers, you just rotate this
forward. And there you are: you’re all set.
So, you know, you might have luggage. You want to get it in the car, you
want to get it out of the car, you need to open the trunk. Easy. On the
remote here, you just push the button, and you’re good to go. It’s easy!
Steph:
So I think that covers the basics, and I think you’re ready to drive now.
RESERVANDO UM CARRO
Steph:
Nós acabamos de pousar em Los Angeles! Normalmente, quando
você pousa, haverá uma placa dizendo “Car Rentals”. Geralmente há
um traslado ou trem, ou algum tipo de serviço que vai te levar até a
locadora. Porém, saiba que pode demorar um pouco até que você pegue
o seu carro e resolva a papelada. Então, certifique-se de que você terá
tempo o bastante para fazer isso. Não planeje uma atividade para logo
depois de você pousar.
Aqui vai outra dica: é prático alugar um carro no aeroporto, é claro! Mas
talvez você acabe pagando um pouco mais. Isso é porque locadoras
pagam taxas ao aeroporto em que elas mantêm filiais, e repassam isso aos
consumidores. Em média, o preço de alugar um carro no aeroporto é mais
caro do que fora dele. Então, compare os preços, pois muitos hotéis também
são pontos de aluguel de carros, e pode sair mais barato pegar um táxi do
aeroporto até o hotel e pegar seu carro lá! Isso é o que decidimos fazer!
[No saguão do hotel]

Atendente da locadora de carros:
Olá, como posso ajudar?

26
David:
Então... Queremos alugar um carro.

Ótimo, que tamanho de carro vocês estão procurando?
David:
Compa...? Não, compacto não. Precisamos de um utilitário médio.
Steph:
Olhe só para este rapaz, ele tem que caber no carro!

Fantástico! E vai ter algum motorista adicional?
Steph:
Sim, eu.
David:
Sim, esta linda moça aqui mesmo.

Adorei! Vocês gostariam do seguro com cobertura completa?
David:
Sim, definitivamente precisamos disso.
Steph:
Como vocês podem ver, o David está cuidando do processo de aluguel
do carro. Ele está preenchendo um questionário. A atendente vai pedir o
cartão de crédito dele, a carteira de motorista, e todas as outras coisas
que normalmente são requisitadas. Então, é algo bem, bem direto.
Talvez ela pergunte se precisamos de uma cadeirinha – caso tivéssemos
um filho, mas não temos.
Vamos pegar nosso carro, e eu estou muito empolgada!

Agora vou precisar de uma cópia da sua carteira de motorista e do
cartão de crédito.
[No local de retirada do carro, do lado de fora do hotel]

Steph e David, vocês estão prontos? É só assinar aqui.
David:
Obrigado!

27
Steph:
Como foi rápido!

Não é?
Steph:
Obrigada! Estou com as chaves!
David:
Sim, está, como de praxe.
Steph:
Isso é tudo?

Sim, por aqui!
David:
Maravilha!
[Dentro do carro]
Steph:
Maravilha! Cintos de segurança?
David:
OK! Aperte o botão “start”.
Steph:
Muito bem! Freios. Califórnia, aqui vamos nós!
Os carros aqui podem parecer diferentes daqueles de onde você está
vindo. Então, é bom ter certeza de que você sabe o nome das peças,
porque você não quer ter nenhum problema.
Tem os retrovisores laterais, dois deles. Então, tem o retrovisor traseiro,
para que possamos ver o que está atrás da gente. É muito, muito
importante.
David:
Na maioria dos carros mais novos, tudo o que você precisa fazer é
apertar este botão, e ele vai ligar. Você não precisa de uma chave para
dar a partida, mas precisa de uma chave para entrar no carro. Então,
você faz assim: aperte o botão, e pronto!
Steph:
Certo, aqui estão as marchas: “parado” ou “estacionado”, “ré”, “ponto

28
morto”, e “dirigir”. Ponto morto é quando você quer que o carro fique
parado, mas não deixe o carro em ponto morto quando você estiver em
uma ladeira, porque o carro pode descer, OK? Você sempre deve usar a
marcha “parado” ou o freio de mão quando estiver em uma ladeira.
David:
Onde está o freio de mão? Bem, neste carro não tem uma alavanca, mas
não se preocupe, porque tem este pedal ao lado da porta do motorista,
em que basta você pisar e pronto!
Steph:
Aqui está o painel, no qual você pode ver a quantidade de gasolina e a
velocidade em que está dirigindo.
David:
Em relação ao tanque de gasolina, ele pode estar do lado esquerdo ou
do direito. Mas se você quer checar de dentro do carro, no medidor de
combustível tem uma pequena seta que informa se ele está do lado
esquerdo ou direito. Então, você tem duas opções: sair e checar, ou olhar
para o medidor de combustível.
Em carros mais novos como este, os limpadores de para-brisa e os
faróis são automáticos. Mas caso você esteja em um modelo mais velho,
pode ligar os faróis aqui, deste modo, com este botão. É só virá-lo e
pronto! Para os limpadores de para-brisa, você só gira isso para frente. E
pronto! Tudo certo!
Talvez você esteja levando bagagens. Você quer colocá-las e tirá-las do
carro; então, precisa abrir o porta-malas. É fácil! No controle remoto, é só
apertar este botão e pronto! É fácil!
Steph:
Acho que isso cobre o básico, e acho que você está pronto para dirigir!

29
Part 2.
Vocabulary If you have made an online reservation,

all you have to do is go to the chosen
pick-up spot when you get to your
destination. If you have chosen to pick
up the car at the airport, look for your
car-rental company by following the
signs that usually have an icon of a car
and a key, like this one:
If you can’t find any signs like this one, you can ask for directions. You can say, for example:
Where are the car rentals?

Onde estão as locadoras de carro?
The car rentals should be outside the main terminal, and you may need to take some special
transportation to get there. This is what usually happens at international airports in the U.S.
The shuttle may serve all the car rentals, so you will have to tell the driver which one you are
headed for. Or there may also be an exclusive bus to each company. You should check that
before boarding. When you get there, you will tell them you have got a reservation. You can say
something like this:
I have a reservation under (Souza).

Tenho uma reserva em nome de (Souza).
The name Souza is just an example, of course. You should say your last name instead.
If you decide not to book the car in advance, just rent it at the company counter. You may
choose a company at the airport or the ones around the city, or, in some cases, the one at your
hotel. You can start by saying:
Hello, I’d like to rent a car for (ten) days.

Olá, eu gostaria de alugar um carro por (dez) dias.

30
Here, the example contemplates renting the car for a period of ten days. To say
how long you would like to have it, just replace the number or days or even
months in the sentence.
After that, the clerk will probably ask you about the car itself. They can probably
ask you a question like the following:
What kind of car would you like?

De que tipo de carro você gostaria?
Which car would you like?

De qual carro você gostaria?
You can answer both questions by using a car name or a brand. But you may also
hear a question like this one:
What size car would you like?

De qual tamanho de carro você gostaria?
In this case, an answer with the name of the car will sound weird. Since it is
a question about size, it is only normal to answer it using words that express
how big or how small you would like the car to be. In this case, you can say, for
example:
I’d like a midsize / full-size / compact car.

Eu gostaria de um carro médio / grande / compacto.
After choosing the car, tell them the drop-off date, time, and spot, just like you
would do if you were making an online reservation.
If you need to return the car after hours, check if the company provides that kind
of service. You can say:
I need to drop off the car after hours. Is it okay?

Preciso devolver o carro após o expediente. Tudo bem?

31
Then the clerk will probably want to know about the people who will be driving
the car. They can ask questions such as:
Will there be an additional driver?

Vai ter um motorista adicional?
How old are the drivers?

Quantos anos têm os motoristas?
They ask about the age of the drivers to determine the insurance coverage.
The clerk will probably check if the insurance you bought when you made your
reservation is still suitable for you, or they may offer you some insurance options if
you didn’t make a reservation. Remember: the age of the drivers may influence on
the price of the insurance. So, at this point, the clerk may say something like:
Would you like full-coverage insurance?

Você gostaria de seguro com cobertura total?
If you do not want to purchase the insurance they offer you, just say:
I wouldn’t like to add insurance. Thank you.

Não gostaria de acrescentar seguro. Obrigado.
But if you do want it, you had better check the price before getting it. Ask them:
How much is it?

Quanto custa?
If the price of the insurance fits your budget and you will get it, you can say:
I’d like to add full-coverage insurance, please.

Eu gostaria de acrescentar o seguro com cobertura total, por favor.

32
After signing the contract, you will be sent to the parking lot to pick your car—and
there you will find the cars grouped into categories. So, the clerk might say:
Go this way to pick your car.

Vá por aqui para escolher seu carro.
If you can’t find the category you have hired, you can just ask:
Where are the compacts?

Onde estão os compactos?
After picking the car, you will get the keys either from the clerk or in the car itself.
If you find it hard to find them, you can ask:
Where are the keys?

Onde estão as chaves?
Finally, you should make sure to have the car documents or registration. If you
don’t know where to find them, ask:
Where are the car documents? / Where is the registration?

Onde está o documento do carro?
The clerk will probably answer like this:
The registration is in the glove compartment.

O documento do carro está no porta-luvas.
Now that you are ready to hit the road with your rental, let’s focus on some car
parts you will use while driving:

33
CAR PARTS
Windshield wipers /
Windscreen wipers Lights / Headlights Turn signals / Blinkers
Limpadores de Faróis Setas
para-brisa
Parking brake / Side mirrors /

Emergency brake Rearview mirror Side-view mirrors
Freio de mão Espelho retrovisor Espelhos laterais
While you are at the car-rental parking lot, it is also advisable that
you take the chance to ask the staff some questions you still might
have about the car. For instance: Dashboard
Painel
How do I open the trunk / the fuel door?

Como abro o porta-malas / a tampa do tanque de gasolina?
How do I turn on the headlights / the windshield wipers?

Como eu ligo os faróis / os limpadores de para-brisa?


34
And the last step would be to explore the gear. In the U.S., most cars will shift
gears automatically—you will just have to press the gas pedal to accelerate,
and the brake pedal to lower your speed or to get to a full stop. That’s why it is
important to know what each letter on the gear lever means. Take a look:
P = Park D = Drive
Parado, estacionado Dirigir
R = Reverse N = Neutral
Ré Ponto morto
Now you know what to do and say when you go pick up

your rental, as well as some important car parts.

35
Part 3.
Vocabulary
Activities
( 1 ) Side-view mirrors ( 8 ) Lights / Headlights ( ) Freio de mão ( ) Painel
( 2 ) Rearview mirror ( 9 ) Turn signals / ( ) Setas ( ) Porta-malas

Blinkers
( 3 ) Neutral ( ) Limpadores de ( ) Espelhos laterais
( 10 ) Parking brake / para-brisa
( 4 ) Dashboard ( ) Ré
Emergency brake
( ) Marcha
( 5 ) Reverse ( ) Ponto morto
( 11 ) Trunk
( ) Espelho retrovisor
( 6 ) Gas tank ( )T
anque de gasolina
( 12 ) Gear
( ) Faróis
( 7 ) Windshield wipers
f. car registration/documents
a) I don’t have a .
Não tenho reserva.
a. reservation d. additional
e. drop-off
b) Will there be an additional ?
Vai ter um(a) motorista adicional?

c. insurance
c) I’d like to add full-coverage , please.

b. driver
Eu gostaria de acrescentar o seguro com cobertura total, por favor.
d) How do I the car?

10 / 9 / 7 / 12 / 2 / 8 /
4 / 11 / 1 / 5 / 3 / 6
e) Where is the spot?

Onde é o local de devolução do carro?
f) The is/are in the glove compartment.

O documento do carro está no porta-luvas.

36
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, we are going to expand our knowledge on the question word how and see the
difference between what and which. We will also explore the modal verb would a little bit.
We have already talked about the question word how. We use it to greet people, as when we ask:
QUESTION WORD HOW
How are you today?

Como vai você hoje?
We also use how when we don’t know how to do something or how we can do something. These
questions are used to ask about the way to perform a task or follow a procedure. Let’s check some
examples out:
QUESTION WORD HOW
How do I open the trunk / the fuel door?

Como abro o porta-malas / a tampa do tanque de gasolina?
How do I turn on the headlights / the windshield wipers?

Como eu ligo os faróis / os limpadores de para-brisa?

Depending on the car, those things can be done in different ways. Sometimes you will just need to
press a button to open the trunk and start the car; in other cases, you may have to use a key. There
are different options, and by asking how you can learn the right way to do something.
We have also seen that how can be combined with other words to form questions about certain
subjects.
For instance, we use how old to know a person’s age. Have a look:

37
QUESTION WORD HOW
How old are you?

Quantos anos você tem?
As you can see, we used the structure how old + interrogative form of the verb
to be. It is also possible to use how old to ask questions about age in different
contexts, such as:
QUESTION WORD HOW
How old are the drivers?

Quantos anos têm os motoristas?
This question often comes up when you pick up the car, because there are
different age allowances in different American states. In this case, the structure of
the questions is the same as that of the previous example.
And note that you will also use the verb to be to answer questions about age:
How old are you?

Quantos anos você tem? / Com quantos anos você está?
I am/I’m 24 years old.

Eu tenho / estou com 24 anos de idade.
You have also learned that we use the question phrases how much and how
many to ask about quantity. Look at the example:
How much is it?

Quanto custa?
How much money is it?

Quanto dinheiro custa?
This question is about the price of something, so we use how much. It refers
to the amount of money needed to buy something. As we know, money is an
uncountable noun. But nobody would normally ask How much money is it?

38
That’s why the word money is omitted from the question.

As you can see, the question word how is very versatile and can be combined
with a variety of words to ask different kinds of questions.
There is another question word very much used in English, and, therefore, quite
important. It is the question word what. We use it to ask questions about things,
animals, feelings, and situations.
For example, if you don’t know what the word trunk means, you can ask:
QUESTION WORD WHAT
What is a trunk?
O que é “trunk”?
If you want to learn what glove compartment is, you can ask this:
QUESTION WORD WHAT
What is a glove compartment?

O que é “glove compartment”?
Other questions you can ask using what are:
QUESTION WORD WHAT
What is the speed limit on this road?

Qual é o limite de velocidade nesta via?
What is your favorite car?

Qual é o seu carro favorito?
Note that the sentence structure for all these questions is: What + interrogative
form.
It is also possible to combine what with nouns to create questions that will be
used in specific contexts, but the structure will be slightly different. Check it out:

39
WHAT KIND OF
TYPE
What kind of car would you like?
De que tipo de carro você gostaria?
Here we have the expression what kind to ask about the type of something.
When we use it, the sentence structure changes a bit. We use what kind of plus
the noun to which we are referring. In this case, since we are talking about cars,
we will say: what kind of car. It will, then, be followed by an interrogative form.
Here: would you like.
Now take a look at these next examples:
QUESTION WORD WHAT
What size car would you like?

What color would you like?

De qual cor você gostaria?
We can also combine what with size and color to ask questions about the car.
Just pay close attention to the fact that, once again, what precedes the nouns to
which it refers.
What is not the only question word used to ask questions when presenting
choices. There is a question word quite like what, but it is not the same. They are
similar but used in different ways. It is the question word which.
Here is the main difference between them:
WHAT VS. WHICH
WHAT g unlimited options

(O) QUE / QUAL g opções ilimitadas
WHICH g limited options

QUAL / QUAIS g opções limitadas

40
So, if I ask you:
What color of car would you like?

De qual cor de carro você gostaria?
I am not presenting any options; then, you may choose whatever color you like:
black, blue, gray, white, red, yellow...
But if I ask:
Which color of car would you like? Black or gray?

De qual cor de carro você gostaria? Preto ou cinza?
I am clearly giving you restricted options. And this is when we use which.
Let’s see it in a dialogue:
WHAT VS. WHICH
Clerk – What kind of car would you like?

Atendente – De que tipo de carro você gostaria?
Customer – I’d like to rent an SUV.

Cliente – Eu gostaria de alugar um utilitário.
Clerk – Let me see what I have for you.

Atendente – Deixe-me ver o que tenho para você.
In this dialogue, the clerk first asks what the customer is looking for before
checking what is available. He uses what kind to ask this question, because there
are probably too many options.
Now take a look at the continuation of the dialogue:
WHAT VS. WHICH
Clerk – I have compact cars, economy cars, and SUVs. Which

one would you like?
Atendente – Eu tenho carros compactos, econômicos e utilitários.
De qual deles você gostaria?

41
Customer – I’ll take a compact car.

Cliente – Vou ficar com um compacto.
As you can see, the clerk now clearly tells the customer the three types of car
available, so which is used to ask the question because now there are limited
options: compact cars, economy cars, and SUVs.
You have probably noticed the structure would you like in many examples we
have seen.
There are actually many ways to make offers and requests in English, but the best
way to do that without running the risk of sounding rude is to use would you like.
Let’s see a few examples:
MODAL VERB WOULD
OFFERS AND REQUESTS

Would you like to test-drive a sports car?
Você gostaria de fazer um test-drive num carro esporte?
Notice that in the interrogative form we have: Would + Subject + Like. The
subject in this case is you, because we’re making an offer directly to the person to
whom we are talking.
This question could be answered like this:
Yes, please. I’d love to. / I’d love to test-drive a sports car.
Sim, por favor. Eu adoraria. / Eu adoraria fazer um test-drive
em um carro esporte.
Here, we have two possibilities of affirmative answers. We have the short form
I’d instead of I would, which is very common in spoken language. The complete
answer would be I’d love to test-drive a sports car, but it is not necessary to
repeat the whole sentence. All we have to do is say I’d love to, just like that,
ending with to.
Let’s think of other similar questions that can be asked when you rent a car.
There will come the moment when you will have to choose the additional
services. That is when the questions with would you like will come up. Check
it out:

42
MODAL VERB WOULD
OFFERS AND REQUESTS

You could accept or refuse the offer. The negative answer would be:
REFUSING OFFERS
No. I wouldn’t like to add insurance. Thank you.

Não. Eu não gostaria de acrescentar seguro. Obrigado.
Wouldn’t is the short form of the negative form would not, and it sounds more
natural in the spoken language. Saying would not will sound as if you were
emphasizing the negative statement, which might sound a little harsh.
On the other hand, if you wish to accept the offer, the answer will be in the
affirmative form. You can either just say: Yes, I would, or the complete sentence,
as we have already seen. Take a look:
ACCEPTING OFFERS

Yes. I’d like to add full-coverage insurance, please.

Sim. Eu gostaria de acrescentar o seguro com cobertura total, por favor.
As you can see, the contracted form I’d like is more commonly used than I would
like.
So, we know we use would to form the expression would you like. But would
is a modal verb, and that means that it may come as an auxiliary to any verb, for
example:

43
MODAL VERB WOULD
I love driving. I would drive for days if I could.

Eu amo dirigir. Eu dirigiria por dias se eu pudesse.
In this example, we have would + drive referring to a hypothetical situation.

That’s another very common use of the modal verb would.
Now you know how to use the modal verb would and the question
words how, what, and which. For more details about them, check the
Grammar Guide at the end of your book.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Question Word Which Page 198

Question Word What Page 186
Question Word How Page 180
Modal Verb Would Page 173

44
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Mark the option that best explains the function of the underlined words.
Activities
a) What size car would you like?

( 1 ) question word – unlimited options ( 2 ) question word – limited options
b) Would you like full-coverage insurance?

( 1 ) modal verb – hypothetical situation ( 2 ) offer
c) How much is the insurance?

Quanto é o seguro?
( 1 ) question phrase to ask about price ( 2 ) question phrase to ask about age
d) Which color of car would you like? Black or gray?

De qual cor de carro você gostaria? Preto ou cinza?
( 1 ) question word – unlimited options ( 2 ) question word – limited options
e) I love driving. I would drive for days if I could.

Eu amo dirigir. Eu dirigiria por dias se eu pudesse.
( 1 ) offer ( 2 ) modal verb – hypothetical situation
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate question word or their combinations.
a) do I open the trunk?

Como abro o porta-malas?

45
b) is your favorite car?
f. How much
Qual é o seu carro favorito?
e. How old
d. Which
c) is the speed limit on this road?
Qual é o limite de velocidade nesta via?
b. What
c. What
a. How
d) color of car would you like? Red or white?
De qual cor de carro você gostaria? Vermelho ou branco?
d. 2
e. 2
e) are you?
b. 2
a. 1
c. 1
Quantos anos você tem?

f) is it?
Quanto custa?
Notes

46
3
Traffic Laws.
Part 1.
Video Script Driving in other countries can be difficult. That is because the law varies from
country to country. Well, in the United States it often varies from state to state, so
it is very important that you learn how things work there when it comes to traffic
laws. And this is exactly what you are going to do in this chapter. You will learn
some relevant vocabulary and grammar that will help you drive around U.S. roads
nice and easy.
Now look at the script of Traffic Laws:
TRAFFIC L AWS

Steph:
Alright, so we just experienced driving in LA, which was so much fun.
But now we have got to talk about something a little more serious.
David:
Traffic laws. Guys, traffic laws vary from state to state. For example, in
California it is illegal to smoke with children in the car. Do not do it.
Steph:
Something else you don’t want to do is litter. You’ll get fined a thousand
dollars if you get caught. Even if you don’t get caught, don’t litter!
David:
Just don’t do it. And some other things to think about: there’s the traffic
signs, the toll roads, the fast lanes, there’s a lot of stuff to cover. So, let’s
just go ahead and check it out.
Steph:
Let’s take a look, yeah.
Traffic signs: you have to always pay attention to the signs anywhere
you’re driving.
David:
Perfect example: the yield sign. That means that you should yield to
pedestrians. So, if you’re driving and you see a yield sign, you’re going
to give the pedestrians the right of way, you’re going to allow them to
cross the street before you continue driving.

48
Steph:
You always have to be aware of the speed limit. And know that it is in
miles per hour, and not kilometers per hour. So, it’s very, very different.
Know the difference.
David:
The speed limit changes from street to street, so you’re going to want to
check it constantly. And at night as well, there’s a nighttime speed limit
on certain streets. So, make sure you’re constantly checking your area to
know what the speed limit is.
Steph:
Also, something very important is the no-parking tow zone, right? If it
says “no parking” or the curb is red, do not park there. You will get your
car towed and you do not want that to happen, especially with a rental
car. Big headache!
David:
The left/right must-turn lanes, this is very important. If you’re in those
lanes, you must turn left, or you must turn right. Please do not go
straight because that can cause an accident, and even if you do manage
to avoid that, the ticket is very expensive, it’s not worth it. Just turn left
or turn right because you must do it.
Steph:
To avoid accidents, for your own safety, we have got to talk about
overtaking. We should always, always pass a car to the left.
David:
This is true, but sometimes when you’re on the freeway, there’s so many
lanes, it’s not uncommon for a car pass to the right.
Steph:
Right. It’s illegal, but it’s not uncommon.
David:
Yes. So you have got to be safe, be very safe.
Steph:
Motorcycles. In California, motorcycles are actually allowed to ride in
between lanes.
David:
In other states, it is illegal. And they’re not allowed to do that, so they
must stick to one lane. So, you have to watch out for them; just be very
careful, be aware of your surroundings while you’re driving.

49
Steph:
You must respect the speed limit. They vary from road to road.
David:
And you also must respect the carpool lane. You cannot be in the
carpool lane by yourself, you need two or more people to drive in the
carpool lane.
Steph:
Absolutely, you also must respect road signs. In some highways, you’ll
be required to pay toll. Now, pay attention to drive in the right lanes in
case there’s a toll on the highway. There are different lanes for drivers
who have a pre-paid pass, and another for those who will pay cash.
I think that covered all of it! So be aware of your surroundings, always
look at the signs, and just do your own research as well, to make sure
that you know the traffic laws of where you’re going.
LA is a nice place to drive!
David:
I love it!
Steph:
I enjoy it, I really do! Where should we go?
LEIS DE TRÂNSITO
[Na sala de estar]

Steph:
OK, experimentamos dirigir em LA agora, e foi muito divertido! Mas
agora temos que falar sobre algo um pouco mais sério.
David:
Leis de trânsito. Pessoal, leis de trânsito variam de estado para estado.
Por exemplo, na Califórnia é ilegal fumar com uma criança dentro do
carro. Não faça isso.
Steph:
Algo que você também não deve fazer é jogar lixo no chão. Você será
multado em mil dólares se for pego. E mesmo que você não seja pego,
não jogue lixo no chão!
David:
Simplesmente não faça isso. Outras coisas para se pensar são as placas

50
de trânsito, as vias com pedágios, as faixas expressas... temos muito

para cobrir! Então, vamos em frente e dar uma olhada!
Steph:
Vamos dar uma olhada sim. Placas de trânsito: você sempre tem que
prestar atenção nas placas onde quer que dirija.
David:
Um exemplo perfeito é a placa de preferência. Ela significa que você
deve dar a preferência aos pedestres. Logo, se você estiver dirigindo e
vir uma placa dessas, você tem que dar a preferência para os pedestres,
e deve deixá-los atravessar a rua antes de continuar.
Steph:
Você sempre tem que estar ciente do limite de velocidade. E saiba que
o limite é em milhas por hora, e não em quilômetros por hora. Então é
muito, muito diferente. Saiba a diferença.
David:
Os limites de velocidade mudam de rua para rua; então, você tem que
ficar constantemente atento. E à noite também: existe um limite de
velocidade noturno em algumas ruas. Então, não se esqueça de checar a
área constantemente para saber qual é o limite de velocidade.
Steph:
Além disso, algo muito importante. É a área de proibido estacionar, com
zona de reboque, OK? Se estiver escrito “no parking” ou o meio-fio for
vermelho, não pare lá. O seu carro será rebocado, e você não quer que
isso aconteça, principalmente com um carro alugado. É uma enorme dor
de cabeça!
David:
As faixas em que é obrigatório virar à direita ou à esquerda: isso é muito
importante. Se você estiver em uma dessas faixas, você deve virar à
esquerda ou à direita. Por favor, não siga em frente, pois isso pode causar
um acidente. E mesmo que você consiga evitar isso, a multa é muito alta,
não vale a pena. É só virar à esquerda ou à direita, porque você é obrigado.
Steph:
Para evitar acidentes e para sua própria segurança, vamos falar sobre
ultrapassagens. Nós sempre devemos ultrapassar um carro pelo lado
esquerdo.
David:
Isso é verdade, mas às vezes na autoestrada há tantas faixas que não é
incomum um carro ultrapassar pela direita.

51
Steph:
Correto, é ilegal, mas não incomum.
David:
Então, você tem que ser cauteloso, bem cauteloso.
Steph:
Motos! Na Califórnia, as motocicletas podem rodar entre as faixas.
David:
Em outros estados, isso é ilegal. E as motos não podem fazer isso, têm
que rodar dentro da pista. Então, fique atento a elas e seja cuidadoso,
esteja atento aos seus arredores quando você está dirigindo.
Steph:
Você deve respeitar o limite de velocidade. Ele varia de estrada para
estrada.
David:
E você também deve respeitar a faixa de carona solidária. Você não
pode andar nela sozinho, é preciso que haja duas ou mais pessoas no
carro para isso.
Steph:
Exatamente, você também deve respeitar as placas de trânsito.
Em algumas rodovias, você precisa pagar pedágio. Preste atenção para
dirigir nas faixas corretas, caso haja um pedágio na rodovia. Temos
faixas diferentes para motoristas com passes pré-pagos e outra para
aqueles que pagarão em dinheiro.
Acredito que falamos sobre tudo!
Então, fique atento aos seus arredores, sempre olhe para as placas. E
também faça a sua pesquisa para garantir que você saiba as leis de
trânsito do lugar aonde está indo.
LA é um ótimo lugar para dirigir.
David:
Eu adoro!
Steph:
Eu curto muito, de verdade! Aonde vamos agora?

52
Part 2.
Vocabulary Let’s start by listing some traffic laws. Some of them are valid in most states in the U.S., like the
following:
It is prohibited to litter.
É proibido jogar lixo em vias públicas.
Notice that the term prohibited indicates that something is against the law.
Doing something that is illegal may result in penalties, which will vary depending on the state.
There isn’t a regulation that applies to all American states. It is really important to do some
research on traffic laws beforehand if you intend to drive in the U.S.
Take a look at this next traffic law:
It’s illegal to smoke with children in the car in California and in eight other states.
É ilegal fumar com crianças dentro do carro na Califórnia e em outros oito estados.
In this case, you can see the term illegal, which is equivalent to against the law. So, we could
say:
It’s against the law to smoke with children in the car in California and in
eight other states.
There are other ways of expressing prohibitions. Have a look at the examples:
It is prohibited to litter. / You mustn’t litter. / You can’t litter.


53
Here, we are using mustn’t and

can’t to indicate that something is
prohibited.
Besides knowing what not to do, you
should also know what you must
do. Recognizing the traffic signs will Stop sign
help you. Let’s see some of the most Sinal de pare / Parada obrigatória
common ones:
The stop sign means you must

stop the car because you are near a
crossing.
Another one: No-U-turn sign
Proibido retorna
This one means you

can’t go in the opposite
direction by simply
reversing the direction
of the car on the same
road or street on which
you are.
We also have these
ones here: Pedestrian-crossing sign Crosswalk
Travessia de pedestres Faixa de pedestres
The pedestrian-crossing sign is generally

represented by the symbol of a walking person
or the words: PED XING. Always pay attention
to the crosswalk, the lines marked on the street
where pedestrians can cross and before which
drivers must stop to give them the right of way.
Let’s see another common sign:
Yield sign
The yield sign, sometimes called give-way sign,
Dê a preferência
means you must stop to enable another vehicle
to proceed.

54
Now, look at this next one:
Must-turn-left/right sign
Vire à esquerda/direita
Must-turn-left or -right signs

mean you have to go in that
direction. Notice the word must,
which is used to indicate an
obligation. Even if you want to go
straight, you can’t.
Have a look at this one:
No parking – tow-away-zone sign

Proibido estacionar – sujeito a reboque
The no parking – tow-away-zone sign means you can’t park your car there, and
if you do so, it will be towed away.
There are also these important signs:
Nighttime-speed-limit sign
Speed-limit sign Velocidade máxima permitida
Velocidade máxima permitida durante a noite
We have seen the speed-limit sign

before, but there is also the nighttime-
speed-limit sign. You have to drive
slower at night, mainly to avoid hurting
pedestrians. And keep in mind that
those signs are in miles per hour.
Another important sign is the toll-road
sign:

55
It indicates you are entering a public or private road which you have to pay a fee
to use. They are also called turnpikes. The most used method in the U.S. is the
electronic toll payment, and the central lanes are usually exclusive for this option.
If you choose to pay cash, you will probably need to have change. Some toll
booths are electronic and will only take the exact amount in coins.
Besides learning the traffic signs and knowing how to choose the right toll road
lane, there is one more important safety rule you must respect.
You must overtake on the left.

Você tem que ultrapassar pela esquerda.
Notice the use of must to talk about things that are obligatory. Even though
overtaking on the right is illegal, some drivers do it. So be aware of your surroundings.
In some states, such as California, motorcycles can ride in between lanes, so
watch out for the blind spot when you change lanes. The best tip here is:
Beware of motorcycles in between lanes.

Fique atento a motocicletas entre as faixas.
Also, pay attention to the carpool lane, sometimes called HOV lane (high-
occupancy-vehicle lane). It is a lane that cannot be used by cars with only one
person, because they are meant to encourage carpooling. Look out for signs that
state the minimum number of people per vehicle to use this lane. So, in short:
You must respect the carpool-lane rules.

Você tem que respeitar as regras da faixa de carona solidária.
When it comes to safety, you must also remember this important rule:
Wear the seat belt.

Use o cinto de segurança.
Finally, if a police officer tells you to stop, this is what you should do:
Stay calm, be nice, and pull over if the police tell you to stop.
Fique calmo, seja gentil e encoste o carro se a polícia te mandar parar.

56
The police officer will probably ask for your driver’s license and the car document
by saying the following:
License and registration, please.

Carteira de motorista e documento do carro, por favor.
Wait for the officer to say what is wrong. If you don’t understand, you can say
one of the following sentences:
Pardon? / Excuse me?

Desculpe?
Sorry, I don’t speak English well.

Desculpe, eu não falo inglês muito bem.
Can you say that again, please?

Você pode repetir isso, por favor?
You may apologize for the violation and, no matter what happens, always thank
the officer in the end. You can say something, such as:
I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.

Desculpe. Não vai acontecer de novo.
Thank you, officer.

Obrigado(a), policial.
Now you know some of the traffic laws and traffic signs in the U.S.,
as well as what to do if a police officer asks you to pull over.

57
Part 3.
Vocabulary
A. Number the columns according to the translation of the words and traffic signs.
Activities
( 1 ) Crosswalk ( 7 ) Must-turn-left/ ( ) Faixa ( ) Sinal de pare /

right sign Parada obrigatória
( 2 ) Lane ( ) Faixa de pedestres
( 8 ) No parking – tow- ( ) Dê a preferência
( 3 ) Stop sign ( ) Travessia de
away-zone sign
pedestres ( ) Estrada com pedágio
(4)N
o-U-turn sign
( 9 ) Toll road /
( ) Velocidade máxima ( ) Proibido estacionar –
( 5 ) Pedestrian- Turnpike
permitida sujeito a reboque
crossing sign
( 10 ) Speed-limit sign
( ) Vire à esquerda/ ( ) Proibido retornar
( 6 ) Yield sign
direita
a) It is to litter.
e. carpool
d. lanes
b) It’s to smoke with children in the car in California and in
eight other states. b. illegal / against the law / prohibited
a. prohibited / illegal / against the law
c) You must overtake on the .

d) Beware of motorcycles in between .

Fique atento a motocicletas entre as faixas.
c. left
e) You must respect the lane rules.

2 / 1 / 5 / 10 / 7
/ 3 / 6 / 9 / 8 / 4

58
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, you will learn how to express obligations using must. You will also see the subject
pronouns and the infinitive form.
Let’s begin with must. It is a modal verb, which means that it is an auxiliary verb that adds a
different meaning to the main verb.
In the affirmative form, it is used to infer the idea of obligation. It means that there will be
consequences if you do anything different than what you must do. Let’s see some examples to
make it clearer:
You must respect the carpool-lane rules.

You must overtake on the left.

These are obligations, because it is the law. Doing otherwise is not only against the law: it might
also cause accidents. If you don’t respect the rules, you may face consequences.
Now pay attention to the structure. Both sentences are in the affirmative form, so we have the
subject you, then the modal verb must, the main verb, and finally, the complement.
As a matter of fact, must is widely used when we refer to traffic rules, safety regulations, laws,
and every other situation that involves obligations.
Let’s see a few more examples:
You must stop at a red light.

Você tem que parar no sinal vermelho.
You must respect the speed limit.

Você tem que respeitar o limite de velocidade.
You must wear the seat belt.

Você tem que usar o cinto de segurança.

59
The negative form of must carries a different meaning. Mustn’t refers to

prohibition, to things we are not allowed or have no permission to do by any
means. We can say either must not or mustn’t. However, as you may expect,
mustn’t is more common in the spoken language, and it sounds more natural.
When we don’t use the contracted form, it sounds like we are emphasizing that
information. Let’s see how we can use mustn’t in a sentence:
You mustn’t speed.

Você não pode ultrapassar o limite de velocidade.
You mustn’t drive on the shoulder of the highway.

Você não pode dirigir no acostamento da autoestrada.
You mustn’t drink and drive.

Você não pode dirigir alcoolizado.
As you can see, the subject you is followed by the modal verb mustn’t, then the
main verb followed by the complement.
You have probably noticed how we’ve mentioned you as the subject of every
sentence in the affirmative and negative forms. That’s because you is a subject
pronoun.
Subject pronouns replace nouns that work as the subject of the sentence. Let’s
see an example.
Marco always drives carefully.

Marco sempre dirige com cuidado.
He never speeds.
Ele nunca ultrapassa o limite de velocidade.
Marco is the subject in the first sentence, because he is the one who performs
the action. If we continue to talk about Marco, it is best not to keep repeating his
name.
So, in the second sentence, we have he, which refers to Marco. By using this
pronoun, we avoid repeating his name. This is the main function of a pronoun.
The subject pronouns are:

60
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
I She
Eu Ela
You
Vocês
You It
Você/Tu Ele/Ela
They
Eles/Elas
He We
Ele Nós
Note that you is used both for the singular and plural forms, and we will only
know the difference based on the context. Check it out:
You are a good driver.

Você é um bom motorista.
You are good drivers.

Vocês são bons motoristas.
In the first sentence, we’re talking about a good driver. There is the article a,
which is only used with singular nouns. The noun driver is also in the singular, so
it is clear that we are only talking about one person.
In the second sentence, though, good drivers is in the plural form, so it means we
are referring to more than one person.
Speakers of the language may help us see this difference in their speech by using
a word along with the pronoun. They may say you people or you guys to make it
clear they are talking to more than one person.
For example:
You must follow the rules.

Você deve seguir as regras.
Vocês devem seguir as regras.
You people must follow the rules.

Vocês devem seguir as regras.
All of you must drive safely.

Todos vocês têm que dirigir com segurança.

61
As you can see, by using expressions such as you people and all of you we
emphasize the plural form, and this is a way to avoid misunderstandings.
Now that you know that the subject pronoun you refers to the second person
singular or plural, let’s take a look at the third person singular – he, she, and it.
He and she are used to refer to people. We use he for men and she for women.
Pay attention to the examples:
Arthur can rent a car. He is 23 years old.

Arthur pode alugar um carro. Ele tem 23 anos.
Julia will drive to the hotel. She knows the way.

Julia vai dirigir até o hotel. Ela conhece o caminho.
We first mentioned the person’s name, Arthur, then we used he to refer to him,
as Arthur is a male name.
After that, we have Julia, a female name, so we used she to refer to her.
For all other cases apart from people, in the third person singular, we use the
neutral pronoun it. Have a look at some examples:
This car is great. It’s very economical.

Este carro é ótimo. Ele é muito econômico.
There are many restaurants on the hotel street. But it’s really noisy.
Tem muitos restaurantes na rua do hotel. Mas ela é bem barulhenta.
In the first example, we have car, so we used it to make the reference. In the
second sentence, we used it again, because we are referring to street. In both
cases, the subject pronoun it replaces nouns that refer to things.
There is another situation in which we use it. It is a in a function called
impersonal it.
When it is used in this function, it is not replacing a noun, such as “car” or “street.”
It is simply being used as the subject of the sentence, because most affirmative
sentences in English must have a subject. Take a look:
It is illegal to drink and drive.

É ilegal dirigir alcoolizado.

62
In both previous examples, we can’t replace it with a noun. That’s why we say
that it is impersonal. It simply works as the subject of the sentences.
But there were other verbs in the previous sentences besides the ones
conjugated with a subject. Let’s see the examples again, but now separately:
Here we have the verb to be, is, following the subject it. Then we have the verb
to litter in the infinitive form as the complement.
Let’s check out the other example:
It is illegal to drink and drive.

Here we also have the verb to be, is, followed by a complement, to drink and
drive.
Note that the verb to litter comes right after an adjective: prohibited. Just like the
complement to drink and drive follows the adjective illegal.
This is a pretty common structure in English: Adjective + Infinitive.
The infinitive form in English is marked by the use of the particle to before the
verb. This particle has no particular meaning in this use. All it does is indicate the
infinitive form of the verb.
For example:
To walk To eat To drive

Andar Comer Dirigir
In all these examples the particle to is placed before the verbs to indicate the
infinitive form.
The infinitive may also be used in sentences that express a comment on a certain
action. Take a look:
It’s illegal to smoke with children in the car in

California and in eight other states.
É ilegal fumar com crianças dentro do carro na
Califórnia e em outros oito estados.

63
First, we have the adjective illegal and then the verb to smoke, which is in the
infinitive form.
Let’s see more examples:
It’s dangerous to drive without the seat belt on.

É perigoso dirigir sem cinto de segurança.
It’s horrible to be stuck in traffic.

É horrível ficar preso no trânsito.
Once again, both examples are formed with the structure Adjective + Infinitive
Form.
We have studied the use of must to express obligation, mustn’t to express

prohibition, the subject pronouns and the structure adjective + infinitive.
For more about these topics, go to the Grammar

Guide section at the end of your book.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Modal Verb Must Page 171

Subject Pronouns Page 228
Infinitive Form Page 157

64
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Mark the option that corresponds to the function of the underlined words.
Activities
a) You must respect the carpool-lane rules.

( 1 ) obligation ( 2 ) prohibition
b) You mustn’t drink and drive.

Você não pode dirigir alcoolizado.
( 1 ) obligation ( 2 ) prohibition
c) He never speeds.
Ele nunca ultrapassa o limite de velocidade.
( 1 ) noun ( 2 ) subject pronoun
d) You are good drivers.

Vocês são bons motoristas.
( 1 ) subject pronoun ( 2 ) noun
e) It is illegal to drink and drive.

( 1 ) prohibition ( 2 ) infinitive form
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word(s), according to the translation in bold.
a) It is prohibited .

65
b) Julia will drive to the hotel. knows the way.
e. must / have to
Julia vai dirigir até o hotel. Ela conhece o caminho.
d. mustn’t/can’t
f. to smoke
c) This car is great. is very economical.
Este carro é ótimo. Ele é muito econômico.
a. to litter
b. She
c. It
d) You speed.
Você não pode ultrapassar o limite de velocidade.
d. 1
e. 2

e) You respect the speed limit.
Você tem que respeitar o limite de velocidade
b. 2
a. 1
c. 2

f) It’s illegal with children in the car in California and
in eight other states.
Notes

66
4
Expressways.
Part 1.
Video Script Driving on American expressways can be a little confusing for those who are not
used to it. But things can get much easier if you prepare for them adequately.
In this chapter, you will have the opportunity to learn a bit about what it is like
to drive on an American expressway and how you can make your trip go well
and smoothly. And, as usual, you will also see some very useful vocabulary and
grammar that will help you improve your English.
Now look at the script of Expressways:
EXPRESSWAYS

Steph:
American highways can be totally overwhelming because it’s four, five,
six lanes! One exit on each side, it gets a little crazy, but don’t worry! I
got you, I’m going to help you through it!
David:
She’s a great driver, guys!
Steph:
I am!
David:
Let’s check it out!
Steph:
There is something very important about driving in the U.S. that you
should be ready for. Unlike many cities around the globe, in major
American cities you will probably be driving on freeways, expressways
or highways at some point in your journey, even if you’re not navigating
interstates.
The concept of freeways, expressways, and even highways may vary

by region. But what you should know is that they are high-speed roads
that may have several lanes and exits on both sides, which means that
drivers should watch out for traffic signs indicating exits and exit-only
lanes.

68
Also watch out for signs with the speed limit. There will always be a
maximum speed limit that may vary from one road to another, but in
general it’s about 65 miles per hour. And since these are high-speed
roads, there will probably be signs indicating the minimum speed as
well. Driving too slow on such roads might be as dangerous as going
over the speed limit.
In the U.S., we use numbers for highways, not names.
David:
And to add to the complication, we use north and south, and east and
west.
Steph:
I know that all sounds very confusing; but don’t worry, we’ve got you
covered! Watch this segment!
David:
Steph:
OK, so, when you’re going to be driving on the highway, when you’re
in your car, it can be a bit confusing. There are six lanes, there’s a lot of
information, there are signs; so, you have to be really, really aware. But
how do you even know which lane you should be driving on?
David:
That’s a good question. The far-right lane is usually to merge onto the
freeway or to exit the freeway. And the far-left lane is usually the carpool
lane, which needs two or more people, sometimes three, depending on
where you are. Just like we always say: check the signs.
Steph:
The middle lane is for just a smooth ride. You don’t want to pass people,
you don’t want to go too slow, you want to just enjoy the ride.
I think that driving on the highway is so much fun! David is terrified of
driving on the highway because it’s too fast for him. But I find it super,
super fun! Just be safe, be aware of your surroundings, and you’ll get
more comfortable as you drive more.
David:
The worst thing, guys, is getting stuck in a traffic jam. LA is notorious for
that, specifically the 405. So if it happens, just play some good music,
and you’ll get through it.

69
VIAS EXPRESSAS
[Na sala de estar]

Steph:
As rodovias americanas podem ser bem impactantes, porque têm
quatro, cinco, seis faixas, e uma saída de cada lado... Tudo fica um pouco
caótico. Mas não se preocupe! Eu estou aqui, e vou ajudar vocês com
isso!
David:
Ela é uma ótima motorista, pessoal!
Steph:
Eu sou!
David:
Vamos dar uma olhada!
Steph:
Há algo muito importante sobre dirigir nos EUA para o qual você deve
estar preparado. Ao contrário de muitos lugares do mundo, em grandes
cidades americanas, você provavelmente vai dirigir em autoestradas,
vias expressas ou rodovias em algum ponto da sua viagem, mesmo que
você não esteja viajando entre estados.
O conceito de autoestrada, via expressa, e até de rodovia pode variar

segundo a região. Mas o que você deve saber é que elas são vias de alta
velocidade que podem ter várias faixas e saídas de ambos os lados. Isso
significa que os motoristas devem ficar atentos às placas de trânsito
que indicam saídas e faixas somente para saída.
Também fique atento às placas de limite de velocidade. Sempre haverá

um limite máximo de velocidade, que pode variar de uma via para outra,
mas que geralmente fica em torno de 65 milhas por hora. E como essas
são vias de alta velocidade, provavelmente haverá placas indicando a
velocidade mínima também. Dirigir muito devagar nessas vias pode ser
tão perigoso quanto exceder o limite de velocidade.
Nos Estados Unidos, usamos números para rodovias, e não nomes.
David:
Para complicar ainda mais, nós usamos norte e sul, leste e oeste.
Steph:
Eu sei que tudo isso parece muito confuso, mas não se preocupe, nós
ajudamos você! Assistam ao segmento.

70
David:
Vamos dar uma olhada!
Steph:
Certo, é o seguinte: quando você está dirigindo pela rodovia e está
no seu carro, isso pode ser um pouco confuso. Seis faixas, muita
informação, placas... então, você precisa estar muito atento. Mas como
saber em que faixa você deveria estar dirigindo?
David:
Essa é uma ótima pergunta. A faixa mais à direita é geralmente para
entrar na autoestrada ou para sair dela. E a mais à esquerda geralmente
é a faixa de carpool, ou carona solidária, em que tem de haver duas ou
mais pessoas, algumas vezes três, no carro, dependendo de onde você
estiver. Como sempre dizemos, chequem as placas.
Steph:
As faixas centrais são para você dirigir tranquilo. Você não precisa
ultrapassar ninguém, nem dirigir devagar demais: você só quer
aproveitar o passeio.
Eu acho que dirigir na rodovia é muito divertido! David morre de medo
de dirigir na rodovia porque é rápido demais para ele. Mas eu acho
super, superdivertido! Só tenha cuidado, fique atento aos seu entorno, e
você ficará mais à vontade conforme for dirigindo mais.
David:
A pior parte, pessoal, é ficar preso no engarrafamento. Los Angeles é
conhecida por isso, especificamente a 405. Caso isso aconteça, coloque
uma música boa, que você vai sair dessa!

71
Part 2.
Vocabulary Highway is the most common name for high-speed roads, but you might come across some
other names, such as freeway and expressway. The exact definition of each of them will vary
according to the region.
There are high-speed roads that connect places within the same state and others that cross
different states, which are called interstates.
They have no names, but follow a
numbering scheme: they are assigned
a letter – “I” for “interstate” – along
with one- or two-digit numbers. For
example: I-94 connects Montana
to Michigan, and I-25 starts in New
Mexico and goes all the way to
Wyoming.
On the U.S. maps they are represented
by red and blue road signs, just like
these:
When you use the GPS, it will probably give you directions using the letters and numbers. If you
are going from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, for example, you might get this direction:
Take I-15 N to Las Vegas.
But not only interstates are numbered like that. Other highways also follow this pattern, whose
logic is based on a network of high-speed roads that exists since 1956. Many details were
considered upon its implementation, but what you should know is basically this:
Routes with even numbers connect the states from east to west.
Rotas com números pares conectam os estados de leste a oeste.
Routes with odd numbers connect the states from north to south.
Rotas com números ímpares conectam os estados de norte a sul.

72
So, regarding that GPS direction, this is what we have:
Take I-15 N to Las Vegas.

Pegue a interestadual 15, direção norte, para Las Vegas.
It means Take Interstate 15 going north to Las Vegas. 15 is an odd number, so

it means that you are going from north to south or vice versa.
It is always good to have a clear
notion of the direction you are
going: in case you need to take
a detour to fill up the tank or get
something to eat, for example, you
will know your way back. You can
always make sure you are going
in the right direction by paying
attention to road signs like these:
If you want to learn how to drive in a certain state beforehand, you can check the
Driver’s Handbook, a kind of guide for drivers.
In this handbook you will find:
Occupant protection rules: wearing seat belts and using proper

safety seats for children.
Medidas de proteção para passageiros: uso do cinto de segurança e
da cadeirinha para crianças.
Right-of-way rules regarding pedestrians, intersections,

crosswalks, and roundabouts.
Regras de preferência para pedestres, nos cruzamentos,
nas faixas de pedestre e nas rotatórias.
How to choose the right lane to drive and how to change

lanes correctly.
Como escolher a faixa certa para dirigir e como trocar de faixas
corretamente.

73
Highways are high-speed ways with many lanes and exits, and if you don’t
know how to drive through them, you might get a ticket, or even get lost.
In order to drive safely, you should know about a few key elements on a highway.
Let’s see them:
HIGHWAY KE Y ELEMENTS
Traffic signs / Road signs Lanes Entrance ramp

Placas de trânsito Faixas Via de acesso à rodovia
Exit / Exit ramp Exit-only lane

Saída / Via de saída Faixa exclusiva para quem Speed limit
da rodovia vai sair da rodovia Limite de velocidade
The general rules concerning lanes are:
The far-right lane is for merging onto the road or exiting it.
A faixa mais à direita é para entrar na estrada ou sair dela.
The far-left lane is for overtaking.

A faixa mais à esquerda é para ultrapassagens.
The middle lanes are for smooth rides.

A faixa do meio é para viagens mais tranquilas.

74
There might be exits and entrances on the left lane as well, but they are usually
on the right. So that is the lane where people drive slower. If you are not
confident about driving on a highway, stay on the right lane and pay attention to
merging vehicles, that is, vehicles entering the road.
But if you are thinking about overtaking, you should use the left lane. Do not
forget to check the mirrors and to use the turn signal or blinkers.
And finally, the middle lanes, which aren’t usually as busy as the others, since
there are no cars entering or exiting them all the time.
There is also the shoulder, which you’re not supposed to use unless you have a
problem with your car.
So, the rule is:
Use the shoulder for emergency stops only.

Use o acostamento somente para paradas de emergência.
Here we have a short list with some kinds of emergencies you might have on the
road:
EMERGENCY ON THE ROAD
A flat tire A car breakdown A car crash

Um pneu furado Um carro enguiçado Uma batida
Now let’s take a look at some of the sentences concerning car problems you
might have to report to the insurance company:
I ran out of gas.

Fiquei sem gasolina.
My car broke down / doesn’t work.

Meu carro quebrou / não está funcionando.

75
The car won’t start.

O carro não está ligando.
I crashed the car.

Bati o carro.
Someone crashed into my car.

Alguém bateu no meu carro.
I need a tow truck to come and get me.

Preciso que um reboque venha me buscar.
I need someone to come change a flat tire.

Preciso de alguém para trocar um pneu furado.
If you need to inform your location,

you can check the coordinates on
your GPS, or you can look for the
mile markers along the highway.
They are road signs like this one:
If you are on an interstate, you should also inform the state where you are. You
could say something like that:
I’m on I-10, mile 193, in Arizona.

Estou na interestadual 10, milha 193, no Arizona.
And there is another kind of possible incident that doesn’t really involve
mechanical problems or a crash. Suppose you’ve stopped for a quick snack and,
when you return to the car, you realize it has been stolen or the window has been
broken. That can actually happen, but the insurance usually covers this kind of
situation as well. In that case, contact the insurance company to report it.
Here is what you can say:

76
Someone stole the car.

Alguém furtou o carro.
Someone broke into my car.

Alguém arrombou o meu carro.
Now you know the most common names for access roads, some tips for
driving on American roads, and how to proceed in case of incidents.

77
Part 3.
Vocabulary
Activities
( 1 ) Highway/Freeway/ ( 6 ) Entrance ramp ( ) Faixa ( ) Placas de trânsito

Expressway
( 7 ) Exit ramp ( ) Acostamento ( ) Carro enguiçado
( 2 ) Interstate
( 8 ) Car crash ( ) Via de saída da ( ) Vias de alta
( 3 ) Driver’s rodovia velocidade
( 9 ) Shoulder
Handbook
( ) Interestadual ( ) Colisão/Batida
( 10 ) Flat tire
( 4 ) Lane
( ) Via de acesso à ( ) Manual do condutor
( 11 ) Car breakdown
( 5 ) Traffic signs / rodovia
( ) Pneu furado
Road signs
d. broke down / doesn’t work / does not work /

a) The far-right is for merging onto the road or exiting it.
A faixa mais à direita é para entrar na estrada ou sair dela.
isn’t working / is not working

b) The far-left lane is for .
A faixa mais à esquerda é para ultrapassagens.
c) Use the for emergency stops only.

f. broke into
e. flat tire
Use o acostamento somente para paradas de emergência.

d) My car .
b. overtaking
Meu carro quebrou / não está funcionando.

c. shoulder
a. lane
e) I need someone to come change a .

Preciso de alguém para trocar um pneu furado.
/ 11 / 1 / 8 / 3 / 10
4 / 9 / 7 / 2 / 6 / 5
f) Someone the car.

Alguém arrombou o carro.

78
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, we will see a few verb forms, such as the simple present and the simple past, and
how we can use them.
Let’s start with the simple present, which is used to talk about facts, habits, and routine.
The verb to be is usually the first one we learn about. This verb has two main meanings. Let’s see
a couple of sentences with it:
SIMPLE PRESENT – VERB TO BE
I’m on I-10, mile 193, in Arizona.

Estou na interestadual 10, milha 193, no Arizona.
The speed limit here is 40 mph.

O limite de velocidade aqui é 40 milhas por hora.
In the first sentence, the verb to be is used to show a permanent or temporary location. We are
saying where we are. In the other one, the sentence is a bit different, because the verb refers to a
permanent or temporary state.
Now that we already know the verb to be can refer either to location or state, let’s see how it is
used in the affirmative form of the simple present.
We have already seen the subject pronouns. Now, pay attention to how they are used in the verb
conjugation:
I am She is
Eu sou/estou Ela é/está You are
Vocês são/estão
You are It is
Você é/está Ele(a) é/está They are
Eles(as) são/estão
He is We are
Ele é/está Nós somos/estamos

79
Remember that the short forms of the verbs are preferred in spoken language, as
they make the speech flow much better. So, for example: I am becomes I’m. Let’s
check some other examples:
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
You’re on the carpool lane.
Você está na faixa de carona solidária.
He’s on the fast lane.

Ele está na faixa expressa.
We’re on our way to New York.

Estamos a caminho de Nova York.
It’s annoying to be stuck in traffic.

É irritante ficar preso no engarrafamento.
Both the interrogative and the negative forms are also pretty simple. Let’s take
an example we’ve already used and rewrite it in the interrogative form:
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Is he on the fast lane?
Ele está na faixa expressa?
In English, the verb to be comes before the subject to form the interrogative.
Now have a look at the negative form:
NEGATIVE FORM
He is not / isn’t on the fast lane.
Ele não está na faixa expressa.

80
All we have to do is place not right after the verb to be. It can be used either in
the complete form or in the contracted form. However, note that the contracted
form will sound more natural in spoken English.
The verb to be also has its very own form in the simple past. Let’s see what it
is like:
SIMPLE PAST – VERB TO BE
I was She was

Eu era/estava Ela era/estava You were
Vocês eram/estavam
You were It was
Você era/estava Ele(a) era/ estava They were
Eles(as) eram/
He was We were estavam
Ele era/estava Nós éramos/
estávamos
There is no difference in structure between the interrogative and negative forms

of the simple present and the simple past of the verb To Be. They are formed
the same way. But we don’t contract the subject and the verb in the past, as we
do in the present. There is only one possible contraction: the verb plus not in the
negative form: wasn’t or weren’t.
There are many other verbs in English apart from the verb to be. Conjugating
the other verbs in the simple present is not difficult. In the affirmative form,
the verbs have the same conjugation for all subjects, except for the third person
singular.
Let’s see an example in the affirmative form:
SIMPLE PRESENT – OTHER VERBS
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
I need a tow truck to come and get me.
Preciso que um reboque venha me buscar.
It is just the same for I, you, we, they. So, it goes like this: I need / You need / We
need / You need / They need.
The third person singular – he, she, and it – is different. Take a look:

81
AFFIRMATIVE FORM – THIRD PERSON SINGULAR

He needs a big car.
Ele precisa de um carro grande.
She needs a safe car.

Ela precisa de um carro seguro.
It needs more fuel.

Ele (o carro) precisa de mais combustível.
Basically, the rule is to add -S to the verbs conjugated in the third person
singular. However, there are some spelling rules. We need to add -ES or –IES
to certain verbs. These letters don’t change the meaning of the verbs, just the
spelling.
The general rule of adding -S to the end of the verb in the third person singular
is for the affirmative form only. In the interrogative and negative forms, we
don’t change the main verb, that is, it remains in its base form. However, we need
to add an auxiliary verb to form the sentences.
The auxiliary verb for the simple present is do. For the third person singular, this
auxiliary must be conjugated, so it becomes does. In short, we use do for I, you,
we, and they, and we use does for he, she, and it.
In the negative form, we add not right after the auxiliary verb. Then it becomes
do not or does not. The contracted forms will be don’t and doesn’t.
Have a look at some examples:
NEGATIVE FORM
You do not / don’t drive well.
Você não dirige bem.
Mark does not / doesn’t drive well.

Mark não dirige bem.
As you can see in the previous examples, we used don’t to make the negative
form of the simple present in the first sentence because the subject is you. But

82
in the second sentence, the subject is Mark (he), so we used doesn’t. In both
sentences, the main verb drive appears in its base form, without “to.”
Now let’s have a look at the interrogative form:
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Do you drive well?
Você dirige bem?
Does Mark drive well?

O Mark dirige bem?
To form the interrogative, all we have to do is to place the auxiliary verb before
the subject and then use the main verb in its base form, without “to.”
Let’s talk about the simple past of other verbs now. As the name suggests, it
refers to a single action in the past.
Verbs in English can be either regular or irregular. For the regular verbs, we add -D,
-ED, or -IED to the end of their base form to conjugate them in the past. Take a look:
SIMPLE PAST – RE GUL AR VERBS
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
I crashed the car.
Bati o carro.
Here, to crash is an example of a regular verb, so it just gets the termination -ED
to form the simple past. And we will use crashed for all persons, from I to they.
Most verbs in English are regular. Let’s see some other common regular verbs:
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
Infinitive: to start (começar; iniciar; ligar)
I started the car with this button.
Eu liguei o carro com este botão.

83
Infinitive: to change ( mudar; trocar)

I changed my car tires.
Eu troquei os pneus do meu carro.
As seen before, we conjugate the verb start in the past by adding -ED. However,
note that the verb to change already ends in -E, so we only have to add -D to
form its past.
Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are not conjugated according to a general rule.
Each verb has its own conjugation in the past, which may be completely different
from the base form. For example:
SIMPLE PAST – IRRE GUL AR VERBS
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
I ran out of gas.
In this case, we have the verb to run, which is irregular. Its form changes when
conjugated in the past: it becomes ran. And we will use ran for all subjects – from
I to they.
Let’s see some other examples with irregular verbs:
SIMPLE PAST – IRRE GUL AR VERBS
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
Infinitive: to break (quebrar)
My car broke down.
Meu carro quebrou.
Infinitive: to steal (furtar/roubar)

Someone stole the car.
As you can see, the past of break is broke and steal becomes stole. That is, the
conjugation in the past for these irregular verbs is different from their base forms.
To make the negative and interrogative forms, just like in the simple present, we

84
will need to use an auxiliary verb. In the simple past, we use did for all subjects.
When we add the auxiliary verb, there is a change in the main verb – it goes back
to its base form.
Let’s start with an example in the negative form:
SIMPLE PAST – OTHER VERBS
NEGATIVE FORM
My dad did not / didn’t drive well last night.
Meu pai não dirigiu bem ontem à noite.
Here there’s the subject, my dad, then the auxiliary verb did and the particle
not. Notice that the contracted form didn’t is also possible. In fact, it is more
commonly used. After that, there’s the main verb drive in its base form. That is
how we form the negative form in the simple past, regardless of the type of verb
we are using.
In the interrogative form we will use the same auxiliary verb. Take a look:
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Did my dad drive well last night?
O meu pai dirigiu bem ontem à noite?
Notice that the auxiliary verb did is placed before the subject, and that the main
verb is in its base form. This is how we form the interrogative form of the Simple
Past, regardless if the verb is regular or irregular.
As you can see, to form the negative and interrogative forms of the simple
present and the simple past of other verbs, we need to add an auxiliary verb:
AUXILIARY VERBS TO MAKE THE NE GATIVE

AND INTERROGATIVE FORMS
VERBOS AUXILIARES PARA FORMAR A NEGATIVA E A INTERROGATIVA
Simple Present
Do (I, you, we, they) / Does (he, she, it)
Do (eu, você, nós, eles) / Does (ele, ela)

85
Simple Past
Did
While the simple present has one auxiliary verb that will be conjugated in the
third person singular, the simple past will carry the same auxiliary verb for all
persons. Besides, in both verb forms, the main verb will be kept in its base form in
both negative and interrogative sentences.
In this chapter, you have studied how to use the simple present and
the simple past of the verb to be and of the other verbs.
For more details, go to the Grammar Guide section at the end of your book.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Simple Present – Verb To Be Page 222

Simple Present – Other Verbs Page 216
Spelling Rules for the Third Person – Simple Present Page 226
Simple Past – Verb To Be Page 211
Simple Past – Other Verbs Page 205

86
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Match the sentences to their functions according to the following.
Activities
( 1 ) Simple Present ( 2 ) Simple Past – regular verb ( 3 ) Simple Past – irregular verb
a) ( ) Do you drive well?

Você dirige bem?
b) ( ) Someone stole the car.

c) ( ) I crashed the car.

Bati o carro.
d) ( ) Is he on the fast lane?

Ele está na faixa expressa?
e) ( ) He needs a big car.

Ele precisa de um carro grande.
f) ( ) My car broke down.

Meu carro quebrou.
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
a) I of gas. ( ran out / runs out)


87
b) My car . (doesn’t work / don’t work)
d. Do you drive
Meu carro não está funcionando.
f. didn’t drive
b. doesn’t work e. is
c) I the car. (crashes/crashed)
Bati o carro.
c. crashed
a. ran out
d) well? (Do you drive / Does you drive)
Você dirige bem?
e) The speed limit here 40 mph. (am/is)
d. 1
e. 1
f. 3

O limite de velocidade aqui é 40 milhas por hora.
b. 3
a. 1
c. 2

f) My dad well last night. (didn’t drive / don’t drive)
Meu pai não dirigiu bem ontem à noite.
Notes

88
5
Driving in
the City.
Part 1.
Video Script Driving around major cities in the United States requires patience and caution.
The streets are usually busy, traffic is frequently too slow, and there are also
the other things you have to pay attention to in order to avoid trouble. It may
not seem easy in the beginning, but with some proper guidance you can have a
nice experience. In this chapter, we will show you some important aspects about
driving on urban roads and some traffic rules in the U.S. As usual, you will also
learn important language items to help you improve your language skills.
Now, here is the script of Driving in the city.
DRIVING IN THE CIT Y

Steph:
Now we’re going to talk about a different kind of driving. We’ve talked
about freeway and highway driving, which is so, so fun. But now, we’re
going to talk about something different: we’re going to talk about city
driving!
David:
Driving in the city, you have to watch out for pedestrians, bicycles, and
motorized scooters.
Steph:
Absolutely! You have to be really, really aware of your surroundings.
We’re going to get into details!
[In the street]

Steph:
But we’re here to talk about the sign behind us. It says “‘PED XING.”
What could that possibly mean?
David:
What does that mean? I have no clue!
Steph:
PED stands for “pedestrian,” and X is like a cross. So, it’s pedestrian
crossing. It makes sense!

90
David:
Nice! So, when you’re driving through the city, always make sure you are
aware of the pedestrian-crossing signs, the stop signs, and the traffic lights.
Steph:
Pedestrians, crossings, lights, you have to be aware of your
surroundings!
There are a few things that you have got to remember when you’re
driving around the city!
David:
Yes, there’s a traffic light behind us, and that’s important, because it lets
you know when to go, stop or make a left turn.
Steph:
Yeah, there’s also a left lane here, and normally you’d think that you
can make a left turn, right? But there’s a sign behind me that says you
cannot make a left turn or a U-turn from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through
Friday. And it’s super complicated, it’s a very LA thing. You have got to
pay attention.
David:
Always pay attention to the signs.
Parking is so important! Specially in LA!
Steph:
We have meters here in America. Sometimes it’s two hours, four hours…
you have to always look at the signs and make sure that you’re parking
in the right spot.
[By the parking meter]

David:
There’s two things that are super important when you’re parking in LA.
There’s always a parking meter and there’s always a sign. So, we’re
going to go ahead and pay for our spot. Awesome! We’re only allowed
to pay for two hours, because that’s what the sign says. It’s not that we
can’t pay all day, but that’s what the sign says.
And it looks like we’re good to go!
[On the sidewalk]

Steph:
Let’s go back to the curbs for a second. There are different kinds of
curbs, right? There are red curbs, blue curbs, white curbs, and green
curbs. Do not park on a red curb! You will get your car towed! You’re not
allowed to stop, you’re not allowed to stay there even for a minute, OK?

91
And pay attention to the colors.

And if you can’t find a spot, there are so many parking lots, parking
structures, where you can park at.
Don’t worry! You’ll be on time!
David:
You’ll be fine!
Steph:
Just make sure you do your research, to know if there are parking lots
around, OK?
David:
You guys are good!
Steph:
You’ve got it!
DIRIGINDO NA CIDADE
[Na sala de estar]

Steph:
OK, agora vamos conversar sobre um tipo diferente de direção. Nós
conversamos sobre dirigir em autoestradas e rodovias, o que é muito
divertido! Mas agora vamos falar sobre algo diferente, vamos falar sobre
dirigir na cidade!
David:
Quando estiver dirigindo na cidade, você tem que ficar atento aos
pedestres, bicicletas e patinetes motorizados.
Steph:
Exatamente! Você tem que estar muito, muito atento ao seu entorno.
Vamos entrar em mais detalhes!
[Na rua]
Steph:
Mas estamos aqui para falar sobre a placa atrás da gente. Está escrito
“PED XING”. O que será que isso significa?
David:
O que isso quer dizer? Eu não faço ideia!

92
Steph:
PED quer dizer “pedestres”, e X se parece com uma cruz, de cruzar,
atravessar. Logo, é uma travessia de pedestres! Faz sentido!
David:
Legal! Quando você estiver dirigindo pela cidade, sempre fique atento às
placas de travessia de pedestres, às placas de pare e aos sinais de trânsito.
Steph:
Pedestres, travessias, sinais, você tem que saber o que está à sua volta.
Então, vimos algumas coisas das quais você precisa se lembrar quando
está dirigindo pela cidade!
David:
Sim, há um sinal de trânsito atrás da gente, e isso é importante, porque
ele te diz quando você pode seguir, parar ou virar à esquerda.
Steph:
Temos uma faixa à esquerda aqui, e você pensaria que pode virar à
esquerda, certo? Mas atrás de mim há uma placa que diz que você não
pode virar à esquerda ou fazer um retorno das 4h da tarde às 7h da
noite, de segunda a sexta. É supercomplicado, é típico de Los Angeles.
Você tem que prestar atenção.
David:
Sempre preste atenção às placas.
Conhecer as regras de estacionamento é muito importante,
principalmente em Los Angeles!
Steph:
Nós temos parquímetros aqui nos Estados Unidos. Às vezes você pode
ficar duas, quatro horas, mas você sempre tem que olhar as placas e se
certificar de que está parando na vaga correta.
[Ao lado do parquímetro]

David:
Há duas coisas superimportantes quando estiver estacionando em Los
Angeles: sempre há um parquímetro e uma placa. Então, vamos pagar
pela nossa vaga. Maravilha! Podemos pagar somente por duas horas,
porque é isso o que diz a placa. Não é que não possamos ficar o dia
todo, mas é o limite que está na placa.
E parece que estamos prontos!
[Na calçada]
Steph:

93
Vamos falar um pouco sobre os meios-fios. Existem tipos diferentes

de meios-fios, correto? Há os meios-fios vermelhos, azuis, brancos e
verdes. Não estacione junto a um meio-fio vermelho! Seu carro será
rebocado! Você não tem permissão para estacionar, mesmo que seja por
um minuto, OK? E preste atenção às cores!
Caso não consiga achar uma vaga, existem muitos estacionamentos
e prédios com vagas em que você pode estacionar. Portanto, não se
preocupe! Você não vai se atrasar!
David:
Vai ficar tudo bem!
Steph:
Só não deixe de pesquisar, para saber se existem estacionamentos por
perto, OK?
David:
Eles estão prontos!
Steph:
Com certeza!

94
Part 2.
Vocabulary If you are planning to drive in American cities, the first aspect you have to remember is this one:
You must respect the traffic lights.

Você tem que respeitar o semáforo.
This is an obligation. We use must to say that something is obligatory. We could also use the
structure have got for that. Take a look:
You have got to respect the traffic lights.

In spoken language, this structure is commonly used in its contracted form. Look:
You’ve gotta respect the traffic lights.

The apostrophe + ve is the contraction of the verb to have, and gotta is the contraction of got
+ to.
While driving, you might find some pedestrians jaywalking, that is, crossing the street
carelessly and not using the crosswalk. This is a traffic violation, and there are penalties for
that. So, if you are the pedestrian, remember:
Never jaywalk.
Nunca atravesse fora da faixa.
We’ve used never and a verb – jaywalk – to say what people cannot do. But we could also use
the imperative form of the verb in the negative. Check it out:

95
Don’t jaywalk.
Não atravesse fora da faixa.
However, there is a difference in intensity between those instructions. Never

makes it more emphatic than don’t. Compare:
Never drive or park in the bike lane.

Nunca dirija ou pare na faixa destinada às bicicletas.
Don’t drive or park in the bike lane.

Não dirija ou pare na faixa destinada às bicicletas.
You might not be familiar with this next American

traffic rule, because not every country has it. But in the
U.S. drivers are allowed to turn right even if the traffic
light is red. That is allowed on most American urban
roads, unless there is a road sign telling you otherwise,
like this one:
Or if there is a sign like the next one, which

specifies the period during which you are
not allowed to do that. Have a look:
In this case, you cannot make a right turn on a red light from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
When driving around places we are not familiar with, we should not rely
entirely on our GPS or any other technology. Learning how to ask for directions
is helpful whether we are driving or walking. Let’s see some questions we may
use to do that:
Excuse me, where is the Monterrey Hotel?

Com licença, onde fica o Hotel Monterrey?

96
Here, we are asking a direct question about the location of the hotel. Notice that
we used excuse me to approach the person politely.
You can also choose to ask someone for directions by asking them to show you
the way, like this:
Excuse me. Could you show me the way to a drugstore, please?

Com licença. Você poderia me mostrar o caminho para uma farmácia,
por favor?
Here we used could and please to make a polite request. We should always use
excuse me in cases such as this one too.
The answers will vary, but here are some we are most likely to hear:
Take this street/avenue.

Pegue essa rua/avenida.
Turn right/left.
Vire à direita/esquerda.
Go straight / straight ahead.

Siga em frente.
Turn around. / Go back here.

Retorne aqui.
There are rules for parking too. Each state has its own rules regarding public
parking, but in many places, curbs have different colors to indicate a specific
parking zone. Each state also has its own color code for the curb. We will take
California as an example and show what each curb color means here. Have a look:
CURB COLORS AND THEIR MEANINGS
White curb – Drop-off and pick-up only

Meio-fio branco – Somente para embarque e desembarque
Yellow curb – Loading or unloading passengers or freight

Meio-fio amarelo – Somente para embarque e desembarque de
pessoas ou cargas

97
Blue curb – Parking only allowed for disabled drivers or drivers

carrying disabled people
Meio-fio azul – Zona de estacionamento exclusivo para motoristas
com deficiência ou motoristas levando pessoas com deficiência
Red curb – No parking or stopping

Meio-fio vermelho – É proibido estacionar e parar
Green curb – Short-term parking

Meio-fio verde – Estacionamento permitido por um período curto, de
até 15 ou 30 minutos
In the United States, public parking spots are

paid to ensure parking turnover, so paying
for your public spot is necessary. You will
do it by using the parking meter – or just
meter.
Parking meters will vary from city to city, but the procedures are mostly the same
everywhere. Let’s see them:
1. Park your car by the meter.

Estacione o carro ao lado do parquímetro.
2. Read the sign to check how long you can stay in that spot.
Leia na placa o tempo de permanência permitido.
3. Pay the amount due for the time you’ll be parked.

Pague o valor correspondente ao tempo que você ficará estacionado.
In some streets, such as this one, parallel

parking will be required:

98
And on other streets, you may see a It means you have to park
sign that says head-in parking only, perpendicularly. The front of the car
like this one. should be facing the curb, not the
street, otherwise you may be fined.
If you are in a busy area and can’t Most of the time, parking lots will have
find a parking spot, you can look for a self-service pay stations.
parking lot:
In some parking lots, you will need to pay before getting into your car. In others,
the pay station will be at the control gate and you pay from the car. Always check
that before entering the car. Look for a sign that reads “Pay here” or something
similar.
In this chapter, you’ve learned how to drive properly around the city and how to ask for
directions in case you get lost. You’ve also learned about some parking options and rules.

99
Part 3.
Vocabulary
Activities
( 1 ) Street ( 7 ) Go straight ( ) Faixas para ciclistas ( ) Vire à esquerda
( 2 ) Traffic light ( 8 ) Turn around ( ) Meio-fio ( ) Estacionamento
( 3 ) Parallel parking ( 9 ) Turn left ( ) Vaga ( ) Avenida
(4)P
arking meter ( 10 ) Curb ( ) Parquímetro ( ) Retorne aqui
( 5 ) Bike lanes ( 11 ) Parking spot ( ) Sinal de trânsito ( ) Rua
( 6 ) Avenue ( 12 ) Parking lot ( ) Baliza ( ) Siga em frente
a) . Could you show me the way to (a drugstore), please?

Com licença. Você poderia me mostrar o caminho para (uma farmácia), por favor?
b) Take this .
Pegue essa rua. d. straight / straight ahead
e. meter / parking meter
c) Turn .
Vire à direita.
f. bike lane
d) Go .
Siga em frente.
a. Excuse me
b. street
e) Park your car by the .

c. right
Estacione o carro ao lado do parquímetro.

5 / 10 / 11 / 4 / 2 / 3 /
9 / 12 / 6 / 8 / 1 / 7
f) Never drive or park in the .

Nunca dirija ou pare na faixa destinada às bicicletas.

100
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, you will learn how to give and ask for information and directions using the question
word where, the modal verbs can and could, and the imperative.
When we approach a stranger to ask for information, it is important to be polite. So, before we ask
what we want, we should say “excuse me.” Take a look at these examples:
Excuse me. Can you give me some information?

Com licença. Você pode me dar uma informação?
Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to this hotel?

Com licença. Você pode me dizer o caminho para esse hotel?
Note that in both examples we used the interrogative form with the modal verb can. We have can
+ subject you + main verb give + the object me and the complement some information.
We can ask the exact same questions, with the same structure, but using the modal verb could.
The difference is that could is a bit more formal than can:
Can you...? Could you...?

Você pode...? Você poderia...?
When we talk to a stranger, it might be a good idea to be a bit more formal. But both forms – can
and could – are correct. Let’s rewrite the previous examples using could:
Excuse me. Could you give me some information?

Com licença. Você poderia me dar uma informação?
Excuse me. Could you tell me the way to this hotel?

Com licença. Você poderia me dizer o caminho para esse hotel?
We might also want to ask a question using the question word where if we wish to know the
location of a place. All we have to do is use where followed by the interrogative form. Check it out:

101
WHERE + INTERROGATIVE FORM
MODAL VERBS
Excuse me. Where can I find a drugstore around here?
Com licença. Onde eu posso encontrar uma farmácia por aqui?
In this example, we have the question word where followed by the interrogative
form of the modal verb can. So, we have where followed by can, then the
subject I, the main verb find, and the complement a drugstore around here. The
structure would be the same for other modal verbs as well, such as could, for
example.
Whenever we ask questions with where we will use the following structure:
where + interrogative form, regardless of the verb form.
Let’s see a few examples using the verb to be in the simple present:

Where is the Hollywood Boulevard?
Onde é o Hollywood Boulevard? / Onde fica o Hollywood Boulevard?
Where is the parking lot?

Onde é o estacionamento? / Onde fica o estacionamento?
We can also use other verbs in the simple present to ask questions with where.
The structure will be the same: where + interrogative form.
You probably remember how we make the interrogative form in the simple
present with all the other verbs but the verb to be. We’ll use the auxiliary verb do
for I, you, we, and they; and does for the third person singular – he, she, and it.
Let’s see some examples:

Where do we get the subway to Brooklyn?
Onde nós pegamos o metrô para o Brooklyn?

102
Where does Mary usually park her car?

Onde Mary geralmente estaciona o carro dela?
In the first example, where is followed by the simple present in the interrogative
form, that is, auxiliary do + subject we + main verb get + complement the
subway to Brooklyn.
When we refer to the third person singular – she, he, or it –, as in the second
sentence, we use the auxiliary verb does. Once again, where is followed by the
interrogative form, which in this case is: does she usually park the car?
Now, have a look at an example in the simple past:

You found the car key. Where was it?
Você achou a chave do carro. Onde ela estava?
Here where is followed by the simple past of the verb to be in the interrogative
form, that is, was, then the subject it, which refers to the car key, according to the
context.
When we ask questions in the simple past using verbs that are not the verb to
be, we must use the auxiliary verb did. Have a look at an example:

Where did you find the car key?
Onde você achou a chave do carro?
In this case, we have where, the auxiliary did, the subject you, the main verb find
in its base form, and the complement. In short: where + interrogative form of
the simple past. As a reminder, notice that the auxiliary did will be used for all
persons.
When it comes to main verbs, there is something important to be considered.
Some verbs in English will require a preposition to help convey their meaning;
others won’t. Let’s see how it works:

103
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Where are you coming from?
De onde você está vindo?
I’m coming from the hotel.

Eu estou vindo do hotel.
In the first sentence, we’re asking about origin, and the preposition from is very
important, because it is what really conveys the idea of origin. Without this
preposition, the verb to come doesn’t necessarily refer to a place of origin. So,
if you don’t use the preposition, the sentence will make no sense, there will be
something missing.
Now, check out another example:
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Where are you going (to)?
Para onde você está indo? / Aonde você está indo?
I’m going to the airport.

Eu estou indo para o aeroporto. / Eu estou indo ao aeroporto.
In this case, when we say Where are you going (to)?, the use of the preposition
is optional, because the verb to go always indicates direction, it doesn’t depend
on the preposition to convey this meaning. But when you answer the question,
using the preposition to is obligatory.
Have a look at the questions again in order to analyze their structure:
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Where are you coming from?

104

As you can see in both previous examples, we used the question word where
and then the interrogative form of the present continuous: verb to be + subject
+ main verb in the -ING form + complement.
We have seen many ways to ask questions about places using the interrogative
form or the question word where with any verb form.
But if we get lost and decide to ask for information, besides knowing how to ask
the question, we also need to understand the answer.
Chances are we get an answer in the imperative form when we ask for
directions. Giving directions is basically telling someone how to go somewhere,
much like giving instructions.
Let’s see a short dialogue:
– Excuse me. Could you show me the way to the beach?

– Com licença. Você poderia me mostrar o caminho para a praia?
– Sure. Turn right on the next street and walk ahead.

– Claro. Vire à direita na próxima rua e siga em frente.
Note that there is no to preceding the verbs to turn and to walk to form the
imperative.
Let’s see a few more examples about giving directions using the imperative form:
Take this street/avenue/road.

Pegue essa rua/avenida/estrada.
Turn right/left.
Vire à direita/esquerda.
Go straight / straight ahead.

Siga em frente.
Turn around. / Go back here.

Retorne aqui.

105
As you can see in the examples, to form the imperative in the affirmative form,
you must use the verb in its base form, without to, and add a complement,
whenever necessary.
Now you know how to use the modal verbs can and could
and the question word where to ask questions about places.
You can also use the imperative to give directions.
For more details, go to the Grammar Guide section at the end of your book.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Interrogative Form Page 159

Modal Verb Can Page 165
Modal Verb Could Page 168
Question Word Where Page 193
Imperative Form Page 154

106
Part 5.
Grammar Activities
A. Number the columns according to the function of the structures used in the sentences.
( 1 ) Where + interrogative form of the Simple Present

( 2 ) Where + interrogative form of the Present Continuous
( 3 ) Where + interrogative form of the Simple Past
( 4 ) Where + interrogative form of the Modal Verb
a) ( ) Where are you coming from?

b) ( ) Where did you find the car key?

Onde você achou a chave do carro?
c) ( ) Where does Mary usually park her car?

Onde Mary geralmente estaciona o carro dela?
d) ( ) Excuse me. Where can I find a drugstore around here?

Com licença. Onde eu posso encontrar uma farmácia por aqui?
e) ( ) Where is the parking lot?

Onde é o estacionamento?
f) ( ) Where are you going?

Aonde você está indo?
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct word according to the translation.
a) Excuse me, is the Monterrey Hotel?

Com licença, onde fica o Hotel Monterrey?

107
b) Excuse me. you show me the way to (a drugstore), please?

Com licença. Você poderia me mostrar o caminho para (uma farmácia), por favor?
c) this street.
d. Turn
e. can
f. go
Pegue essa rua.
a. where
b. Could
c. Take
d) left.
Vire à esquerda.
e) Excuse me. you tell me the way to this hotel?
d. 4
e. 1
f. 2
Com licença. Você pode me dizer o caminho para esse hotel?
b. 3
a. 2
c. 1

f) straight ahead.
Siga em frente.
Notes

108
6
At the Gas
Station.
Part 1.
Video Script The self-service culture has a high value in America, and there are many services
that are carried out by the customers themselves. Self-service fueling is definitely
one of them. For those who are not used to it, though, it may be a little confusing
in the beginning. That’s why in this chapter we will show you how you can fill
up the tank of your car in the U.S. in a nice way. You will also learn a couple of
language items that will help you improve your English. Now look at the script of
At the gas station.
AT THE GAS STATION
[At a gas station, by the pump]

Stephany:
So here we are at the gas station to show you guys how to fill up your
tank.
David:
Yes, and it’s a big thing to remember, guys. Make sure you remember
there’s a difference between gallons and liters, right, Steph?
Stephany:
Yeah, that’s right, honey! Make sure to remember: 1 gallon is 3.7 liters.
Don’t forget!
David:
Also, you want to make sure you know which side the gas tank is on,
because it can be on either side. So, make sure you check!
Stephany:
That is true! Also look around: there’s nobody here to help you, right? Do
you see anybody?
David:
There’s no one!
Stephany:
So, make sure to remember: you have to do this by yourself.

110
David:
And you can pay with your credit card.
Stephany:
Yes, you can! And if you’re having trouble paying with your credit card,
remember: you have to go inside and pay with the clerk. If you do so,
make sure to know the pump number, because you’re going to need it.
Should we do it?
David:
Let’s do it!
Stephany:
Let’s go!
[At the clerk booth]

Stephany:
Hi! I would like US$50 on pump number 8, please! If I’m filling up the
tank, is it safe?
David:
How do I do it? Where is the gas tank?
Ralph (gas station clerk):

So, the first thing you do, I guess, is make sure your car is in Park, okay?
You don’t want the car rolling away!
Stephany:
That’s true!

You try to find the button where the gas tank is located. So you hit that
button and the gas tank opens! And then you go to the pump where
you’re at and you choose which gas you want!
Stephany:
Are there different types of gas?

There are a couple different types of gas.
Stephany:
Remember that!

There’s unleaded, plus, and premium. And sometimes there’s diesel! But

111
diesel is for cars that are really big cars. Like him! He’s like a tall guy!
Stephany:
He would be a diesel guy!

So, after you’re done with that, you take the nozzle outside of what’s
holding it, open you gas tank, put the nozzle inside and start the gas,
and you don’t have to worry. The gas will stop once it’s reached the
money that you put in there, or, once the tank is full, the levers will stop
pouring gas. So, don’t worry! It’s not going to overflow! Or catch on fire!
Stephany:
I know you don’t want that! Thank you so much! Oh my gosh, that was
so helpful!
David:
It was incredible, guys!
Stephany:
Thank you, Ralph! That was amazing! That was amazing!
NO POSTO DE GASOLINA
[Em um posto de gasolina, ao lado da bomba]

Stephany:
Estamos aqui no posto de gasolina para mostrar a vocês como encher o
tanque.
David:
Sim! E algo importante para se lembrar, pessoal: não se esqueçam de
que existe uma
diferença entre galões e litros, certo, Steph?
Stephany:
Sim, isso mesmo, querido! Lembrem que 1 galão corresponde a 3,7
litros. Não esqueçam!
David:
Aliás, certifiquem-se de que lado do carro fica o tanque, pois ele pode
ficar de qualquer um dos lados. Então, lembrem-se de verificar.

112
Stephany:
É verdade! E também olhem à sua volta, pois não há ninguém aqui para
ajudar, certo? Você está vendo alguém?
David:
Não tem ninguém aqui!
Stephany:
Então lembrem: vocês têm que fazer isso sozinhos.
David:
E vocês podem pagar com o cartão de crédito.
Stephany:
Sim, podem! E se vocês tiverem dificuldade em pagar com o cartão de
crédito, lembrem-se de que podem entrar e pagar a um dos caixas. Caso
vocês prefiram fazer desse jeito, memorizem o número da bomba de
combustível, por que vocês vão precisar dele. Vamos lá?
David:
Vamos lá!
Stephany:
Vamos!
[Junto ao caixa do posto de gasolina]

Stephany:
Oi! Eu gostaria de colocar US$50 na bomba 8, por favor! É seguro eu
encher o tanque sozinha?
David:
Como fazemos? Onde que fica o tanque?
Ralph (atendente do posto):

Então; a primeira coisa a se fazer é se certificar de que seu carro esteja
em ponto morto, OK? Você não quer que seu carro fique solto!
Stephany:
É verdade.

Tente achar onde está o botão que destrava o tanque de gasolina.
Então, você aperta esse botão e o tanque de gasolina abre! Depois, você
vai até a bomba e escolhe o tipo de gasolina que você quer!

113
Stephany:
Existem tipos diferentes de gasolina?

Existem alguns tipos diferentes de gasolina.
Stephany:
Lembrem-se disso!

Tem a gasolina comum, a plus e a premium. E às vezes tem diesel! Mas
diesel é para carros bem grandes. Como ele! Ele é um cara alto!
Stephany:
Ele seria um cara a diesel!

Então, depois que você escolheu, você tira o bocal de onde ele estiver
pendurado,
abre seu tanque de gasolina, insere o bocal, e começa a colocar
gasolina. E você não precisa se preocupar: a bomba vai parar assim que
chegar na quantia que você inseriu, ou, assim que o tanque encher, as
alavancas vão parar de encher o tanque. Então, não se preocupe! Não
vai transbordar! Nem pegar fogo!
Stephany:
Acho que vocês não querem que isso aconteça! Muito obrigado! Nossa,
isso foi bem útil!
David:
Foi ótimo, pessoal!
Stephany:
Obrigada, Ralph! Foi incrível! Incrível!

114
Part 2.
Vocabulary Let’s see how to fill up the tank in the United States. First of all, it’s important to know the
answer to this question:
On which side of the car is the gas tank?

Em qual lado do carro está o tanque de gasolina?
This is important so that, when you get to the gas station, you are able to stop the car with the
gas tank facing the pump. Here is what you have to do once you get to the gas station:
1. Choose a gas pump and stop the car with the gas tank facing it.
Escolha uma bomba de gasolina e estacione lado a lado com o tanque.
2. Put the car in Park and turn it off.

Coloque o carro em ponto morto e desligue.
3. Turn off the headlights and don’t use the phone.

Desligue os faróis e não use o celular.
4. Open the fuel door.

Abra a tampa do tanque de gasolina.
Since most cars in the U.S. have a lever or a button that opens the tank lid from inside, the
fourth step must be done before you get out of the car.
At most gas stations in the U.S. you have to pay first in order to have access to the fuel. We can
do that in two ways: we can either pay the clerk, who is usually inside the convenience store, or
we can pay at the pump.
If you choose to pay the clerk, then you must check the pump number by which you parked the
car and go into the store.
You can start a conversation with the clerk by greeting them:

115
Hello! Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening.

Olá! Bom-dia / Boa tarde / Boa-noite.
After that, you should tell them the amount you wish to pay and the pump
number. Like this:
I’d like 20 dollars on pump number 3, please.

São 20 dólares na bomba número 3, por favor.
You can pay cash or with a credit card, and the clerk will program the pump to
release the gas you have purchased. They do it from the computer inside the
store. When it’s done, the clerk may say:
All set, sir! / Go ahead, ma’am.

Tudo certo, senhor! / Vá em frente, senhora.
Notice that we use sir to talk to a man, and ma’am to talk to a woman in a polite
way.
If you would rather pay at the pump, you will have to interact with a machine,
and start from the payment part. There should be instructions like the following
ones on the screen:
Insert the card.

Insira seu cartão de crédito ou débito.
Enter your PIN number.

Digite sua senha.
Some gas stations may offer a car wash to be included. If that is the case, there
will be this question on the screen:
Car wash today?

Deseja lavar o carro hoje?

116
Simply press the button that refers to what you wish to do: yes to include a car
wash, and no to refuse it. Sometimes you may see something like this on the
screen:
Insert the amount.

Insira o valor.
After that, you must type in how many dollars you wish to spend on gas.
As soon as the payment is authorized, you will see this instruction on the screen:
Remove nozzle.
Retire o bocal.
After that, you will choose the grade of gas

you want. There is usually diesel, which
is specific to some vehicles; unleaded or
regular, which is the cheapest grade; and plus
and premium, which are different kinds of
a special gas normally used in sophisticated
cars. You can check the car owner’s manual
to make sure which one you are supposed to
use. Once the choice is made, you will have to
press a button like this one here:
Or, if there is a different handle for each kind

of gas grade, it will be somewhat like this:
If you wish to spend just 20 dollars, but do

not have the option to preset the amount,
you must pay attention to the screen and
turn off the lever when that amount is
reached. You will see a message like this one
here on the screen:

117
An important detail to consider is that, in the United States, liquids are measured
in gallons. And the gas price is also per gallon. Take a look:
One gallon is 3.7 litters.

Um galão equivale a 3,7 litros.
Price per gallon

Preço por galão
If you end up using less money than the amount you have paid for, you just need
to go inside the convenience store and get the change. You can tell the clerk:
Can I have the change for pump number 3, please?

Posso pegar o troco para a bomba número 3, por favor?
If you feel insecure, ask someone who is also pumping gas to help you out. You
can approach them and say:
Excuse me, could you help me fill up the tank, please?

Com licença, você poderia me ajudar a encher o tanque, por favor?
In this chapter you have learned how to pump gas in the United States,
as well as the main interactions with the pump or the clerk.

118
Part 3.
Vocabulary
Activities
( 1 ) Gas station ( 7 ) Change ( ) Balconista ( ) Insira o valor
( 2 ) Pump ( 8 ) Gas tank ( ) Litros ( ) Posto de gasolina
( 3 ) Clerk ( 9 ) Liters ( ) Bocal ( ) Tipo de gasolina
(4)T
ype of gas ( 10 ) Insert the ( ) Bomba de gasolina ( ) Preço por galão
amount
( 5 ) Nozzle ( ) Troco ( ) Tanque de gasolina
( 6 ) Price per gallon
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word, according to the translation.
a) One is 3.7 liters.

Um galão equivale a 3,7 litros.
b) On which side of the car is the ?

Em qual lado do carro está o tanque de gasolina?
c) Choose a and stop the car with the gas tank facing it.
f. change
d. nozzle
e. fill up
Escolha uma bomba de gasolina e estacione lado a lado com o tanque.

d) Remove the .
c. pump / gas pump
Retire o bocal.
b. gas tank
a. gallon
e) Could you help me the tank, please?

Você poderia me ajudar a encher o tanque, por favor?
3 / 9 / 5 / 2 / 7 /
10 / 1 / 4 / 6 / 8
f) Can I have the for pump number 2, please?

Posso pegar o troco para a bomba número 2, por favor?

119
Part 4.
Grammar
In the last chapters, we’ve seen a lot of verbs in the imperative form. For example, when we ask
for directions, we may hear:
Go straight ahead. Turn right/left. Don’t park there.

Vá em frente. Vire à direita/esquerda. Não estacione ali.
These are just a few examples of the imperative, which is widely used in English to give
commands, instructions, and even to make requests—And the difference between them depends
on the context and on the intonation. But all these sentences have one thing in common: the
subject does not appear in any of them.
Look at the sentences again and pay attention:
Go straight ahead. Turn right/left Don’t park there.

As you can see, the subject is omitted in every example. In the affirmative form, we use the main
verb (go and turn) and the complement (straight ahead and right/left). And in the negative form
we use the auxiliary verb don’t, followed by the main verb (park), and then the complement (there).
As you know, the subject indicates who is performing the action in the sentence. When we give
a command, an instruction, or make a request, we are always referring to the person or people we
are talking to, and that’s why it is usually omitted from the sentence: in the imperative, the subject
is always you.
But it is still possible to use the subject. Take a look:
You go straight ahead. You turn right/left. Don’t you park there.
We can include the subject you in the imperative to emphasize what you have to do. In the
affirmative form, we can place you before the verb. In the negative form, we use the subject you
after the auxiliary verb don’t. So, it becomes don’t you.

120
As you can see, even in the imperative, in which the subject is rarely used, the
position of the subject is always before the main verb.
The subject of a sentence can be a noun. For example:
Tony always parks by the meter.

Tony sempre estaciona perto do parquímetro.
As we have already seen, if we want to keep talking about Tony, we don’t need
to mention Tony over and over again. In this case, we can replace the noun Tony
with a pronoun. And then we will use a subject pronoun because, after all, Tony
is the subject of the sentence. As the name says, these pronouns will always
replace nouns in the subject position.
Check it out:
Tony always parks by the meter.

Tony sempre estaciona perto do parquímetro.
He is a responsible driver.
Ele é um motorista responsável.
We use the subject pronoun he to avoid repeating the noun Tony.

Let’s review the subject pronouns:
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
I She
Eu Ela You
Vocês
You It
Você Ele/Ela They
Eles/Elas
He We
Ele Nós/A gente
Bear in mind that it can be used to replace a noun that is not referred to a person,
such as in this next example:

121
The car is very fast, and it’s also very economical.

O carro é bem rápido, e ele também é muito econômico.
O carro é bem rápido, e também é muito econômico.
But the pronoun it can also be used simply to perform the function of the subject
in the sentence, without replacing any noun. Look:
It’s important to respect the speed limit.

É importante respeitar o limite de velocidade.
This is the only subject pronoun that can be used like that, as an impersonal
pronoun. Even so, its use still follows the general rule of subject pronouns, that is,
in the previous example, we are using it to perform the function of the subject in
the sentence, and it is placed before the main verb. In this case, to be is the main
verb, and we can see it in the contracted form with the subject.
So, in short: subject pronouns replace nouns that work as the subject of
the sentence, and they always come before the main verb. There is only one
exception, though: interrogative sentences with the verb to be as the main
verb. Compare:
MAIN VERB: TO BE
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
It’s very economical.
Ele é muito econômico.
NEGATIVE FORM
It’s not very economical.
Ele não é muito econômico.
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Is it very economical?
Ele é muito econômico?
As you can see, in the affirmative form, the subject it is placed before the verb to
be, and it can be used in the contracted form it’s. In the negative form, the same
happens, though we add not to the sentence. So we have it’s not. However, in

122
the interrogative form, first we use the verb to be, which is the main verb of the
sentence, and then the subject it. So we have is it.
But bear in mind that this only happens when the verb to be is the main verb of
the sentence, and only in the interrogative form. This will not happen with the
other verbs. Let’s compare the sentences:
MAIN VERB: OTHER VERBS
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
I like this car very much.
Eu gosto muito desse carro.
NEGATIVE FORM
I don’t like this car very much.
Eu não gosto muito desse carro.
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Do you like this car?
Você gosta desse carro?
The main verb of the sentences is like. In the affirmative and negative
sentences, the subject I is placed before the main verb. In the negative, we
include the auxiliary don’t, but the subject is still before the main verb like.
However, in the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb do comes before the
subject, and the subject’s position remains the same: before the main verb like.
Now you know how to use subject pronouns, and that they replace the nouns
before the main verb, except in sentences in the interrogative form with the verb
to be as the main verb.
Let’s take a look at how we can replace a name that comes after the main verb. Look:
Tony asked Karen to park.

Tony pediu para Karen estacionar.
In the sentence, the main verb is asked, in the past. The name Tony is before
the main verb, whereas the name Karen is after the main verb. So, Tony is the
subject and Karen is the object of the verb.
If the subject is the element in the sentence that performs the action, then the
object is the element that suffers the action. To replace a noun in the object
position, we have to use object pronouns.

123
Look at these sentences:
Tony asked Karen to park.

1 2
Tony pediu para Karen estacionar.
He asked her to park.

1 2
Ele pediu a ela para estacionar.
1 g subject
2 g object
Since Tony is the subject of the sentence, third person singular masculine, we use
he, whereas Karen, third person singular feminine, is the object of the sentence,
so we use her.
Let’s look at another example:
Tony gave the car keys to Karen.

1 2
Tony deu as chaves do carro para Karen.
He gave the car keys to her.

1 2
Ele deu as chaves do carro para ela.
1 g subject
2 g object
Again, Tony is the subject, so it comes before the main verb gave. Karen is the
object, and it is placed after the verb. The pronouns don’t need to be right before
the verb in order to be the subject or right after it to be the object. In the previous
example, Karen, the object, is not right after the main verb gave, but that doesn’t
change its function. When we replace the noun with a pronoun, we will use an
object pronoun, which in this case is her.
Let’s see the object pronouns:

124
OBJE CT PRONOUNS
Me Her
Mim/me Ela/lhe/a
You
Vocês
You It
Você Ele/ela/lhe/o/a
Them
Eles/elas/lhes/os/as
Him Us
Ele/lhe/o A gente/nos
Now have a look at the example:

Excuse me, could you help me with the gas pump, please?
Com licença, você poderia me ajudar com a bomba de
gasolina, por favor?
Here, the verb help is the main verb, so you is the subject, and the object
pronoun of the sentence is me.
Let’s take a look at another example:
Put the car in Park. Then, turn it off.

Coloque o carro em ponto morto. Depois, desligue ele. / Depois, o desligue.
There are two sentences here. In the first one, we used the noun car as the
object. In the second sentence, we used it to replace car, but it’s still the object.
Notice that it is the object because it’s after the main verb turn, since it suffers
the action of being turned off. The subjects are omitted in the sentences because
they are in the imperative form.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
So, in this chapter, you’ve seen how

Subject Pronouns Page 228
to use the subject and object pronouns.
Object Pronouns Page 176
For more details on this topic,
go to the Grammar Guide section
at the end of your book.

125
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Classify the words in bold according to the following.
Activities
( 1 ) Subject Pronoun
( 2 ) Object Pronoun
a) ( ) Excuse me, could you help me with the gas pump, please?
Com licença, você poderia me ajudar com a bomba de gasolina, por favor?
b) ( ) Put the car in Park. Then, turn it off.

Coloque o carro em ponto morto. Depois, desligue ele.
c) ( ) He gave the car keys to her.

d) ( ) He asked her to park.

Ele pediu a ela para estacionar.
e) ( ) It’s very economical.

Ele é muito econômico.
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct word according to the translation.
a) Could you help fill up the tank, please?

Você poderia me ajudar a encher o tanque, por favor?
b) is a responsible driver.
Ele é um motorista responsável.

126
c) The car is very fast, and is also very economical.
O carro é bem rápido, e ele também é muito econômico
d. It’s / It is
e. her
f. it
d) is important to respect the speed limit.
a. me
b. He
É importante respeitar o limite de velocidade.
c. it
e) He gave the car keys to .
d. 1
b. 2 e. 1
a. 1
c. 2

f) Put the car in Park. Then, turn off.
Coloque o carro em ponto morto. Depois, desligue ele.
Notes

127
7
Returning
the Car.
Part 1.
Video Script You have come to the end of your ride around the roads of the United States.
Now it is time to return your rental. In this chapter, we will show you how to
nicely go through this process. You will learn not only what to say and what to
do, but also some very interesting language items that will help you improve your
language skills.
Now look at the script of Returning the Car.
RE TURNING THE CAR
[Driving around]
Stephany:
All right, you guys, so this is our very last segment! We hope that this
was helpful! I know it’s very confusing and it’s a lot of information, but I
hope that you are now comfortable, and you can come rent a car in the
U.S. So, for the very last time…
David:
[At the car rental]

Stephany:
All right, you guys, that’s it! We are returning the car, which is really sad,
because I really had so much fun driving it.
David:
We had fun, oh my God! Well, there’s a couple of things you must
remember. First of all, please, make sure the car is clean. Please, it’s not
worth it. They will charge you.
It’s very important that you fill the tank.
Stephany:
You have to have a full tank, you guys. Make sure you go to the
gas station before you head back to the car rental place. You’ll get
overcharged, and you don’t want to do that.
David:
It’s not worth it, just fill the tank. And last but not least…Oh, yes! Don’t

129
forget anything!
Stephany:
No, don’t!
David:
Don’t be like her and forget your comb and make a big...just don’t. Just
remember everything.
Stephany:
And, yeah, there are a few things that they might ask you once you
return the car, which is, you know, “how did it go?” “Did you encounter
any issues?” “Did you have fun?” So, you can just tell them about your
experience, and that’s just standard procedure. You will hand the keys
over and then that’ll be it!
I think that’s it. We’ve covered everything step by step. You know,
through the whole process about renting a car, how to do it, and I hope
it was helpful!
David:
Yeah, it’s been fun!
Stephany:
Right?
David:
You’re going to have fun, and you’re going to do great!
Stephany:
All right! See you!
David:
Bye, guys!
DE VOLVENDO O CARRO
[Em um posto de gasolina, ao lado da bomba]

Stephany:
OK, pessoal! Esse é o nosso último segmento! Nós esperamos que tenha
sido útil! Eu sei que é muito confuso e é muita informação, mas espero
que agora vocês estejam mais à vontade, e que consigam alugar um

130
carro nos Estados Unidos. Então, pela última vez...
David:
Vamos conferir!
[No estacionamento da locadora]

Stephany:
OK, pessoal! É isso! Estamos devolvendo o carro, o que é bem triste,

porque eu me diverti muito dirigindo.
David:
Meu Deus, foi bem divertido! Bem, tem algumas coisas de que você
precisa lembrar. Primeiramente, certifique-se de que o carro está limpo.
Por favor, não vale a pena. Eles vão te cobrar pela limpeza. E é muito
importante que vocês encham o tanque.
Stephany:
Vocês têm que encher o tanque, pessoal! Lembrem-se de passar em
um posto de gasolina antes de voltar à locadora. Valores altos serão
cobrados, e vocês não querem que isso aconteça.
David:
Não vale a pena; então, completem o tanque. E, por último, e não menos
importante... Sim, não esqueçam nada no carro.
Stephany:
Não esqueçam!
David:
Não sejam como ela, que esquece um pente e causa uma grande... só
não esqueçam nada.
Stephany:
E sim, tem algumas coisas que eles podem perguntar quando vocês
forem devolver o carro. Por exemplo: “Como foi a viagem?”, “Vocês
tiveram algum tipo de problema?”, “Vocês se divertiram?”. E vocês
podem contar a sua experiência, e tudo isso é só um procedimento
padrão. Vocês vão entregar as chaves e pronto, é isso!
Eu acho que é isso, acho que cobrimos tudo, passo a passo. Sobre todo o
processo de alugar um carro, como fazer tudo, e espero que tenha sido útil!
David:
Sim, foi divertido!

131
Stephany:
Né?
David:
Vocês vão se divertir, e vai dar tudo certo!
Stephany:
Tá bom. A gente se vê!
David:
Tchau, pessoal!

132
Part 2.
Vocabulary It is time to return your rental. When you get to the return spot, the clerk will probably greet you
and then offer their help. Take a look:
Good morning, sir/ma’am. Good evening, sir/ma’am.

Bom dia, senhor(a). Boa noite, senhor(a).
Good afternoon, sir/ma’am. How may I help you?

Boa tarde, senhor(a). Como posso te ajudar?
Then, you can just say that you want to return the car. Like this:
I’m here to return the car.

Vim devolver o carro.
At this point, the clerk will probably show you the parking spot. So, you will park the car, get out,
and wait for it to be inspected. This is standard procedure. As they do so, there might be some
small talk. The clerk might ask you about your trip by saying:
How was your trip?

Como foi a viagem?
And you can answer:
The trip was good! Great!

A viagem foi boa! Ótima!
Nice! Fantastic!
Boa! Fantástica!

133
Most clerks will also ask you about your experience with the car. They might ask
if you are happy with their service, if the car was in good condition when you
picked it up, or if there was any kind of problem. So, the next questions are likely
to be the following:
Did you like the car?

Você gostou do carro?
Did the car meet your expectations?

O carro atendeu às suas expectativas?
The answer is simple: yes or no. But if you say no, they will probably ask you
why. Then you can explain the reasons. For example:
The car is not very economical.

O carro não é muito econômico.
The car isn’t comfortable for long rides.

O carro não é confortável para viagens longas.
The clerk may also want to know more about the condition of the car at that
particular moment. So, they may ask:
Is the tank full?

O tanque está cheio?
The next question you will hear is probably this one:
Did you take all your belongings?

Você pegou todos os seus pertences?
Notice we used the verb take. But there are two other verbs that fit this
sentence too: collect and gather. So, we could say:

134
Did you collect all your belongings? = Did you gather all your
belongings?
Você recolheu todos os seus pertences?
And then, the clerk will probably ask you if you have had any kind of incident or
minor accident. They may say:
Did you have any incidents?

Você teve algum incidente?
Did you have any minor accident?

Você teve algum acidente pequeno?
Did you use the insurance?

Você acionou o seguro?
In case you did, you could say:
We had a minor accident.

Sofremos um pequeno acidente.
And you may as well add:
There were no damages to the car.

O carro não sofreu danos.
There was little damage to the car.

O carro sofreu poucos danos.
If you had a serious accident, you probably had to request an extra car and report
the accident to the insurance company and the police. In this case, the clerk is
probably going to ask you for the police report:

135
Can I have the police report?

Pode me passar o boletim de ocorrência?
Then they may ask you to fill out a form with some details concerning the
accident:
Can you fill out this accident report, please?

Pode preencher o relatório de acidente, por favor?
Regardless of your
answer, the clerk will
inspect the car and look
for scratches or any
other minor problems:
Nowadays, many car rental agencies offer a self-service drop-off. Each company
has named this kind of service differently, but if you see anything similar to self-
service drop-off or express return service, this is the general procedure you will
have to follow:
Take the car to the indicated drop-off location.

Leve o carro até o local de devolução indicado.
Fill out the contract with information concerning the return.

Preencha o contrato com informações sobre a devolução.
The contract mentioned in the previous example is the one you get when you
rent the car. A part of it should be specifically completed with some important
information concerning the express drop-off:

136
Time and date of return

Hora e data da devolução
Mileage today
Quilometragem atual (em milhas)
Gas tank status

Quantidade de gasolina no tanque
So now you know how to return your rental and how to respond
to common interactions related to this situation.

137
Part 3.
Vocabulary
Activities
( 1 ) Rental ( 7 ) Self-service ( ) Confortável ( ) Pequeno acidente

drop-off
( 2 ) Car rental agency ( ) Tanque cheio ( ) Carro alugado
( 8 ) Return the car
( 3 ) Comfortable ( ) Econômico ( ) Local de devolução
( 9 ) Economical
( 4 ) Clerk ( ) Recolher ( ) Pertences
( 10 ) Belongings
( 5 ) Full tank ( ) Atendente ( ) Serviço de devolução
( 11 ) Collect rápida
( 6 ) Drop-off location ( ) Devolver o carro
( 12 ) Minor accident ( ) Locadora de carros
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word according to the translation.
a) Make sure the car is .

Certifique-se de que o carro está limpo.
b) the tank before getting to the car rental.

Encha o tanque antes de ir à locadora de carros. e. expectations
c) Collect your .
f. comfortable
Recolha seus pertences.

d. trip
d) The was good!.

c. belongings
A viagem foi boa!

b. Fill up
a. clean
e) Did the car meet your .

O carro atendeu às suas expectativas?
/ 12 / 1 / 6 / 10 / 7 / 2
3 / 5 / 9 / 11 / 4 / 8
f) The car isn’t for long rides.

O carro não é confortável para viagens longas.

138
Part 4.
Grammar
In this chapter, you will learn the use of there + be and how to talk about the past using the simple
past of regular and irregular verbs.
The simple past is used to express an action that happened in the past. Let’s start by taking a look
at its interrogative form. For example:
SIM PLE PAST
Did you like the car?

Você gostou do carro?
In this question, we have the auxiliary verb did, the pronoun you, which is the subject, the main verb
like in its base form, without any conjugation, and the complement the car.
Look at this other one:
Did you collect all your belongings?

The structure is the same: did + subject + main verb + complement. In this case, we have the auxiliary
verb did, the subject you, the verb collect in its base form, and the complement all your belongings.
If you want to ask a question using she, for example, just use she instead of you as the subject.
Check it out:
Did she like the car?

Ela gostou do carro?
Did she collect all her belongings?

Ela recolheu todos os pertences dela?
It’s exactly the same structure; We’ve just replaced the pronoun.
Now let’s see what happens when we try to answer these same questions in the negative form:

139
SIMPLE PAST
Did she like the car?

Ela gostou do carro?
No, she didn’t like the car.

Não, ela não gostou do carro.
In the negative form, we have the subject she, followed by did + not in the
contracted form, didn’t, the main verb like in its base form, and the complement
the car.
Let’s see another example:

No, I didn’t collect all my belongings.

Não, não recolhi todos os meus pertences.
The structure remains the same: subject + did not or didn’t + main verb +
complement. In the previous example, we have the subject I, the contracted form
didn’t, the main verb collect in its base form, and then the complement all my
belongings.
As you can see, the structure of the negative form doesn’t change, be it with I,
you, he, she, it, we, or they.
Check this next example out:

Yes, I collected all my belongings.

Sim, eu recolhi todos os meus pertences.
Now the sentence is in the affirmative form and we have not used the auxiliary
verb did to make it. Instead, we conjugated the main verb in the past. The past of
the verb collect is collected.
That means the affirmative form is the only case in which the main verb gets
modified to its past form.

140
At this point, it is important to mention one very important detail about the simple
past that will be essential to form affirmative sentences: verbs in English are
divided into regular and irregular.
First let’s see some examples of regular verbs:
RE GUL AR VERBS
INFINITIVE FORM: Like (gostar)

I liked the car.
Eu gostei do carro.
INFINITIVE FORM: Collect ( recolher)

She collected all her belongings.
Ela recolheu todos os pertences dela.
INFINITIVE FORM: Try (tentar)

We tried to arrive earlier at the airport.
Nós tentamos chegar mais cedo no aeroporto.
Regular verbs are the ones whose past will be formed by adding the suffixes -D,
-ED, or -IED to the base form.
Now let’s take a look at some other examples so that we can understand when to
use -D, -ED or -IED:
SPELLING RULES: RE GUL AR VERBS
REGRAS ORTOGRÁFICAS: VERBOS REGULARES

General rule for regular verbs g add -D
Regra geral para verbos regulares g adicione -D
I liked the car.

Eu gostei do carro.
The verb like is regular and it ends in -E, so we added -D to the end of the base
form to put it in the past. This is the general rule for regular verbs. We use this
same form for every subject.
Now check this next one out:

141

Regular verbs ending in -T, -D, -S, - SS, - Z, -X, -CH,
-SH, and vowel + Y g add -ED
Verbos regulares terminando em -T, -D, -S, - SS, - Z, -X,
-CH, -SH e vogal + Y g adicione -ED
She collected all her belongings.

Ela recolheu todos os pertences dela.
The verb collect, for example, is also regular, and it ends in -T, so we added -ED.
Now, look at another spelling rule:

Regular verbs ending in consonant + Y g drop the
-Y and add -IED
Verbos regulares terminando em consoante + Y g tire o
-Y e adicione -IED
The verb try ends in a consonant + Y, so we dropped the -Y and added -IED.
Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are different. They don’t follow a rule, and
their base form may completely change. Take a look:
Did you have any incidents?

I had a minor accident.

Eu tive um pequeno acidente.
As we have seen, in the interrogative form, there’s no change in the main verb. In
this case, we are using have because we conjugate the auxiliary verb did.
But when we answer this question in the affirmative form, I had a minor
accident, we must use had, which is the past form of the verb to have. As you
can see, the verb to have is irregular.
Let’s see some other examples of irregular verbs in the simple past:

142
IRRE GUL AR VERBS
INFINITIVE FORM: Drive (dirigir)

I drove all the way to New York and back.
Eu dirigi até Nova York e voltei.
INFINITIVE FORM: Meet (encontrar; atender)

The car met all my expectations.
O carro atendeu a todas as minhas expectativas.
INFINITIVE FORM: Take ( pegar; tomar)

I took all my belongings before returning the car.
Eu peguei todos os meus pertences antes de devolver o carro.
In the previous examples, we can see the past forms of the irregular verbs to
drive, to meet, and to take. They follow no specific rule, and that’s why they are
considered irregular.
Moreover, bear in mind that we always use the same conjugation for all persons.
This will happen to all verbs except the verb to be, which is the most irregular
verb in English.
This is the past of the verb to be:
I was She was You were

Eu fui/era/estive Ela foi/era/esteve Vocês foram/eram/
estiveram
You were It was
Você foi/era/esteve Ele/Ela foi/era/esteve They were
Eles/Elas foram/
He was We were eram/estiveram
Ele foi/era/esteve Nós fomos/éramos/
estivemos
Let’s see an example of the Verb To Be in the Simple Past:

143
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
The trip was great!
A viagem foi ótima!
As you can see in the previous example, in the affirmative form, we start the
sentence with the subject, then add to be in the past, and the complement.
The big difference between the verb to be and the other verbs is that we won’t
use did for the interrogative and negative forms:
INTERROGATIVE FORM
Was your trip good?
A viagem foi boa?
In the interrogative form, we only invert the position of the verb to be and the
subject. In this case, it becomes: Was your trip. Then we add the complement,
which here is the adjective good. Similarly to the simple present of the verb to
be, to form the interrogative in the past, we must place the verb to be before the
subject.
In the negative form, however, we use the same structure as the one used in the
affirmative sentence: subject + verb to be + complement. The only difference is
that now we use not after the verb:
NEGATIVE FORM
The trip was not / wasn’t very good.
A viagem não foi muito boa.
As you can see, the particle not can be used separately or contracted with the
verb to be in the past. In this case, we can either use was not or wasn’t.
There’s another case in which we will use to be to form a very important English
structure used to talk about existence: there + be. Let’s see some examples. First,
in the present:

144
THERE + BE – SIMPLE PRESENT
SINGULAR
There is a small problem in the car.
Tem/Há um pequeno problema no carro.
PLURAL
There are some problems in the car.
Tem/Há alguns problemas no carro.
So, the singular form of there + be in the present will always be there is,
whereas the plural form in the present will always be there are.
Take a look at these examples with the past form of there + be:
THERE + BE – SIMPLE PRESENT
SINGULAR
There was a little problem in the car.
Teve/Houve um pequeno problema no carro.
PLURAL
There were some problems in the car.
Teve/Houve alguns problemas no carro.
Notice that the structure in the past is the same as the one in the present. The
difference is that the verb to be will be used in its past form: in the singular it will
be there was, and in the plural, it will be there were.
GRAMMAR GUIDE
Now you know how to use the simple
past with regular and irregular verbs, and Simple Past – Verb To Be Page 211
there + be in the present and in the past. Simple Past – Other Verbs Page 205
Regular Verbs Page 201
For more details about these structures, Irregular Verbs – Past Page 162
go to the Grammar Guide section at There Be Page 232
the end of your book.

145
Part 5.
Grammar
A. Write ( R ) for regular or ( I ) for irregular verbs.
Activities
a) ( ) To take
b) ( ) To be
c) ( ) To collect
d) ( ) To drive
e) ( ) To like
f) ( ) To have
g) ( ) To try
h) ( ) To meet
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct word(s) according to the translation.
a) any incidents?
b) a little problem in the car.

Teve/Houve um pequeno problema no carro.
c) some problems in the car.
Teve/Houve alguns problemas no carro.

146
d) The trip very good.
d. wasn’t
A viagem não foi muito boa.
f. tried
e. met
e) The car all my expectations.
a. Did you have
c. There were
b. There was
O carro atendeu a todas as minhas expectativas.
f) We to arrive earlier at the airport.
Nós tentamos chegar mais cedo no aeroporto.
g. R
e. R h. I
d. I
c. R f. I
b. I
a. I
Notes

147
Gram
mar
Grammar Guide.
Guide
Grammar
GuideUncountable Nouns
Countable and
Nouns can be either countable or uncountable.
Countable nouns are the ones that we can count and thus they have a plural form.
COUNTABLE NOUNS
There’s a cat in the garden.

Tem um gato no jardim.
(a cat: indefinite article + countable noun in the singular)
There are two cats at my front door.

Tem dois gatos na minha porta da frente.
(two cats: cardinal number + countable noun in the plural)
There were many cats at the adoption fair.

Havia muitos gatos na feira de adoção.
(many cats: quantifier + countable noun in the plural)
Before countable nouns we can use the indefinite article or cardinal numbers to
specify the exact amount we are referring to.
However, if we don’t know or don’t want to mention an exact amount, we can
also use quantifiers to express the idea of quantity. Some quantifiers can only be
used with countable nouns, such as few to express small quantities, and many
to express large quantities.

149
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Let’s see an example in which we refer to people, which is a countable noun with irregular plural.
COUNTABLE NOUNS
Quantifiers
Small amount Large amount
There are few people at the beach. There are many people at the beach.
Há poucas pessoas na praia. Há muitas pessoas na praia.
Uncountable nouns are the ones you cannot count, and for this
reason they do not have a plural form.
Uncountable nouns are usually abstract ideas, liquids, grains, gases,
or natural phenomena. As we usually treat uncountable nouns as
singular nouns, we do not use the indefinite article with them, since
the indefinite article means one.
It is important to notice that the concept of countable and

uncountable nouns is present in several languages, but the words
that are considered countable or uncountable may vary widely from
one language to the other.
In English, the nouns “travel,” “advice,” “information,” “baggage,” and
“work” are uncountable. However, if you need to count them, there
are some strategies you can use.

150
The first one is to use countable nouns with a similar meaning.
UNCOUNTABLE AND COUNTABLE NOUNS

Similar meanings
Uncountable Countable
travel a journey/trip
viagem uma jornada/viagem
baggage/luggage a bag/suitcase/backpack
bagagem uma bolsa/maleta/mochila
work a job/project/task
trabalho um trabalho/projeto / uma tarefa
advice a recommendation
conselho uma recomendação
money dollars/euros/reais/yens
dinheiro dólares/euros/reais/ienes
This strategy may not work every time, though. You may not want to use a similar
word, or maybe there isn’t a similar word that fits the context.
In such cases, you can use a quantifier. The most frequent way to quantify
uncountable nouns is to use either “some” or “(a) piece of” before these nouns.
The expression piece of can be used with not only the indefinite article (a piece of)
meaning one, but also with cardinal numbers (two pieces of).
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
some and (a) piece of
Some + Uncountable Noun

Can you give me some advice?
Você pode me dar alguns conselhos?

151
Indefinite Article + Piece of + Uncountable Noun

Can you give me a piece of advice?
Você pode me dar um conselho?
Cardinal Number + Piece of + Uncountable Noun
Can you give me two/three/four pieces of advice?

Você pode me dar dois/três/quatro conselhos?
Check some other examples with some and a piece of used with uncountable nouns.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
some and (a) piece of
Equipment – some equipment; a piece of equipment; two pieces of equipment

Equipamento – alguns equipamentos; um equipamento; dois equipamentos
Furniture – some furniture; a piece of furniture; two pieces of furniture

Móvel – alguns móveis; um móvel; dois móveis
Information – some information; a piece of information; two pieces of information

Informação – algumas informações; uma informação; duas informações
News – some news; a piece of news; two pieces of news

Notícia – algumas notícias; uma notícia; duas notícias

152
Regarding moods and feelings, it’s not possible to use a piece of, but it’s possible to
use quantifiers, such as much, some, or little.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Quantifiers
I’ve been under too much pressure lately.

Tenho estado sob muita pressão ultimamente.
I feel a bit frustrated, but I see some hope for the future.
Eu me sinto um pouco frustrado, mas vejo alguma esperança no futuro.
I’d gladly accept a little help from my friends.

Eu aceitaria de bom grado um pouco de ajuda dos meus amigos.
When referring to gases, grains, and liquids, we can count them by using a
unit of measurement, such as kilos, liters, or ounces. We can also count the
containers in which they have been packed.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Units of measurement or containers
Water – liters/bottles/gallons of water

Água – litros/garrafas/galões de água
Rice – kilos/pounds/packs of rice

Arroz – quilos/libras/sacos de arroz
Sugar – cubes/spoons/cups of sugar

Açúcar – torrões/colheres/xícaras de açúcar
Now you know the most frequent countable and uncountable nouns
and how they can be quantified.

153
Grammar
GuideImperative
The imperative form is used to tell people what to do and for this reason it does not have an
interrogative form. The Imperative is only used in the affirmative and negative forms.
IMPERATIVE FORM
Structure
Affirmative Form
Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
Go there.
Vá lá.
Negative Form
Auxiliary Verb Do + Not (Don’t) + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
Don’t come here.

Não venha aqui.
In English, the imperative performs many functions. It can be used to give orders
or to demand something, to instruct, to give advice or recommendation, or to
encourage someone.
IMPERATIVE FORM
Functions
1. Order; demand
Open your book. Don’t get in.

Abra o seu livro. Não entre.
2. Instructions
Mix the ingredients and add salt. Don’t put too much salt.
Misture os ingredientes e adicione sal. Não coloque muito sal.

154
Imperative
3. Advice, suggestions
Have a cup of tea and rest. Don’t forget to take your coat.
Tome uma xícara de chá e descanse. Não se esqueça de levar seu casaco.
4. Requests; favors
Bring it to me, please. Don’t tell John, please.

Traga isso para mim, por favor. Não conte para o John, por favor.
5. Encouragement
Try again! You can do it. Don’t give up. You can do it.
Tente novamente! Você consegue. Não desista. Você consegue.
Imperative sentences are always addressed to the listener or listeners. So, the subject is always
in the second person, which is “you,” in the singular or plural forms. For that reason, in most
imperative sentences, the subject is omitted.
However, the subject can be included in imperative sentences to add emphasis to the action. In
such cases, it will be placed before the main verb, in both affirmative and negative sentences.
IMPERATIVE FORM
Using the Subject to Add Emphasis
Affirmative Form
Subject (second person) + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
You sit down now.

Sente-se agora.
Negative Form
Auxiliary Verb Do + Not (Don’t) + Subject (second person) +
Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
Don’t you lie to me.

Não minta para mim.

155
Imperative
In English, we can only use the imperative form to address the person or people to whom we are talking.
But if we want to make suggestions or requests in the first person, we can use the verb let in the imperative.
We’ll use the verb let in the imperative form, the object pronoun for the first person, which is either “me”
or “us,” a verb in the infinitive form (without to), and the complement.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE
Making Suggestions or Requests in the First Person
Let (Imperative Form) + Object Pronoun in the First Person ( me/us) +

Verb in the Infinitive Form (without “to”)
Let me see.
Deixe-me ver.
Let me help you.

Deixe-me ajudá-lo.
Let’s meet tomorrow. (Let’s Let us)

Vamos nos encontrar amanhã.
Let’s watch a movie tonight. (Let’s Let us)

Vamos assistir a um filme hoje à noite.
We can use the same structure to make suggestions or requests for a third person.
To do that, we just have to use the object pronouns in the third person.
IMPERATIVE FORM
Making Suggestions or Requests for a Third Person
Let (Imperative Form) + Object Pronoun in the Third Person (him/her/it/them) +

Verb in the Infinitive Form (without “to”)
Let it go.
Deixe isso para lá.
Let him stay.

Deixe-o ficar.
Let them talk.

Deixe-os falar.
And this is how we use the imperative in English.

156
Grammar
GuideInfinitive Form
The infinitive form of the verb is the verb in its base form. In English, the infinitive
form is preceded by the particle “to.”
Have a look at some examples of verbs in the infinitive form:
INFINITIVE FORM
To eat To go To study
Comer Ir Estudar
To speak To travel To work

Falar Viajar Trabalhar
Just like it happens in most languages, the infinitive form is used in several
instances in English. One of the most common uses of the infinitive in English
is to follow other verbs.
VERB + INFINITIVE
We want to travel next month.

Nós queremos viajar mês que vem.
(verb: want in the simple present + infinitive: to travel)
She needs to study for the exam.

Ela tem que estudar para a prova.
(verb: need in the simple present + infinitive: to study)
Did you have to work last week?

Você teve que trabalhar semana passada?
(verb: have in the simple past interrogative + infinitive: to work)

157
Infinitive Form
And the infinitive form is also frequently used after some adjectives.
ADJE CTIVE + INFINITIVE
I’m happy to see you!

Eu estou feliz em ver você!
(adjective: happy + infinitive: to see)
You are not allowed to stay here.

Você não tem permissão para ficar aqui.
(adjective: allowed + infinitive: to stay)
I’m ready to start.

Estou pronto para começar.
(adjective: ready + infinitive: to start)
All of these sentences have examples of verbs in the infinitive form, which is also called to-
infinitive, because it is composed of two words in English: the particle to + the verb.
But in English we also use the bare infinitive, which is the verb in the infinitive form, but not
preceded by the particle “to.” This is how verbs appear in the dictionary, and it’s also used after
some verbs.
VERB + BARE INFINITIVE
They watched me do the job before they tried it.

Eles me viram fazer o trabalho antes de tentarem.
(verb: watch in the simple past + object: me + bare infinitive do)
We can’t travel with you this weekend.

Nós não podemos viajar com vocês neste fim de semana.
( modal verb can in the negative + bare infinitive travel)
They will finish this job tomorrow.

Eles vão terminar esse trabalho amanhã.
( modal verb will + bare infinitive finish)
And this is how we use the infinitive form in English.

158
Grammar
GuideInterrogative Form
Interrogative sentences in English follow some basic structures.
In a sentence with the verb to be as the main verb in the simple present or the
simple past, there is no need to use an auxiliary verb. Therefore, the sentence
will have the following structure: the verb to be as the main verb, the subject,
and the complement.
Sentences that have one auxiliary or modal verb are made by placing the
auxiliary right before the subject, and then the main verb, which may be
followed by a complement.
In the case of verb forms that have more than one auxiliary, the structure is the
first auxiliary verb, the subject, and then the second or third auxiliary verbs,
followed by the main the verb and a complement, if necessary.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Structures
Verb To Be + Subject + Complement (Simple Present and Simple Past)

Verbo To Be + Sujeito + Complemento (Simple Present and Simple Past)
Auxiliary or Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Complement (if necessary)

Verbo Auxiliar ou Modal Verb + Sujeito + Verbo Principal + Complemento (se necessário)
First Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Other Auxiliaries + Main Verb +

Complement (if necessary)
Primeiro Verbo Auxiliar + Sujeito + Outros Auxiliares + Verbo Principal +
Complemento (se necessário)

159
Interrogative Form
Check out some examples with these structures. In verb forms such as the simple present and
the simple past, in which the verb to be is the main verb, we don’t need an auxiliary to ask a
question.
Verb forms with the verb to be as the main verb (simple present and simple past)
Structure: Verb To Be + Subject + Complement
Is she a lawyer?
Ela é advogada?
Were you home last night?

Você estava em casa na noite passada?
However, in the case of verb forms in which the main verb is not
the verb to be, one auxiliary verb or a modal verb is required.
Verb forms with other verbs as the main verb
Structure: Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Complement (if necessary)
Does she work as a lawyer? ( main verb: work)

Ela trabalha como advogada?
(The verb to do works as an auxiliary, and the sentence is in the simple present)
Did you do your homework? ( main verb: do)

Você fez sua lição de casa?
(The verb to do works as an auxiliary, and the sentence is in the simple past)
Can you help me? ( main verb: help)

Você pode me ajudar?
(The modal verb can works as an auxiliary, and the sentence is in the simple present)
Are you studying for the test? ( main verb: study in the -ING form)
Você está estudando para a prova?
(The verb to be works as an auxiliary, and the sentence is in the present continuous)

160
Interrogative Form
Depending on the verb form, there may be more than one auxiliary verb before the main verb, which is
the case of the present perfect continuous.
Verbs forms with more than one auxiliary verb
Structure: First Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Other Auxiliaries +

Main Verb + Complement (if necessary)
Have you been studying for the test? ( main verb: study in the -ING form)
Você tem estudado para a prova?
(The verb to have works as the first auxiliary, and the verb to be in the past participle, as the second)
Have you been waiting for a long time? ( main verb: wait in the -ING form)
Você está esperando há muito tempo?
(The verb to have works as the first auxiliary, and the verb to be in the past participle, as the second)
Notice that in English when someone asks a question using auxiliaries, we can give a long or a short
answer, and to give a short answer we need to use the auxiliary verb.
Long and short answers
Question Full Answer Short Answer Wrong Answer
Do you like chocolate? Yes, I like chocolate. Yes, I do. Yes, I like.
Você gosta de chocolate? Sim, eu gosto de chocolate. Sim, eu gosto.
And this is how we use the interrogative form in English.

Now, you know its basic sentence structure.

161
Grammar
GuideIrregular Verbs Past
Irregular verbs are those that do not follow the rule for regular verbs. These
verbs have different forms in the past that do not follow specific spelling rules.
Some will have a different ending, some will have a vowel change, some will
become totally different from their base form, and some won’t change at all.
The verb to read has no change in spelling. However, the pronunciation of the
central vowel will be different.
IRRE GUL AR VERBS

No Change
To cut (cut) To let (let)

cortar deixar, permitir
To hurt (hurt) To put ( put)

machucar botar, colocar
Another group of irregular verbs will change the stressed vowel in their past forms.
RE GUL AR VERBS
Change the Stressed Vowel
To begin (began) To give (gave) To run (ran)

começar dar correr
To come (came) To know (knew) To see (saw)

vir saber, conhecer ver

162
Irregular Verbs Past
Still in the group of irregular verbs that undergo changes in the stressed vowel, there is a very
large group of verbs that will change the vowels from the base form to the vowel o, which is
sometimes spelled “ou.” In some verbs from this group this will be the only change. Others
undergo some additional changes.
IRRE GUL AR VERBS

Change the Stressed Vowel to “O” or “OU”
To break (broke) To bring (brought) To buy (bought)

quebrar trazer comprar
To drive (drove) To get (got) To speak (spoke)

dirigir pegar, conseguir falar
To take (took) To tell (told) To think (thought)

levar, tomar contar, dizer pensar, achar
To understand (understood) To win (won) To write (wrote)

entender, compreender ganhar escrever
Another group of irregular verbs will be altered in order to have the final syllable of their past
forms sounding as a D. Among the most frequent verbs, we can highlight three.
These widely used verbs are: to have, in the past had, to make, in the past made, and to say,
in the past said (in this case we dropped the -Y and added –ID).
IRRE GUL AR VERBS

Change to end in a “D” Sound
To have (had) To make (made) To say (said)

ter fazer falar, dizer

163
Irregular Verbs Past
There’s also a group that will vary to have the ending -T in the simple past.
In addition to the ending, another feature of this group of verbs is that the stressed vowel in the base form,
pronounced as a long vowel, in the past becomes a short vowel. For example, the verb to feel. The stressed
vowel has a long sound. But, in the past, it’s felt, which is a short vowel, and it ends in -T.
Check out a group of verbs that undergo similar changes:
RE GUL AR VERBS
Change the Stressed Vowel
To feel (felt) To keep (kept) To leave (left)

sentir manter, permancer sair, partir, deixar
To meet (met) To lose (lost) To leave (left)

encontrar, conhecer perder sair, partir, deixar
There are three very frequent verbs in English that do not fit any of the aforementioned groups,
which are the verbs to be, to go, and to do.
IRRE GUL AR VERBS

No pattern
To do (did) To go (went) To be (was/were)

fazer ir ser, estar
The verb to be is the most irregular verb in English. In the past, it is the only verb to have two
different conjugations: was and were. Look at the conjugation table of the verb to be in the past.
IRRE GUL AR VERBS

To Be (ser/estar)
Subject Pronoun Verb To Be (Simple Past)

I/he/she/it was
you/we/they were
And now you know some irregular verbs in the past.

164
Grammar
GuideModal Verb Can
Modal verbs function as auxiliary verbs, adding meaning to the main verb.
Modal verbs express possibility, probability, ability, permission, assumption,
obligation, or prohibition.
Modal verbs have the same sentence structure. In the affirmative, the structure
is the subject, the modal verb followed by the main verb in the base form, and
it can be followed by a complement or not.
MODAL VERBS
Affirmative Form
I can drive.
Eu posso dirigir.
(subject: I + modal verb: can + main verb: drive)
I can play the piano.

Eu posso tocar piano.
(subject: I + modal verb: can + main verb: play + complement: the piano)
In negative sentences, we keep the same pattern, but include NOT after the
modal verb. We generally use the contracted form can’t.
MODAL VERBS
Negative Form
I can’t drive.
Eu não posso dirigir.
(subject: I + modal verb: can + not (can’t) + main verb: drive)
I can’t play the piano.

Eu não posso tocar piano.
(subject: I + modal verb: can + not (can’t) + main verb: play +
complement: the piano)

165
Modal Verb Can
In interrogative sentences, we invert the position of the modal verb and the subject.
The structure is the modal verb, the subject, the main verb in the base form, and a
complement, when necessary.
MODAL VERBS
Interrogative Form
Can you drive?

Você pode dirigir?
( modal verb: can + subject: you + main verb: drive)
Can you play the piano?

Você pode tocar piano?
( modal verb: can + subject: you + main verb: play + complement: the piano)
The modal verb can in its affirmative form typically expresses possibility, present ability,
and permission. In the negative form, it expresses lack of possibility, lack of ability, and lack
of permission.
MODAL VERBS
Uses
Affirmative Negative
Possibility Lack of Possibility

I can meet you later. I can’t meet you later.
Eu posso te encontrar mais tarde. Eu não posso te encontrar mais tarde.
Present Ability Lack of Ability

I can dance very well. I can’t dance very well.
Eu posso/sei dançar muito bem. Eu não posso/sei dançar muito bem.
Permission Lack of Permission

You can come in. You can’t come in.
Você pode entrar. Você não pode entrar.

166
Modal Verb Can
As for the interrogative form, the modal verb can is typically used to
make requests. It’s used to ask for favors and for permission, or to
ask about the possibility of something happening.
MODAL VERB CAN

Uses
Interrogative
Asking a Favor
Can you help me?
Eu não posso te encontrar mais tarde.
Asking for Permission

Can I come in?
Eu não posso/sei dançar muito bem.
Asking about Possiblity

Can we meet after work?
Você não pode entrar.
It’s important to acknowledge that these uses are usually easily noticed within the context, since the same
sentence in different contexts may have different meanings.
MODAL VERB CAN

Contexts
You can speak English. You have the ability to speak English.
Você pode/sabe falar inglês. Você tem habilidade para falar inglês.
It’s possible for you to speak English in a certain situation.

É possível que você fale inglês em determinada situação.
You have permission to speak English in a certain situation.

Você tem permissão para falar inglês em determinada situação.
And this is how you use the modal verb can.

167
Grammar
GuideModal Verb Could
Modal verbs are also known as modal auxiliary verbs because they add
meaning to the main verb. Modal verbs can express possibility, probability,
ability, permission, assumption, obligation, or prohibition.
Modal verbs follow the same sentence structure. Let’s look at structures
in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms.
In the affirmative, the structure is the subject, the modal verb, and the main
verb in the base form, which may be followed by a complement or not.
Take a look at the table.
MODAL VERBS
Affirmative
Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
We could go to the gym.

Nós poderíamos ir à academia.
In negative sentences, we’ll include the word not after the modal verb.
When we use the negative form, we generally use the contracted form couldn’t.
MODAL VERBS
Negative
Subject + Modal Verb + Not + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
We couldn’t go to the gym.

Nós não pudemos ir à academia.

168
Modal Verb Could
To make interrogative sentences, the modal verb is placed before the subject.
MODAL VERBS
Interrogative
Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement
Could we go to the gym together?

Nós poderíamos ir à academia juntos?
It’s important to notice that modal verbs in general should be associated with their functions in the context,
and not with time ( past, present or future). This is particularly important when analyzing the modal verb
could, since the time reference may change drastically according to its function in the context.
The modal verb could in its affirmative and negative forms can be used to express probability or lack of
probability, either of a present or a future event. It can also refer to abilities, but in such case, could refers to
past abilities.
MODAL VERB COULD

Probability / Lack of Probability (in the Present)
Mary is not home right now. She’s usually at her parents’ in the morning. She could be there.
Mary não está em casa agora. Ela geralmente está na casa de seus pais de manhã. Ela pode estar lá.
(She could be there = It’s possible that she is there)
Mary’s parents are out of town. She couldn’t be there.

Os pais da Mary estão fora da cidade. Ela não poderia estar lá.
(She couldn’t be there = It’s not possible for her to be there)
We can also use the modal verb could to talk about probability in the future, that is, the chances for
something to happen.
MODAL VERB COULD

Probability / Lack of Probability (in the Future)
Sylvia is an excellent professional. I think she could be the new manager.

A Sylvia é uma profissional excelente. Eu acho que ela poderia ser a nova gerente.
(She could be the new manager = It’s likely to happen)
Brian is just as good. But he couldn’t be the new manager; he has no management skills.
Brian é tão bom quanto ela. Mas ele não poderia ser o novo gerente; ele não tem habilidades gerenciais.
(He couldn’t be the new manager = It’s not likely to happen)

169
Modal Verb Could
However, when we use the modal verb could to refer to ability, we are referring to abilities
people had in the past, and that they probably don’t have anymore, or, in the case of negative
sentences, abilities people didn’t have in the past.
MODAL VERB COULD

Ability / Lack of Ability (in the Past)
Kevin won a lot of football tournaments back in our school days. Boy, he could run!
Kevin ganhou muitos torneios de futebol americano na época de escola. Cara, como ele
sabia/podia correr!
George was a good player, but he couldn’t run long distances.

George era um bom jogador, mas ele não sabia/podia correr distâncias longas.
The modal verb could in the interrogative form is used to ask about possibilities
or abilities in the past.
MODAL VERB COULD
Could you meet me at the coffee shop tomorrow?

Você poderia me encontrar no café amanhã?
(Asking about possibilities for the future)
Could you speak English by the time you lived abroad?

Você podia/sabia falar inglês quando morou fora?
(Asking about past ability in the past)
In the interrogative, the modal verb could is also very frequently used to make
requests in a polite way, either asking for a favor or for permission.
MODAL VERB COULD

Making Requests
Could you lend me your car?

Você poderia me emprestar o seu carro?
Could I borrow your car?

Eu poderia pegar o seu carro emprestado?
And now you know how to use the modal verb could.

170
Grammar
GuideModal Verb Must
Modal verbs are also known as modal auxiliary verbs because they add meaning to the main verb.
Modal verbs will follow the same sentence structure in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative
forms, as you can see in the following table.
MODAL VERBS
Sentence Structure
Affirmative Form
Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Sujeito + Modal Verb + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
Negative Form
Subject + Modal Verb + Not + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Sujeito + Modal Verb + Not + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
Interrogative Form
Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Modal Verb + Sujeito + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
Must is used in the affirmative form to express obligation or necessity.

For example:
MODAL VERB MUST

Obligation/Necessity
You must pay your taxes.

Você tem que pagar seus impostos.
You must be 18 to drive in some countries.

Você tem que ter 18 anos para dirigir em alguns países.

171
Modal Verb Must
It can also be used to make assumptions or deductions in the affirmative form. Have a look:
MODAL VERB MUST

Assumption/Deduction
John’s son was born. He must be very happy. It must be nice to be rich.
O filho do John nasceu. Ele deve estar muito feliz. Deve ser legal ser rico.
In the negative form, however, must is used to express prohibition. We generally

use the contracted form, mustn’t. If you wish to emphasize the prohibition, use
must not. For example:
MODAL VERB MUST

Prohibition
You must not ( mustn’t) drink and drive.

Você não pode beber e dirigir.
Visitors must not ( mustn’t) cross this line. This is a restricted area.
Os visitantes não podem cruzar esta linha. Esta é uma área restrita.
Must is rarely used in the interrogative form, but it can be used to confirm or to
double-check duties and obligations. For instance:
MODAL VERB MUST

Confirm and Double-check Duties and Obligation
Must I take the exam today? I didn’t know that.

Eu tenho que fazer a prova hoje? Eu não sabia disso.
Eu sou obrigado a fazer a prova hoje? Eu não sabia disso.
Mustn’t you be at the job interview at 9h? It’s 8:30h already.

Você não tem que estar na entrevista de emprego às 9h? Já são 8:30h.
Você não tem a obrigação de estar na entrevista às 9h? Já são 8:30h.
And this is how you use the modal verb must.

172
Grammar
GuideModal Verb Would
Modal Verbs are also known as modal auxiliary verbs because they add meaning to the main
verb. They express possibility, probability, ability, permission, assumption, obligation, or
prohibition.
The structure of the modal verbs follows the same pattern. Check the following table.
MODAL VERBS
Sentence Structure
Affirmative Form
Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Sujeito + Modal Verb + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
Negative Form
Subject + Modal Verb + Not + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Sujeito + Modal Verb + Not + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
Interrogative Form
Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
Modal Verb + Sujeito + Verbo Principal na Forma Base + Complemento (se necessário)
In some cases, the modal verb would is used as a softer and less definitive form of the modal will,
or as the past of will when we are reporting sentences.
Expressing hypothesis is one of the most common uses of the modal verb would. And since it is
used to express hypothetical situations, you’ll see that it is used in many conditional sentences.
In such cases, we’ll use a clause with would to refer to unreal or uncertain situations together with
an if-clause.

173
Modal Verb Would
MODAL VERB WOULD

Hypothesis
If I had a lot of money, I would travel the world.

Se eu tivesse muito dinheiro, viajaria pelo mundo.
(I don’t have a lot of money. So, traveling the world is just a hypothetical situation.)
Would you invite your boss for your birthday?

Você convidaria o seu chefe para o seu aniversário?
(The question is asked out of curiosity. It’s a hypothetical situation.)
If I were you, I wouldn’t go the Caribbean now. It’s hurricane season.

Se eu fosse você, eu não iria para o Caribe agora. É temporada de furacão.
(It’s a hypothetical situation because I am not you, and I am not going to the Caribbean.)
We can also use would to make polite requests. If we observe it carefully, we’ll see that it’s still
a request made from a hypothetical perspective, but now you are actually asking something
from someone.
MODAL VERB WOULD

Polite Requests and Offers
Polite Requests Polite Offers
Would you help me with my project? Would you like some coffee?
Você me ajudaria com o meu projeto? Você aceitaria um café?
Would you go to the grocery store for me? Would you like me to drive you home?
Você iria ao supermercado para mim? Você gostaria que eu te levasse para casa?

174
Modal Verb Would
Would is also used to talk about a past habit or to express refusal in the past.
MODAL VERB WOULD

Talk about a past habit or express refusal in the past
I asked her what was going on, but she wouldn’t tell me.
Perguntei o que estava acontecendo, mas ela não quis me dizer.
(I asked her in the past and she refused to tell me.)
When I was younger, I would argue with my brother all the time.
Quando eu era mais novo, eu discutia com meu irmão o tempo todo.
(It was a typical behavior in the past.)
We can use would in expressions too. Would rather is used to say we prefer
one thing to another. Most of the times, we use the contracted form, which is
“I’d rather.”
MODAL VERB WOULD

Expressions – Would Rather
I’d rather stay home tonight. I’m tired.

Eu prefiro ficar em casa hoje à noite. Estou cansado(a).
Another commonly used expression with would is “would mind.” We use it to ask for favors or permission.
But the structure is a bit different. Check it out in the following box.
MODAL VERB WOULD

Expressions – Would Mind
Asking for a favor Asking for permission
Would you mind opening the window? Would you mind if I opened the window?
Você se importaria de abrir a janela? Você se importaria se eu abrisse a janela?
(Would you mind + verb in the -ING form) (Would you mind if + subject + verb in the past)
And this is how you use the modal verb would.

175
Grammar
GuideObject Pronouns
There are two types of personal pronouns in English: personal pronouns used in the subject
position, which, for that reason, are called subject pronouns, and personal pronouns used in the
object position, which are called object pronouns.
Check the following table to see the subject and object pronouns.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Subject Pronouns Object Pronouns

(Replace nouns as subjects) (Replace nouns as objects)

First person I me

singular eu me/mim

Second person you you

singular tu/você te/ti/você/lhe
he him
ele ele/o/lhe

Third person she her

singular ela ela/a/lhe
it it
ele/ela ele/ela/o/a/lhe

First person we us

plural nós nos/nós

Second person you you

plural vós/vocês vos/vocês/lhes

Third person they them

plural eles/elas eles/elas/os/as/lhes

176
Object Pronouns
Object pronouns are usually placed after the main verb of the sentence, since they
function as the object of these verbs. They might not be placed immediately after the
main verb, but they will always come after it. The only exception to this rule is when
they are used in certain expressions such as both of us, all of them, none of you,
etc. In such situations, they can be part of the subject of a sentence.
Let’s now take a closer look at each object pronoun.
Some languages present variations of the object pronouns used depending on the
verb they are complementing. But that won’t happen in English.
The first-person pronouns used in the position of the object of the sentence will
always be me for the singular and us for the plural.
OBJE CT PRONOUN
First Person Singular
Tell me. What is your problem?

Conte-me. Qual é o seu problema?
Read this story to me, please!

Leia esta história para mim, por favor!
Do you want to talk to me?

Você quer falar comigo?
OBJE CT PRONOUN
First Person Plural
Tell us about your day.

Conte-nos sobre o seu dia.
Are they talking about us?

Eles estão falando sobre nós / a gente?
Do you want to go to the movies with us?

Você quer ir ao cinema conosco / com a gente?

177
Object Pronouns
For the second person, the personal
OBJE CT PRONOUN
pronoun used as the object pronoun is
Second Person Singular/Plural
the same used as the subject pronoun:
you. And it is used for both singular and
plural. Therefore, the context tells us if I’ll help you.
you will be referring to singular or plural. Eu vou te ajudar. / Eu vou ajudar você. / Eu vou lhe ajudar. /
Eu vou ajudar vocês/ Eu vou lhes ajudar.
I don’t understand you.

Eu não te entendo. / Eu não entendo você. /
Eu não entendo vocês.
When we read these sentences, it’s not clear if we are using you to refer to one
or to more people, that is, singular or plural. Especially because they are isolated
sentences.
In spoken language, chances are the context will make it clear, since you is used
to refer to the person or to the people you are talking to. Either way, you can make
it clearer that you are using the plural form by combining you with other words,
for example: you people, you all, or you both.
OBJE CT PRONOUN
Second Person Plural
I’ll help you people / you all / you both.

Eu vou ajudar vocês / vocês todos / vocês dois.
The third person singular object pronouns used for people are: him for masculine
and her for feminine. Both are used mostly for people.
OBJE CT PRONOUN
Third Person Singular (Him/Her)
Mike’s son looks just like him.

O filho do Mike se parece muito com ele.
(The object pronoun him refers to “Mike,” a male noun,
and it’s the object of the sentence.)
My sister is an amazing person. I love to talk to her.

Minha irmã é uma pessoa incrível. Eu adoro conversar com ela.
(We used the object pronoun her to replace the female noun “my sister.”)

178
Object Pronouns
There’s still another third person singular object pronoun that is used for the other
cases: the pronoun it. This personal pronoun will also have the same form when
used as the subject or as the object pronoun.
OBJE CT PRONOUN
Third Person Singular (It)
I don’t understand this topic. I don’t understand it.

Eu não entendo este tópico. Eu não entendo (isto).
I love chocolate cake. I love it.

Eu adoro bolo de chocolate. Eu adoro (isso).
I’m watching this show. I’m watching it.

Estou assistindo a este programa. Estou assistindo (a isto).
In the third person plural, we’ll use they as the subject pronoun, and them as the object pronoun. In the
plural, we will use the same pronoun to refer to people, places, objects, animals, or any other third person
plural reference.
OBJE CT PRONOUN
Third Person Plural (Them)
I’m going to the beach with my friends. I’m going to the beach with them.
Estou indo à praia com meus amigos. Estou indo à praia com eles.
(The object is “my friends,” and it’s in the plural, so we could replace it with the object pronoun them.)
I don’t know those people. I don’t know them.

Eu não conheço aquelas pessoas. Eu não as conheço. / Eu não conheço elas.
(To avoid repetition, we can replace the object “those people” for the object pronoun them.)
I like these shoes. I like them.

Eu gosto destes sapatos. Eu gosto deles.
(The object of the sentence is “these shoes.” To avoid repetition, we can use the object pronoun them.)
And now you know more about object pronouns.

179
Grammar
Guide
Question Word - How
Common question words include what, when, where, which, why, who,
and how. On this grammar guide, we’ll focus on the question word how.
The question word how means “in what way” or “to what extent” and, as all the
other question words, it can be used in direct and indirect questions.
QUESTION WORD – HOW

Direct and Indirect Questions
How are you feeling?

Como você está se sentindo?
(Direct Question: How + Structure of the Interrogative Form)
Can you tell me how you are feeling?

Você pode me dizer como está se sentindo?
(Indirect Question: How + Structure of the Affirmative Form)
The structure for direct questions is the question word followed by the
interrogative form, and it can be used with different verb forms.
In the simple present, we can use how with the verb to be or with other verbs.
The difference is that when the verb to be is the main verb, we do not use an
auxiliary verb. For all the other verbs, an auxiliary must be used to create the
questions.
Check out some examples:

Simple Present
Structure: How + Verb To Be + Subject + Complement (if necessary)
How are the kids?

Como estão as crianças?
( main verb is the verb to be = do not use an auxiliary verb)

180
Question Word - How
Structure: How + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form
+ Complement (if necessary)
How do you go to work?

Como você vai para o trabalho?
( main verb is not the verb to be = the auxiliary verb do must be used)
How can also be used in the simple past, and the structure will follow the same
pattern of the simple present. The difference is that the verb to be or the auxiliary
verb will be conjugated in the past.

Simple Past
Structure: How + Verb to Be + Subject + Complement (if necessary)
How was the game?

Como foi o jogo?
( main verb is the verb to be = do not use an auxiliary verb)
Structure: How + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form +
How did you go to the game?

Como você foi para o jogo?
( main verb is not the verb to be = the auxiliary verb did must be used)
The question word how can also be used with continuous forms such as the
present and the past continuous. In this case, we’ll use how followed by the
interrogative form of these structures.
For the interrogative form of the present and past continuous, the verb to be
works as an auxiliary verb, followed by the subject, the main verb in the -ING
form, and a complement, if necessary.

181
Question Word - How
Present and Past Continuous
Structure: How + Verb to Be + Subject + Main Verb in the -ING Form +

How are you organizing your tasks?

Como você está organizando as suas tarefas?
(I am asking about an action that is in progress now)
How were you feeling when you started therapy?

Como você estava se sentindo quando iniciou a terapia?
(I asked about a feeling that was going on before the person decided to start therapy)
It is also possible to use how with perfect forms such as the present perfect and
the present perfect continuous.

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous
Structure: How + Verb To Have + Subject +

Main Verb in the Past Participle + Complement (if necessary)
How have you been?

Como você tem estado?
(I want to know how this person has been lately or since I last saw him or her)
Structure: How + Verb To Have + Subject + Been +

Main Verb in the –ING Form + Complement (if necessary)
How have you been dealing with this situation?

Como você tem lidado com essa situação?
(It’s an ongoing situation that started in the past and is still going on)

182
Question Word - How
We also use how with modal
verbs. In this case, they come right
Modal Verbs
after the question word.
Structure: How + Modal Verb + Subject +

Main Verb in the Base Form + Complement (if necessary)
How should we help her?

Como devemos ajudá-la?
(Should works as an auxiliary, and it was used to ask for
guidance or recommendation)
How can we go to the party?

Como podemos ir para a festa?
(Can works as an auxiliary, and it shows the idea of possibility)
If you want to ask more specific questions using how, you can use an
adjective or an adverb after it. Check out the examples.

Other Possibilities
How old is your brother? How often do you go to the gym?

Quantos anos seu irmão tem? Com que frequência você vai à academia?
(How + Old = Age) (How + Often = Frequency)
How much is this T-shirt? How many people were there at the concert?
Quanto custa esta camiseta? Quantas pessoas havia no show?
(How + Much = Amount or Price) (How + Many = Quantity)
How far is San Diego from Los Angeles?

Quão distante é San Diego de Los Angeles? / Qual é a distância de San Diego a Los Angeles?
(How + Far = Distance)
How long does it take to get there? How tall is your brother?
Qual tempo demora para chegar lá? Qual é a altura do seu irmão?
(How + Long = Duration) (How + Tall = Height for People)
How high is Mount Everest?

Quão alto é o Monte Everest? / Qual é a altura do Monte Everest?
(How + High = Height for Places)

183
Question Word - How
How can also be used with prepositions such as “about.” There are
two ways we can use it—to offer something or to make a suggestion.
HOW ABOUT
Offers and Suggestions
How about a cup of coffee?

Que tal uma xícara de café?
(How + About + Noun = Offer)
How about going to the movies?

Que tal irmos ao cinema?
(How + About + Verb in the –ING Form = Suggestion)
In spoken English, there is a very common expression with how—how come. It is

used to ask about the reason why something has happened. We could say that how
come is an informal way to ask “why.”
How come can also be used to show surprise. There is an important detail in the
structure of the question, though: how come is always followed by the affirmative
form, regardless of the verb form.
HOW ABOUT
Reason and Surprise (Informal)
How come she went to the party alone?

Como assim ela foi à festa sozinha?
(How Come + Structure of the Affirmative Form in the Simple Past)
How come she is not here?

Como é que ela não está aqui?
Como pode ela não estar aqui?
(How Come + Affirmative Form of the Simple Present)

184
Question Word - How
We can also use how in exclamations. It can either be followed by a complete
sentence or by an adjective. It’s important to notice, though, that what can also
be used in exclamations.
The difference is that when there is either a complete sentence or only an
adjective, you’ll use how. However, in the case of the structure adjective + noun
or just a noun, you’ll have to use what.
Compare the difference:
HOW AND WHAT

Exclamation
How + Complete Sentence
How I love this city!

Como eu amo essa cidade!
(How + Subject “I” + Main Verb “love” + Complement “this city”)
How + Adjective
How beautiful!
Que bonito!
(How + Adjective “beautiful”)
What + (Article) + Adjective + Noun
What a beautiful city!

Que cidade bonita!
(What + Article “a” + Adjective “beautiful” + Noun “city”)
And now you know different ways to use the question word how, it’s meaning, structures in
different verb forms, as well as how to use it in exclamations.

185
Grammar
GuideWhat
Question Word -
Question words are used to ask direct and indirect questions. On this grammar
guide, we’ll focus on the question word what, which is used to ask general
questions.
In most cases, the structure of direct and indirect questions follows this pattern:
QUESTION WORD – WHAT

What is your favorite color?

Qual é a sua cor favorita?
(Direct Question: Question Word + Interrogative Form)
Tell me what your favorite color is.

Diga-me qual é a sua cor favorita.
(Indirect Question: Question Word + Affirmative Form)
But when we ask direct questions with the question word what, there are three
possible structures.

Structure – Direct Questions
1. What + Interrogative Form
2. What + Verb in the Third Person Singular + Complement
3. What + Noun + Interrogative Form

186
Question Word - What
Let’s analyze each structure, starting with the first one, which is the question
word what followed by an interrogative form. This structure can be used with
any verb form.
Let’s see some examples:

What + Interrogative Form
What does she want for breakfast?

O que ela quer de café da manhã?
(Simple Present: Question Word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject +

Main Verb in its Base Form+ Complement)
What did you do yesterday?

O que você fez ontem?
(Simple Past: Question Word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject +

Main Verb in its Base Form + Complement)
What were you doing last week?

O que você estava fazendo semana passada?
(Past Continuous: Question Word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject +

Main Verb in the –ING Form + Complement)
What have you been doing lately?

O que você tem feito ultimamente?
(Present Perfect: Question Word + 1st Auxiliary + Subject + 2nd Auxiliary +

Main verb in the –ING Form + Complement)
What would you do with a million dollars?

O que você faria com um milhão de dólares?
(Simple Present: Question Word + Modal Verb + Subject +

Main Verb in its Base Form + Complement)

187
It is important to notice that the structure what + interrogative form will never be used for
questions about the subject of the sentence. When we follow this structure, it means that the
subject is included in the given question.
Let’s take a closer look:

What + Interrogative Form
What does she want for breakfast?

O que ela quer de café da manhã?
She wants eggs and toast.

Ela quer ovos e torradas.
(The question is not about who performs the action, but about what the person
wants. The subject “she” is part of the question. The core answer is “eggs and toast.”)
(Não tem relação com o sujeito, mas com o que o sujeito quer fazer.
O sujeito “ela” é parte da pergunta. A resposta central é “ovos e torradas”.)
What were you doing last week?

O que você estava fazendo semana passada?
I was traveling.
Eu estava viajando.
(It’s not about who was performing the action, but what the person was doing.
The subject “you,” which is part of the question, becomes “I” in the answer.
And the core answer is “traveling.”)
(Não tem relação com quem estava fazendo a ação, mas com o que a pessoa estava
fazendo. O sujeito “você”, que é parte da pergunta, vira “eu” na resposta.
A resposta central é “viajando”.)

188
But it is possible to ask questions with the question word what to learn about the subject of a sentence.
In such cases, we will use the structure: What + Verb in The Third Person Singular + Complement.
Check the following examples:

What + Verb in Third Person Singular + (Complement)
What makes you happy? Spending time with my family makes me happy.
O que deixa você feliz? Passar tempo com a minha família me deixa feliz.
(The core answer is “spending time with my family,” which is the subject of the answer and is not
part of the question. That is why the verb in question is in the third person singular “makes.”)
(A resposta central é “passar tempo com a minha família”, que é o sujeito da resposta e não faz parte da
pergunta. Por isso o verbo da pergunta está na terceira pessoa do singular “makes”, deixa.)
There are so many people here. What’s happening?

Tem tanta gente aqui. O que está acontecendo?
A music festival (is happening here).

Um festival de música (está acontecendo aqui).
(The core answer is “a music festival,” which is the subject of the answer and is not part
of the question. That is why the verb in question is in the third person singular “is.”)
(A resposta central é “um festival de música”, que é o sujeito da resposta e não faz parte
da pergunta. Por isso o verbo da pergunta está na terceira pessoa do singular “is”, está.)
What’s bothering them?

O que está incomodando eles?
Not having money to pay their bills (is bothering them).

Não ter dinheiro para pagar as suas contas (está incomodando eles).
(The core answer is “not having money to pay their bills,” which is the subject of the answer and is
not part of the question. That is why the verb in question is in the third person singular “is.”)
(A resposta central é “não ter dinheiro para pagar suas contas”, que é o sujeito da resposta e não faz
parte da pergunta. Por isso o verbo da pergunta está na terceira pessoa do singular “is”, está.)

189
Let’s take a closer look and analyze the structure of the examples
we have previously seen.
(1) (2) (3)

What + Verb in the Third Person Singular + Complement (if necessary)
(1) (2) (3)

What makes you happy?
(1) (2)
What’s happening?
(1) (2) (3)

What’s bothering them?
If you want to ask a more specific question using what, place a noun right after
the question word.

What + Noun + Interrogative Form
What time do you usually wake up?

A que horas você geralmente acorda?
(What + time = used to ask about the hour)
What kind of music do you like?

De que tipo de música você gosta?
(What + kind = used to ask about the specific type of a thing)
What size do you need?

De que tamanho você precisa?
(What + size = used to ask about size)

190
There are still some special cases, such as what + about. It is used
to make an offer or to ask about your opinion or how you feel about
something.

Special Cases – What About
What about going to the movies?

Que tal irmos ao cinema?
Great idea.
Ótima ideia.
How are you?

Como vai você?
I’m fine, thanks. What about you?

Eu estou bem. E você?
In informal conversations, there are some common

expressions with the question word what.

Expressions
What’s up?
E aí?
What now?
O que agora?

191
The question word what can also be used in exclamations to express surprise,
shock, or emotions. In this case, we use: what + an article + (an adjective) + a
noun. We may or may not include the adjective, but the noun must always be
there in exclamations with what.

Exclamations
Structure: What + Article + (Adjective) + Noun
What a (beautiful) place!

Que lugar (bonito)!
(What + Article “a” + (Adjective “beautiful”) + Noun “place”)
What a great song!

Que música ótima!
(What + Article “a” + Adjective “great” + Noun “song”)
What a ( nice) gesture!

Que gesto (legal)!
(What + Article “a” + (Adjective “nice”) + Noun “gesture)
What a song!
Que música!
(What + Article “a” + Noun “song”)
Now you know different ways in which you can use the question word what, the structure used
with different verb forms, as well as how to use it in exclamations and expressions.

192
Grammar
GuideWhere
Question Word -
Question words are used to ask direct and indirect questions. Common question
words include what, when, where, which, why, who, and how. On this grammar
guide, we’ll focus on the question word where.
Where is used to ask questions about place.
QUESTION WORD - WHERE
Where
Onde/Aonde
The question word where can be used in direct and indirect questions.
QUESTION WORD – WHERE

Where is the subway station?

Onde é a estação de metrô?
(Direct Question: Where + Structure of the Interrogative Form)
I am asking you where the subway station is.

Eu estou te perguntando onde fica a estação de metrô.
(Indirect Question: When + Structure of the Affirmative Form)
Direct questions with where will follow the same pattern, regardless of the
verb form. The structure will be the question word where followed by the
interrogative form.

193
Question Word - Where
Take a look at the structure to use where with the simple present. Note that when
the main verb is the verb to be, there is no auxiliary verb. For all other verbs, the
auxiliary is necessary.

Where + Interrogative
SIMPLE PRESENT
Structure: Where + Verb To Be + Subject + Complement (if necessary)
Where are you?

Onde você está?
Structure: Where + Auxiliary Verb + Subject +

Where do you work? Where does she work?

Onde você trabalha? Onde ela trabalha?
Questions with where in the simple past follow the same pattern of the simple
present. The only difference is that you’ll conjugate the verb to be or the auxiliary
verb in the past

Where + Interrogative
SIMPLE PAST
Structure: Where + Verb To Be + Subject + Complement (if necessary)
Where were you?

Onde você estava?
Structure: Where + Auxiliary Verb + Subject +

Where did you go? Where did he go?

Aonde você foi? Aonde ele foi?

194
The question word where can also be used with continuous forms such as the
present and the past continuous.

Continuous Forms
Where + Interrogative Form
PRESENT AND PAST
Structure: Where + Verb To Be + Subject +

Main Verb in the -ING Form + Complement (if necessary)
Where are you going?

Aonde você está indo?
Where were you going last night when I arrived?

Aonde você estava indo ontem à noite quando cheguei?
It is possible to use where with perfect forms such as the present

perfect and the present perfect continuous.

Perfect Forms
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous
PRESENT PERFECT
A past action that is still relevant.

Uma ação passada que ainda é relevante.
Structure: Where + Verb To Have + Subject +

Main Verb in the Past Participle + Complement (if necessary)
Where have you been?

Por onde você esteve?

195
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Action started in the past and still going on.

Ação iniciada no passado que ainda está acontecendo.
Structure: Where + Verb To Have + Subject + Been +

Main Verb in the -ING Form + Complement (if necessary)
Where have you been working?

Onde você tem trabalhado?
Modal verbs can be used in questions with where. In this case, the modal verb
comes right after the question word.

Modal Verbs
Structure: Where + Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb in the Base Form +
Where should we go on our next vacation?

Aonde devemos ir em nossas próximas férias?
(should = recommendation)
Where would you like to live?

Onde você gostaria de viver?
(would = hypothetical question)
Where can we find an ATM machine?

Onde podemos encontrar um caixa eletrônico?
(can = possibility)
In English, it is common to use where with verbs followed by prepositions that

express directions. When we use these prepositions, they are placed right after
the verb.
Two frequent prepositions used in questions with where are “to” and “from,”
since they typically follow verbs that express movement.

196
Check out some questions with the verbs to go and to come followed by these prepositions.

Where + Verbs Followed by Prepositions

(The preposition is optional because the verb to go expresses movement toward a place
with or without the preposition.)
(A preposição é opcional porque ir o verbo ir indica movimento em direção a algum lugar,
com ou sem preposição.)
Where is she coming from?

De onde ela está vindo?
(The preposition is mandatory, otherwise the verb to come might not imply the idea of origin.)
(A preposição é obrigatória, caso contrário, o verbo vir pode não transmitir a ideia de origem.)
And now you know what a question word is and how to use the question
word where to ask indirect or direct questions with different verb forms.

197
Grammar
GuideWhich
Question Word -
Question words are used to ask direct and indirect questions. On this grammar
guide, we’ll talk about the question word which.
We use which to ask about specific information. As in some contexts which will
be interchangeable with the question word what, it’s important to highlight the
difference between these two question words.
The most important feature of which is that it’s used when there’s a limited
number of choices in mind.
QUESTION WORDS
What vs. Which
What’s your phone number?

Qual é o seu telefone?
(There are many possibilities. Country code, area code,
and several possible combinations of numbers.)
Which size do you want?

Que tamanho você quer?
(There are limited options, such as small, medium, or large.)
In English, when we ask direct questions with both which and what, it’s possible to use a noun
after the question word to make the question more specific.
Again, you’ll choose to use one or the other based on the range of options. Take a look at the
examples.
QUESTION WORDS
Which vs. What
I bought white and grey paint. Which color will you choose for your bedroom?
Eu comprei tinta branca e cinza. Qual cor você vai escolher para o seu quarto?
(Limited options = only two colors available: white and grey)

198
Question Word - Which
I’m trying to decide on the new color of our bedroom walls. What colors do you like?
Eu estou tentando decidir a cor das paredes do nosso quarto. De quais cores você gosta?
(Broader option = from all the colors, you can choose the ones you like)
Which can also be followed by a pronoun, usually because you don’t want to repeat the
options you have just given, and in such case, we’ll frequently use the pronoun one.
QUESTION WORD – WHICH

Which + Pronoun
Structure: Which + Pronoun + Interrogative Form
Mr. Brown and Ms. Davenport are my favorite teachers.

O Sr. Brown e a Sra. Davenport são meus professores favoritos.
OK. But which one do you like the most?

OK. Mas de qual deles você gosta mais?
(Replace “teacher” with “one” since the teachers were already mentioned.)
We can also use an object pronoun or a determiner right after

which, but in such case we’ll use which of. Check the examples.

Which of
Which of us is going to sleep in the bigger bed?

Qual de nós vai dormir na cama maior?
Which of these jackets is yours?

Qual dessas jaquetas é sua?

199
Question Word - Which
The question word which can be used in direct and indirect questions. In direct questions, it
follows the interrogative form and structure, whereas in indirect questions we are reporting the
question or there’s a question within another question.

Which dress do you prefer? The pink or the green?

Qual vestido você prefere? O rosa ou o verde?
(Direct Question: Which + Structure of the Interrogative Form)
Can you give me some suggestions on which museums I should visit in Berlin?
Você pode me dar algumas sugestões de quais museus eu devo visitar em Berlim?
(Indirect Question: Which + Structure of the Affirmative Form)
Now you know how to ask questions using the question word which, and know the
difference between what and which, their use and structure.

200
Grammar
GuideRegular Verbs
In English, verbs can be either regular or irregular.
Most verbs are regular, that is to say that both their past and past participle will
follow a general rule for regular verbs, which is to add -ED to the base form.
RE GUL AR VERBS
General rule add -ED
to call (called) to finish (finished)

chamar, telefonar acabar, terminar
to help (helped) to listen (listened)

ajudar ouvir
to look (looked) to need ( needed)

olhar, parecer precisar
to play ( played) to show (showed)

brincar, jogar, tocar mostrar
to start (started) to visit (visited)

começar visitar
to want (wanted) to work (worked)

querer trabalhar

201
Regular Verbs
However, there are some specific spelling rules depending
on how the base form ends.
For regular verbs that already end in -E, we just add -D.
RE GUL AR VERBS
For verbs ending in -E, add -D
Infinitive Form: to arrive (chegar)

You’ve arrived early.
Você chegou cedo.
Infinitive Form: to live ( morar)

I lived in London when I was a child.
Eu morei em Londres quando eu era criança.
Infinitive Form: to introduce (apresentar)

I’ve introduced Julia to Mark.
Eu apresentei a Julia ao Mark.
Infinitive Form: to like (gostar)

I liked this book very much.
Eu gostei muito desse livro.
For regular verbs that end with a consonant followed by the letter
Y, we drop the -Y, and add -IED.
RE GUL AR VERBS
Verbs ending with a consonant followed by Y, add -IED
Infinitive Form: to study (estudar)

Michelle has studied a lot for her math exam.
Michelle estudou muito para sua prova de matemática.
Infinitive Form: to cry (chorar)

The baby cried a lot last night.
O bebê chorou muito noite passada.
Infinitive Form: to try (tentar)

I tried to help her, but I couldn’t.
Eu tentei ajudá-la, mas não consegui.

202
Regular Verbs
When the regular verb ends in the combination of consonant, vowel, consonant
(CVC) and the last syllable is stressed, we double the final consonant and add
-ED to form the past.
RE GUL AR VERBS
Verbs ending in CVC: double the last consonant and add -ED
Infinitive Form: to stop ( parar)

We stopped at the drugstore to buy some things.
Nós paramos na farmácia para comprar algumas coisas.
Infinitive Form: to plan ( planejar)

We had planned to arrive early, but we are late.
Nós tínhamos planejado chegar cedo, mas estamos atrasados.
Infinitive Form: to prefer ( preferir)

Tony preferred to stay home last night.
Tony preferiu ficar em casa noite passada.
Infinitive Form: to occur (ocorrer)

Something unexpected has occurred.
Algo inesperado ocorreu.
Pay attention to the fact that there are also verbs ending in the combination consonant + vowel + consonant
in which the last consonant is L.
In British English, these verbs, regardless of the stressed syllable, will always have their past and past
particle forms with double L. Therefore, travelled with double L or traveled with one L are both correct
spellings of the past of the verb to travel. The same happens with the verb to cancel.
RE GUL AR VERBS
Verbs ending in CVC in which the last consonant is L: add -ED or double the L and add -ED
British English: Double the L and add -ED

American English: Add -ED
Infinitive Form: to travel (viajar)

I travelled/traveled to Paris in my honeymoon.
Eu viajei para Paris em minha lua de mel.
Infinitive Form: to cancel (cancelar)

The flight has been cancelled/canceled due to bad weather conditions.
O vôo foi cancelado devido ao mau tempo.

203
Regular Verbs
For verbs ending in -C, we’ll add -KED to form the past and past participle.
These are rarer cases, but, among the most frequent verbs in the English
language, we could mention the verb to panic.
RE GUL AR VERBS
Verbs ending in –C: add -KED
Infinitive Form: to panic (entrar em pânico)

I panicked when I saw my bank balance.
Eu entrei em pânico quando vi meu saldo bancário.
And now you know how to use the regular verbs in the
past and the past participle.

204
Grammar
GuideOther Verbs
Simple Past –
The simple past is a verb form used to talk about things that happened or existed in
the past.
Check the structures, starting with affirmative sentences in the past.
SIMPLE PAST
Affirmative Sentences
Structure: Subject + Main Verb (in the Past) + Complement
I watched all the episodes of this series.

Eu assisti a todos os episódios desta série.
(I performed this action in the past. It’s over now because I finished it).
In affirmative sentences, the auxiliary verb is not necessary, but it can be used in some
specific contexts to emphasize the message.
If we decide to use the auxiliary did to add emphasis to affirmative sentences, the main verb
goes back to its base form.
SIMPLE PAST
Affirmative Sentences – Adding Emphasis
Structure: Subject + Auxiliary Verb (in the Past) +

Main Verb (Base Form) + Complement
I did watch all the episodes of this series.

Eu (de fato) assisti a todos os episódios desta série.
(Note that the auxiliary doesn’t have a meaning, only the function of emphasizing).

205
Simple Past – Other Verbs
The verb conjugation in the simple past will be the same for all persons, singular or plural.
What we must take into consideration, though, is that some verbs in English are regular, while
others are irregular.
In the previous example in the affirmative form, we used the regular verb to watch in the past,
which is watched.
For regular verbs, we’ll add -D, -ED, or -IED to the end, depending on how the base form is
spelled. Check the spelling rules for regular verbs in the past.

Spelling Rules
GENERAL RULE: ADD -ED
To watch – watched To play – played

Assistir Brincar, jogar, tocar
VERBS ENDING IN -E: ADD -D
To like – liked To love – loved

Gostar Amar
VERBS ENDING IN CONSONANT + -Y: DROP THE -Y AND ADD -IED
To study – studied To cry – cried

Estudar Chorar
CVC VERBS: DOUBLE THE LAST CONSONANT AND ADD -ED
To stop – stopped To plan – planned

Parar Planejar

206
These are the spelling rules for all regular verbs in the past, which are most
verbs in English.
But there are few irregular verbs in English, and they do deserve some special
attention. As the name says, they are irregular, which means there is not one
pattern that applies to all of them.
For instance, some irregular verbs suffer significant changes in their base
forms. That’s the case of the verb to be, which in the past becomes was or were
depending on the subject, or the verb to have, which becomes had, and the verb
to go, which becomes went. On the other hand, verbs such as to quit, to put, or
to cut will keep their base form when conjugated in the past.
SIMPLE PAST
Irregular Verbs
To be – was/were To quit – quit

Ser, estar Desistir
To have – had To cut – cut

Ter Cortar
To go – went To put – put

Ir Botar, colocar
There’s a grammar guide dedicated to irregular verbs in the past. Check it so you can learn
more about them.
Now, when using sentences in the negative and in the interrogative forms, the fact that the
verbs can be either regular or irregular is unimportant, since it’s the auxiliary verb did that
will be conjugated. This means that the main verb goes back to its base form.
SIMPLE PAST
Negative Sentences
Structure: Subject + Auxiliary (Did) + NOT + Main Verb (Base Form) + Complement
I didn’t watch this series.

Eu não assisti a esta série.
(didn’t = did not)

207
The contracted form didn’t will be used in most cases. However, in formal
written language, it is advisable to avoid the use of the contraction. In spoken
language, if you use the full form, you are adding emphasis to a negative
statement.
SIMPLE PAST
Negative Sentences – Adding Emphasis
I did not watch this series.

Eu não assisti a esta série.
For interrogative sentences, we’ll invert the order and place the auxiliary before the subject.
SIM PLE PAST

Interrogative Sentences
Structure: Subject + Auxiliary (Did) + NOT + Main Verb (Base Form) + Complement
Did you watch all the episodes of the final season?

Você assistiu a todos os episódios da temporada final?
Now that we’ve seen the simple past in the affirmative form and the spelling
rules for regular verbs, as well as the structures of negative and interrogative
sentences, it’s time to see its common usages.
We use the simple past to talk about definite time in the past.
SIMPLE PAST
Uses
I graduated in December.
Eu me formei em dezembro.
(“To graduate” is a regular verb, and its past form is “graduated”)
We went to the movies yesterday.

Nós fomos ao cinema ontem.
(“To go” is an irregular verb, and its past form is “went”)

208
The simple past may or may not have an explicit time reference.
Either way, it refers to past events.
SIMPLE PAST
Uses
Anne studied with me.

A Anne estudou comigo.
(No time reference: but it’s still a finished action in past)
Santos Dumont flew around the Eiffel Tower.

Santos Dumont voou em volta da Torre Eiffel.
(No time reference: but it’s still a finished action in past)
We can use the simple past to talk about events that happened once or events that happened
with some frequency in the past.
SIMPLE PAST
Uses
I went to Italy for my 15th birthday.

Eu fui para a Itália no meu aniversário de 15 anos.
(The trip to Italy is an isolated event that happened because of my 15th birthday).
Every summer I traveled with my family to Italy.

Todo verão eu viajava com minha família para a Itália.
(The trip to Italy was something that happened more frequently, every summer.)

209
When we want to make it clearer that we are talking about a past habit, something that
happened frequently in the past, it’s also possible to use the expression used to followed
by a main verb.
USED TO
Frequent Events in the Past
Structure: Subject + Used to + Main Verb (Base Form) + Complement
I used to travel to Italy every summer.

Eu costumava viajar para a Itália todo verão.
(Used to + Main Verb in the Base Form = frequent events or habits in the past)
Now you know when and why we use the simple past with other verbs,
as well as its structures and spelling rules.

210
Grammar
GuideSimple Past - To Be
The simple past is used to talk about an event that happened in the past. The time it occurred may
be given or not, but it refers to an event that happened in the past.
In this grammar guide, we’ll focus on the verb to be in the past. First, it’s important to know
that the verb to be is an irregular verb, and it’s the only verb in English that has two irregular
conjugations for the simple past depending on the person: was and were.
SIMPLE PAST
Verb To Be
Singular Plural
Verb (To Be) Verb (To Be)

First person I was we were

Second person you were you were
he/she/it was they were

Third person
seu(s), sua(s), dela seus, suas, deles, delas
Check the structures for interrogative, negative, and affirmative sentences.

The basic structure for affirmative sentences is the SVC structure, that is, the subject, the verb to be in the
past, and the complement.
SIM PLE PAST – TO BE

Affirmative Sentences
Structure: Subject + Verb + Complement
I was in Los Angeles last week.

Eu estava em Los Angeles na semana passada.
(Subject “I” + Verb in the Simple Past “was” + Complement “in Los Angeles last week”)
We were at the annual conference.

Nós estávamos na conferência anual.
(Subject “we” + Verb in the Simple Past “were” + Complement “at the annual conference”)

211
Simple Past - To Be
To make a negative statement, you’ll place the negative particle not after the verb. It is very
common to see the contracted forms, which are, wasn’t for was not, and weren’t for were not.
SIMPLE PAST – TO BE
Negative Sentences
Structure: Subject + Verb + NOT + Complement
I wasn’t home when he arrived.

Eu não estava em casa quando ele chegou.
(wasn’t = was not)
We weren’t in Rio last summer.

Nós não estávamos no Rio no verão passado.
(weren’t = were not)
In interrogative sentences, we invert the order and place the verb before the subject.
Interrogative Sentences
Structure: Verb + Subject + Complement
Were you home last night?

Você estava em casa ontem à noite?
Was Meg with you?

A Meg estava com você?
In the simple past, you’ll only see contracted or short forms in negative sentences.
Short forms are very common in everyday situations. However, if you want to sound
more formal or more emphatic, use the full form.

212
Simple Past - To Be
Let’s now check some possible uses of the verb to be in the simple past.
To Be is used to refer to past physical conditions or states.
Uses
I was sad because I failed the exam.

Eu estava triste porque não passei na prova.
(I was feeling that way, but I am not anymore).
I was so thirsty.
Eu estava com muita sede.
(I am referring to a past state. I probably had water, and I am not thirsty anymore).
I was skinnier.
Eu era mais magro(a).
(It was how I looked in the past, but I’ve changed).
We can talk about a past age, profession, or marital status.
Uses
Age
I was 40 years old when my son was born.
Eu tinha 40 anos quando o meu filho nasceu.
(I am not 40 anymore. I was 40 at the time of that specific event—the day my son was born).
Profession
I was a teacher.
Eu era professor(a).
(I was a teacher. I may have retired or I changed my profession).
Marital Status
I was married.
Eu era casado(a).
(Since it is in past, it means I am not married anymore.
I may be divorced or have become a widow/widower).

213
Simple Past - To Be
We can use the verb to be in the past to talk about past relationships.
Uses
We were friends.
Nós éramos amigos.
(We are not that close anymore, maybe we don’t see each
other as often as we used to).
He was my boyfriend.
Ele era meu namorado.
(We broke up and he is not my boyfriend anymore. He is my ex now).
We can also use the verb to be in the past to talk about past time and dates.
Uses
It was about 8 a.m. when she left.

Eram cerca de 8 horas da manhã quando ela saiu.
Our last appointment was on January 3rd.

A nossa última consulta foi no dia 3 de janeiro.

214
Simple Past - To Be
We can use the verb to be in the past to refer to places and locations in the past.
Uses
Meg was at the mall with me.

A Meg estava no shopping comigo.
(I am mentioning the place where Meg and I were).
My office was on Fifth avenue.

Meu escritório ficava na 5ª avenida.
(I am talking about a past location—it’s not there anymore.
I may have moved to another office).
And now you know when and why we use the verb to be in the simple past, as well as its
structure and the contracted form for negative sentences.

215
Grammar
GuideOther Verbs
Simple Present -
The simple present was divided into two grammar guides, and we did that
because there is an important difference in structure.
In this grammar guide, we’ll talk about the simple present with verbs that are not
the verb to be, that is, all the other verbs.
When we use the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary verb to make interrogative
and negative sentences. But when we use other verbs, we need to use the
auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb for the simple present is do or does, according to
the subject.
Check out the difference in the box.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be Other Verbs
Interrogative Is she a teacher? Does she work as a teacher?

Ela é professora? Ela trabalha como professora?
Negative She isn’t a teacher. She doesn’t work as a teacher.

Ela não é professora. Ela não trabalha como professora.
The basic structure for the affirmative form is the SVC structure, that is, subject,
main verb, and complement. And the verb conjugation works like this: we’ll use the
base form of the verb for all persons, except for the third person singular. In this
case, we’ll add –S, –ES, or –IES to the end of the verb, depending on how it’s spelled.

216
Simple Present - Other Verbs
If you want to learn more about the third person spelling rules, you can check the grammar
guide on this topic. However, most verbs will only take a final S in the third person singular,
as you can see in the following table.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Affirmative Form
Singular Plural
I work here. We work here.

First person
Eu trabalho aqui. Nós trabalhamos aqui.
You work here. You work here.

Second person
Você trabalha aqui. Vocês trabalham aqui.
He works here.
Ele trabalha aqui.
She works here. They work here.

Third person
Ela trabalha aqui. Eles/Elas trabalham aqui.
It works for now.

Isso funciona por enquanto.
Notice that we do not use the auxiliary verb in the affirmative form. But it’s possible to use it to
add emphasis to a statement. In that case, the auxiliary verb is placed before the main verb.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Affirmative Form: Adding Emphasis
Usage of the Auxiliary Do
I do have the right to speak my mind.

Eu tenho (sim) o direito de dar minha opinião.
(The verb “do” is used as an auxiliary. So it does not have a meaning, but a function).
(O verbo “do” é usado como auxiliar. Portanto, não tem um significado, mas uma função).

217
Thus, it is possible to use the auxiliary with the simple present in the affirmative form, but it’s also important
to notice that it adds emphasis to the sentence, which means that it is only going to happen in very specific
contexts.
As for the negative and interrogative forms, the auxiliary do is not optional, it’s necessary.
The basic structure for the negative form is the subject, the auxiliary verb do conjugated according to the
subject, the negative particle not, the main verb in its base form, and the complement, if necessary.
You should pay close attention to the third person singular. In both negative and interrogative forms, the
conjugation goes in the auxiliary verb, that is, we will use does, and, because of that, the main verb goes
back to its base form.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Negative Form
Singular Plural
I don’t work here. We don’t work here.

First person
Eu não trabalho aqui. Nós não trabalhamos aqui.
You don’t work here. You don’t work here.

Second person
Você não trabalha aqui. Vocês não trabalham aqui.
He doesn’t work here.

Ele não trabalha aqui.
She doesn’t work here. They don’t work here.

Third person
Ela não trabalha aqui. Eles/Elas não trabalham aqui.
It doesn’t work for now.

(Isso) não funciona por enquanto.
In informal language, the contracted

forms don’t (do + not) or doesn’t SIMPLE PRESENT
(does + not) are used in most cases. Negative Form: Adding Emphasis
In formal written language, we avoid
using contractions. Do Not Use the Contracted Form
On the other hand, in spoken
language, if we use the full form, You do not have the right to shout at people.
it probably means we want to add Você não tem o direito de gritar com as pessoas.
emphasis to a negative statement.

218
The basic interrogative form structure in the simple present is the auxiliary verb do conjugated according to
the subject, the subject, the main verb in its base form, and the complement, if necessary.
So the position of the auxiliary verb and the subject is inverted, and, once again, in the third person singular,
the main verb goes back to its base form, and the auxiliary verb is conjugated.
Check out the following table:
SIMPLE PRESENT
Interrogative Form
Singular Plural
Do I work here? Do we work here?

First person
Eu trabalho aqui? Nós trabalhamos aqui?
Do you work here? Do you work here?

Second person
Você trabalha aqui? Vocês trabalham aqui?
Does he work here?

Ele trabalha aqui?
Does she work here? Do they work here?

Third person
Ela trabalha aqui? Eles/Elas trabalham aqui?
Does it work for now?

Isso funciona por enquanto?
The simple present is used to talk SIMPLE PRESENT

about facts and to show repetitions, Other Verbs – Uses
habits, or generalizations.
I work at a law firm.

Eu trabalho em um escritório de advocacia.
She works a lot.

Ela trabalha muito.

219
It can also be used to present a series of events when we narrate
something or give instructions and directions.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Other Verbs – Uses
First you read the questions, then you have to mark the correct statement.
Primeiro você lê as perguntas, depois você tem que marcar a afirmação correta.
You go straight and turn right on the traffic light.

Você segue em frente e vira à direita no semáforo.
The simple present can convey the idea of immediacy and drama, and that’s why it’s commonly
used in stories or novels, in sports broadcasting, and in newspaper headlines, even when
reporting past events.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Other Verbs – Uses
She crosses the street toward him, looks back, and decides to let it go.
Ela atravessa a rua em direção a ele, olha para trás e decide deixar para lá.
He gets the ball, passes through the defense and shoots, but the goalkeeper saves it.
Ele pega a bola, passa pela defesa e chuta, mas o goleiro agarra.
Firefighters save many lives in Brooklyn.

Os bombeiros salvam muitas vidas no Brooklyn.

220
In English, some verbs cannot be used in continuous forms. These verbs are
called non-progressive verbs, and we use them in the simple present. This
group is divided into different subgroups of verbs.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Non-progressive Verbs
Mental process verbs
know, suppose, think, understand

saber, supor, achar, entender
Verbs that express feelings
admire, adore, hate, like, respect

admirar, adorar, detestar, gostar, respeitar
Verbs that describe senses
smell, taste, hear

sentir cheiro, sentir sabor, ouvir
Speech act verbs
promise, swear, agree, deny

prometer, jurar, concordar, negar
And now you know the structure and the most common uses of the simple present.

221
Grammar
GuideVerb To Be
Simple Present -
The simple present is used to talk about factual information or things
that happen regularly.
SIMPLE PRESENT
This wall is white.

Esta parede é branca.
(It’s a factual piece of information.)
I sleep for 8 or 9 hours a day.

Eu durmo de 8 a 9 horas por dia.
(It’s part of a routine, something I do every day.)
The simple present will be tackled in two different grammar guides.

In this one, we’ll focus on the simple present sentences in which the
main verb is the verb to be.
Check the following table to see the conjugation of the verb to be in
the simple present.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be
Singular Plural
First person I am We are
Second person You are You are
Third person He/She/It is They are

222
Simple Present - Verb To Be
There is a different sentence structure for the interrogative, negative, and
affirmative forms. In affirmative sentences, we’ll frequently use the SVC
structure, that is, Subject, Verb, and Complement. To make a negative
statement, you’ll place the negative particle not after the verb. And to ask a
question, we invert the order and place the verb before the subject.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be
Affirmative
Subject + Verb To Be + Complement
I’m a writer.
Eu sou escritor.
Negative
Subject + Verb To Be + NOT + Complement
I am not a writer.
Eu não sou escritor.
Interrogative
Verb To Be + Subject + Complement
Are you a writer?

Você é escritor?
The simple present of the verb to be is commonly

SIMPLE PRESENT
used in its contracted form, also known as short
Verb To Be – Contracted Form
form. Contractions are considered informal, and they
are very common in everyday situations. However,
if you want to sound more formal or more emphatic, Affirmative Negative
use the full form. I’m I’m not
The short or contracted forms can be used in You’re You aren’t
affirmative or negative sentences. He’s/She’s/It’s He/She/It isn’t
We’re We aren’t
They’re They aren’t

223
Now that you know the conjugation in the plural and singular forms, its structure
for affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences, as well as its full and
contracted forms, check out the possible uses of the verb to be in the simple
present.
It can be used to refer to personal information such as name, age, profession,
marital status, and nationality.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be – Uses
Name
I am Sophie. My name is Sophie.
Eu sou Sophie. O meu nome é Sophie.
Profession Age
I am an architect. I am 36 years old.
Eu sou arquiteta. Eu tenho 36 anos.
Nationality Marital Status

I am French. I am single.
Eu sou francesa. Eu sou solteira.
We can also use the verb to be followed by an adjective to talk about

permanent or temporary physical characteristics and feelings.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be – Uses
I am thirsty.
Eu estou com sede.
(It’s a state. Something I am experiencing now.)
I am skinny.
Eu sou magro(a).
(It refers to a physical characteristic.)

224
The verb to be in the simple present is also used to talk about permanent or
temporary qualities or states, personal characteristics, or mood.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be – Uses
I am stressed. I am a stressed person.

Eu estou estressado(a). Eu sou uma pessoa estressada.
(It’s a current mood or a temporary state.) (It’s part of my personality.)
The verb to be in the simple present is also used to talk about time and dates.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be – Uses
It’s eleven o’clock. Our meeting is on December 3rd.

São onze horas. A nossa reunião é no dia 3 de dezembro.
We can use the verb to be in the simple present to refer to places and locations as well.
SIMPLE PRESENT
Verb To Be – Uses
I am at the mall. The 9/11 Memorial is in Manhattan.

Eu estou no shopping. O memorial do 11 de Setembro é em Manhattan.
And now you know when and why we use the verb to be in the simple present.

225
Grammar
GuideSubject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are personal pronouns that replace nouns that work as the
subject of the sentence. Let’s take a look at them:
First person pronouns are the ones used to refer to the person speaking;
second person pronouns refer to the person we are talking to; and third person
pronouns, to the people or objects we are talking about.
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
Singular Plural
I we
First person
eu nós

you you
Second person
tu/você vós/vocês
he
ele ( pessoa)
she they
Third person
ela ( pessoa) eles/elas
it
ele/ela (exceto pessoas)
Let’s start analyzing the first person pronouns, the ones that refer to the person
who is talking.
The first person singular pronoun (I) is always written with a capital letter,
regardless of its position in the sentence. Capitalization does not happen with
any other pronoun in English, not even with the first person plural (we).

226
Subject Pronouns
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
First Person
I am her friend.
Eu sou amigo(a) dela.
(first person singular pronoun I) We are friends.
Nós somos amigos.
(first person plural pronoun we)
Karen and I work at the same company.

Karen e eu trabalhamos na mesma empresa.
(first person singular pronoun I)
That was the moment we decided to quit the job.

Foi nesse momento que nós decidimos deixar o emprego.
(first person plural pronoun we)
For the second person, the subject pronoun you will be used both in the singular
and in the plural. You always refers to the person or the people you are talking to.
Therefore, the context will tell you whether it is singular or plural.
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
Second Person
You are a teacher.

Você é professor.
(second person singular pronoun you)
You are teachers.

Vocês são professores.
(second person plural pronoun you)

227
Subject Pronouns
The third person is used to refer to the people or objects we are talking about. In the
third person singular, there are two pronouns used to refer to people, and, in some
cases, to pets: he and she. “He” is used for the masculine; and “she,” for the feminine.
SUBJE CT PRONOUNS
Third Person Singular (He/She)
John is a teacher. He is very good.

O John é professor. Ele é muito bom.
(third person singular masculine pronoun he)
Sarah is an actress. She is great.

A Sarah é atriz. Ela é ótima.
(third person singular feminine pronoun she)
For all the other cases, we will use the other third person singular pronoun, it;
that is, to talk about any other thing in the singular.
SUBJE CT PRONOUN
Turn off the computer. It’s too hot.

Desligue o computador. Ele está muito quente.
(third person singular neutral pronoun it)
Turn the TV down. It’s loud.

Abaixe a televisão. Ela está alta.
(third person singular neutral pronoun it)
Notice that, in the examples we have just seen, the reference of the pronoun it is
clear in the sentence. It refers to the computer in the first example, and to the TV in
the second one.
But the pronoun it will also be used as a subject in sentences that have an
impersonal subject. This impersonal use of it introduces new information, and it is
used particularly to talk about time, dates, the weather, and opinion.
When it has an impersonal function, it does not refer to a previously mentioned
noun. In this case, the pronoun it simply works as the subject of the sentence.

228
Subject Pronouns
Take a look at the following examples:
SUBJE CT PRONOUN
It’s a pleasure to be here.

É um prazer estar aqui.
(third person singular neutral pronoun it impersonal subject)
It’s hot today.

Está quente hoje.
It’s late.
Está tarde.
For the third person plural, there is only one pronoun: they. This is the plural form of the pronouns he, she,
and it—meaning this pronoun can be used to refer both to people and objects.
SUBJE CT PRONOUN
Third Person Plural (They)
They are good teachers. They are great students.

Elas são boas professoras. Eles são ótimos alunos.
(third person plural pronoun they) (third person plural pronoun they)
They are good books.

São bons livros.
(third person plural pronoun they)
And now you know how to use subject pronouns in English.

229
Grammar
GuideThird Person
Spelling Rules -
When we use the verbs in the third person singular in the simple present, there
are some specific spelling rules, which refer to how these verbs are written.
The third person is always about someone or something else. In the singular,
it will be used with nouns or pronouns that refer to a masculine noun or the
pronoun he, to a feminine noun or the pronoun she, and to a thing, idea, or
object or the pronoun it.
Remember that in the negative and interrogative forms of the simple present
the main verb remains in its base form for all persons. Thus, the third person
conjugation in the simple present will only be used in the main verb when it is
in the affirmative form.
The general rule is that you add -S to the verb.
SPELLING RULES – THIRD PERSON

General Rule – Add -S
work works
trabalhar trabalha
like likes
gostar gosta
For the verbs ending in O, S, X, CH, SH, or Z, we ADD -ES.

Verbs Ending in O, S, X, CH, SH, Z – Add -ES
go goes
ir vai
kiss kisses
beijar beija

230
Spelling Rules - Third Person
fix fixes
consertar conserta

watch watches
assistir assiste

crash crashes
bater bate

buzz buzzes
vibrar vibra
When the verb ends in Y and it is preceded by a consonant, drop the Y and add -IES.

Verbs Ending in Consonant + Y - Drop the Y, Add -IES
Ending in E: Add -ST

Terminação em E: Adicionar -ST
carry carries
carregar carrega
study studies
estudar estuda
try tries
tentar tenta
The verb to have is an exception: in the third person singular, we’ll drop VE and add -S.

Exception: To Have – Drop VE, add -S
have has
ter tem
And now you know the spelling rules for the verbs inflected in the third person singular
in affirmative sentences in the simple present.

231
Grammar
GuideThere + Be
The structure there + be expresses existence, and it can be used in the
affirmative, interrogative, and negative forms.
THERE + BE
Structures
Affirmative
There + Be
There’s a restaurant near the hotel.

Há um restaurante perto do hotel.
Interrogative
Be + There
Is there a restaurant near the hotel?

Há um restaurante perto do hotel?
Negative
There + Be + Not
There isn’t (is not) a restaurant near the hotel.

Não há um restaurante perto do hotel.

232
There + Be
You can use the structure in the singular or plural according to the noun that follows it.
THERE + BE
Singular and Plural
Are there good schools in your neighborhood?

Há/Tem boas escolas no seu bairro?
(The noun “schools” is in the plural, so the verb to be is in the plural)
There is a good school in my neighborhood.

Há/Tem uma escola boa no meu bairro.
(The noun “school” is in the singular, so the verb to be is in the singular)
When we talk about singular or plural forms, there are some things to which we should pay
attention. If you are talking about a list of things, use there is when the noun that follows is
also in the singular.
If there are one or more nouns in the plural, use there are and place the nouns in the plural
before the ones in the singular, if there are any.
THERE + BE
Singular and Plural
There is an apple, a banana, and a pineapple in the fruit basket.

Tem uma maçã, uma banana e um abacaxi na fruteira.
(There is All nouns in the singular)
There are some apples, two bananas, and a pineapple in the fruit basket.
Tem algumas maçãs, duas bananas e um abacaxi na fruteira.
(There are One or more nouns in the plural)

233
There + Be
In informal spoken language you might as well hear there is followed by plural
nouns. This is perfectly acceptable in such case, but you should not use it in
written formal language.
THERE + BE
Informal Spoken Language
There’s two teachers in each classroom.

Tem dois professores em cada sala de aula.
(Informal: There is One or more nouns in the plural)
We have seen some uses of there + be in the present. However, it is important to highlight that
this structure can also be used in the past and in the future.
So we will conjugate the verb to be accordingly. If we are referring to the past, we use there
was for the singular and there were for the plural.
THERE + BE
Past: There Was / There Were
There was only one employee assisting the customers.

Só havia um funcionário auxiliando os clientes.
(“Employee” is a singular noun, so we used the verb to be in the singular: “There was”)
There were many people waiting in line.

Tinha muita gente esperando na fila.
(“People” is a plural noun, so we used the verb to be in the plural: “There were”)
To use there + be in the future, we’ll use there will be with singular or plural nouns.
THERE + BE
Future: There Will Be
There will be a mall near my house.

Haverá um shopping perto da minha casa.
There will be flying cars in the future.

Haverá carros voadores no futuro.

234
There + Be
There + be can also be used with modal verbs. In this case, we’ll join the idea of existence with
the meaning that each modal verb expresses.
THERE + BE
Modal Verbs
Structure: There + Modal Verb + Be
There must be a gas station around.

Tem que ter / Deve haver um posto de gasolina por perto.
There should be no wait.

Não deve haver demora.
There might be a cocktail after the meeting.

Deve ter / É possível que tenha / Pode ser que haja um coquetel após a reunião.
We can also use there with verbs such as seem and tend before to be. In these
cases, we’ll use the infinitive form to be.
SUPERL ATIVES
Two-syllable Adjectives – Exceptions
Structure: There + Verb + To Be
There seems to be a lot of vacant rooms in this hotel.

Parece haver muitos quartos vazios neste hotel.
(It’s the speaker’s perspective of an impression).
There tends to be tension between the parts

Tende a haver tensão entre as partes.
(It’s something that is expected).
And now you know what there + be means, its structures, and how to use it.

235

Dra Book Simple PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dra Book Simple PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Driving Around.

5 Driving in the City p. 89

6 At the Gas Station p. 109

7 Returning the Car p. 128

8 Grammar Guide p. 148

[In the living room]

So we decided to drive around Los Angeles and share our experience

So, how do you choose your perfect car?

< voltar para o índice

convertible? Do you want an economy? What’s your budget? Where

[Going through the car rental agency app]

So obviously you’re going to choose where you’re picking up the car

< voltar para o índice

[Na sala de estar]

Mas como você escolhe o carro que é perfeito para você?

Bem, você deve se fazer algumas perguntas: quantas pessoas estão

[Mostrando o aplicativo da agência locadora de carros]

Então, obviamente vamos escolher o lugar onde vamos pegar o carro.

Quando nós vamos pegar o carro? Será dia 1º de junho de 2019. E

< voltar para o índice

Há carros diferentes: tem a caminhonete padrão. Tem as caminhonetes

< voltar para o índice

Book your car in advance to guarantee better deals and availability.

Make your reservation in advance to guarantee better deals and availability.

I’d like to book a table.

I’d like to book a room.

What kind of car would you like to rent?

< voltar para o índice

CAR CATE GORIES

Economy SUV Standard

What’s your budget?

How many people are coming with you?

< voltar para o índice

How many people fit in a minivan?

How many bags are you taking?

How many bags fit in a minivan trunk?

The answers may come in volume measurements, like this:

There are 532 liters of cargo space.

Or in number of suitcases, like this:

The trunk can fit up to nine large suitcases.

On some car rental websites, you will be able to

< voltar para o índice

How far will you go?

Note that we used how far to ask a question about distance.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

Roadside Assistance Insurance

Personal Effects Coverage (PEC)

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)

Additional Liability Insurance (ALI)

< voltar para o índice

1. Choose the pick-up date, time, and spot.

2. Choose the drop-off date, time, and spot.

3. Select the kind of car you want.

4. Select the additional services you want.

5. Type in your personal information, email address, and credit card

6. Confirm the reservation and check the voucher in your mailbox.

Now you know which aspects must be considered before

< voltar para o índice

( 1 ) Budget ( 7 ) Car rental company ( ) Ótimos preços ( ) Local de retirada

B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word.

Qual é o seu orçamento?

c) Select the of car you want.