Portuguese GRAMMAR-SUMMARY 8


 a gente
 Use  a gente as a substitute for nós (we). Brazilians use this
in conversation because it’s faster and sounds great.
Nós vamos! >  A gente vai! (We're going!)

Nós vamos nos ver amanhã. >  A gente se vê amanhã. (We'll
see each other tomorrow.)
Nós fomos lá. >  A gente foi lá. (We went there.)
 Post: A gente (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/a-

gente-18608/)
 Video
acabar de
To say you’ve “just done something” – use acabar + de. It’s
used almost always in the past tense.
 Acabei de acordar. (I just woke up.)

 Ela acabou de comer. (She just ate.)
 Post: acabar de – to just do it (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/acabar-de-conjugation-21196/)
 Video
 verbs (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/grammar-
tags/verbs/)
adverbs of intensity
Words that add emphasis such as almost, hardly, a lot, enough.
 menos (less)
 demais (too much)
 tanto (so much)
 quase (almost)
 bem (well)
 mal (hardly)
 pouco (little)
 Post: Portuguese Adverbs of Intensity

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/portuguese-
adverbs-10284/)
 Video
adverbs of manner
Words that express the manner in which something happened.
They add emphasis and emotion.
 Eu faço tudo certo! (I make everything right!)

 Eu vou falar alto. (I'm going to speak loudly.)
 Post: Portuguese adverbs of manner

adverbs-2-21184/)
 Video
adverbs of place: longe & perto

far from = longe de
close to = perto de
 longe (far)
 perto (close)
If the de is followed by an o, a (articles) or an ele, ela (pronouns)

you must combine (contract) the de with it. For example,
de + a = da >  Eu estou longe da cidade. (I'm far from the
city.)
de + ele = dele >  Nós moramos perto dele. (We live close to
him.)
 Post: Portuguese adverbs of position

adverbs-of-position-19286/)
 Video
adverbs of position & place

POSITION: Words that describe position such as inside, on top
of, below, beside.
PLACE: Words that describe place such as far from, close to, in
front of.
 longe (far)
 perto (close)
 dentro (inside)
 fora (outside)
 em cima (above)
 debaixo (beneath)
 em frente (in front)
 atrás (behind)
 ao lado (to the side)
All of these must be followed by a de (of).

Beneath the bed. > Debaixo da cama.
On top of the table. > Em cima da mesa.
In front of the hotel. > Em frente do hotel.
If the de is followed by an o, a (articles) or an ele, ela (pronouns)

you must combine (contract) the de with it. For example,
de + a = da >  Eu estou longe da cidade. (I'm far from the

city.)
de + ele = dele >  Nós moramos perto dele. (We live close to
him.)
 Post: Portuguese adverbs of position

adverbs-of-position-19286/)
 Video
affirmations
There are specific ways that agreement is expressed. All use the
words certeza (certainty) and razão (reason).
 Você tem certeza? (Are you sure?)
 Você tem razão! (You're right!)
 Você está certo! (You're right!)
 Post: Você tem certeza? (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/voce-tem-certeza-9327/)
 Video
antes de & depois de

Get used to saying “de” after after and before.
depois de
antes de
You’re literally saying after of and before of.
antes de >  Me liga antes de sair. (Call me before going out.)

depois de >  Depois de você. (After you.)
 Post: antes & depois in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/before-after-21385/)
 Video
começar + a
You always need to place an “a” right after the verb COMEÇAR
and a verb that follows. It’s a rule.
 Eu vou começar a correr. (I'm going to start to run.)

 Estou começando a aprender. (I'm starting to learn.)
 Quando você vai começar a trabalhar (When are you going
to start work?)
comparatives
Comparing one thing to another is done by combining one of
these words: superior, inferior, maior, menor, pior, melhor & etc.
with ‘do que’.
 Minha casa é maior do que essa. (My house is bigger than

this one.)
 Ele é menor do que eu. (He's smaller than me.)
 Tudo aqui é mais caro do que na outra loja. (Everything here
is more expensive than the other store.)
 Post: Portuguese Comparatives (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-comparatives-21754/)
 Video
contractions desse, dessa, dele, dela

De (of) can combine (contract) with esse/essa/isso as well as
ele/ela.
With esse and essa: (this)
de + esse = desse >  Sei tudo desse lugar. (I know

everything about this place.)
de + essa = dessa >  Cansei dessa música. (I’m tired of this
song.)
de + isso = disso >  Não quero mais disso. (I don’t want any
more of this.)
With ele and ela: (him/her)
de + ele = dele >  É a casa dele? (Is it his house?)

de + ela = dela >  A casa dela é grande. (Her house is big.)
 Post: Common Contractions (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/common-portuguese-contractions-21620/)
 Video
 contractions (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/grammar-tags/contractions/)
conversational estar
In casual conversation, estar is abbreviated like this:
estou >  tô
está >  tá
estamos >  tamos
estão >  tão
This is becomming the accepted standard, preferred form of

speaking the verb estar. In written Portuguese the non-
abbreviated form is always used.
Eu estou aqui. >  Eu tô aqui. (I'm here.)

Como você está? >  Como você tá? (How are you?)
tags/verbs/)
dá para
dar para = to be possible (to)
Use this when you want to convey the possibility of something.
 Dá para fazer? (Can it be done?/ Would it be possible to

do?)
 Dá para usar? (Can it be used?/ Would it be possible to
use?)
 Post: Dar para (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/dar-para-21352/)
 Video
 expressions (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/grammar-tags/expressions/)
descer, subir
DESCER = to go down. But it’s also commonly used in the
context of leaving home (descending the elevator) and getting
off (a bus, a car).
 Eu vou descer aqui. (I'm going to get off here.)
SUBIR = to go up.
 Ela pode subir. (She can come up.)

tags/verbs/)
dever + verb
DESCRIPTION
tags/verbs/)
deveria + ter
deveria + ter = ought to have / should have
 Eu deveria ter ficado. (I should to have stayed.)

 Ela deveria ter sabido. (She should have apologized.)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
diminutives & augmentives

Brazilians like to add endings at the end of words to give them a
sense of cuteness or smallness or, as a sign of affection. These
are called diminutives. The most common diminutive suffixes
are:
masculine words --inho >  bonitinho, devagarinho (cute,

slowly)
masculine words --zinho >  cafezinho, amorzinho (coffee,
love)
feminine words --inha >  garotinha, cervejinha (girl, beer)
feminine words --zinha >  florzinha, mezinha (flower, table)
It’s also very common to change noun endings to lend a sense

of largeness or grandness. These are called augmentatives. The
most common augmentive suffixes are:
There are many diferent suffixes but these above are by far the
most common. A more complete reference to using diminutives
& augmentatives can be found at Street Smart Brazil.
(https://streetsmartbrazil.com/use-diminutives-brazilian-
portuguese/)
--ão >  Ele é meu amigão. (He's my great friend.)

--arão >  Moro num casarão. (I live in a big house.)
 Post: Physical descriptions in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/physical-
descriptions-portuguese-27473/)
 Video
em falta
This expression using the verb FALTAR (to lack, run out of)
means, to be out of. Use it to say things like:
 A camisa branca está em falta. (We're out of the white

shirts.)
 Está em falta! (We're out of it!)
 Post: We’re out of it! (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/em-falta-8513/)
estar + com
Use estar com to say things like,
 Eu estou com fome. (I'm hungry.)

 Você está com frio? (Are you cold?)
 Ela está com problemas. (She has problems.)
This translates literally as, to be with. In Portuguese when
you’re hungry you are with hunger.
*Use sem just as you use com, but to convey the opposite:
without.
 Eu estou sem dinheiro. (I have no money.)
 Post: estar com, estar de (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/estar-com-21456/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
estar + de
Use estar de to say things like:
 Estou de dieta. (I'm on a diet)

 Você está de ressaca? (Do you have a hang-over?)
 Eu estou de bicicleta. (I'm on my bike.)
 Que bom estar de volta! (How good it is to be back!)
 Post: estar com, estar de (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/estar-com-21456/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
conditional tense
To say, would you add an ia to the verb’s infinitive. The
irregulars are not that difficult to learn.
 Ele trabalharia hoje mas... (He would work today but...)

 O que ele diria? (What would he say?)
 Eu falaria, sim. (I would say, yes.)
 Post: the Conditional in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/the-conditional-in-
portuguese-19521/)
 verb tenses (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/grammar-tags/verb-tenses/)
future subjunctive
Use this tense to talk about things that are uncertain to happen:
in the future.
 Me liga quando você chegar. (Call me when you arrive.)

 Se eu ver ela te aviso. (If I see her I'll let you know.)
 Assim que comprar um carro vou lá. (As soon as I buy a car
I'll go there.)
 Post: the Future Subjunctive (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/the-future-subjunctive-7999/)

gostar de
The verb gostar is always followed by a de. This translates as,
to like of.
 Eu gosto de você. (I like you.)

 Você gosta dela? (Do you like her?)
 Eu estou gostando disso. (I'm liking this.)
 Post: Eu gosto de você. (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/eu-gosto-de-voce-21059/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
haver
You can use the verb HAVER to express:
(1) it’s been a while

(2) there are (there exist)
 Há muito tempo! (It's been a long time!)

 Não há casamentos perfeitos. (No marriage is perfect.)
 Post: Portuguese verb HAVER (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-verb-haver-30305/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
imperative mood
> For AR regular verbs you just replace the a with an e.
> For ER & IR regular verbs you just replace the e with an a.
Forming
-ar regular verbs
Tell me everything! Me conte tudo!

Stop! Pare
Think again! Pense bem!
-er and -ir regular verbs
Get out of here! Suma daqui!

Open this door! Abra essa porta!
Learn this! Aprenda isso!
Answer me! Me responda!
Some very common examples use the TU form (read the post
for more explanation):
esperar >  Me espera! (Wait for me!)

olhar >  Olha só! (Just look!)
escutar >  Escuta! (Listen!)
tirar >  Tira sua mão! (Hands off!)
falar >  Fala tu! (Talk to me!)
ligar >  Me liga! (Call me!)
 Post: The Portuguese Imperative (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-imperative-2678/)
 Video

imperfect indicative tense

The imperfect indicative is used when talking about continuous
or ongoing action in the past. Something that used to happen
or, would (always) happen.
‘Eu trabalhava no Banco do Brasil.’
Or, ‘When I was a a younger I would always drink a few beers

before going to a party.’
‘Quando eu era mais jovem eu sempre bebia umas cervejas

antes de sair pra festa’
Things that used to happen or, would (always) happen,

entendeu?
Forming
-ar regular verbs
I used to work eu trabalhava

he used to work ele trabalhava
we used to work nós trabalhávamos
they used to work eles trabalhavam
-er and -ir regular verbs
I used to eat eu comia

he used to eat ele comia
we used to eat nós comíamos
they used to eat eles comiam
ar verbs >  Trabalhava nessa empresa. (I used to work at that

company.)
er verbs >  Eu bebia todos os dias. (I used to drink every
day.)
ir verbs >  Eu dormia bem. (I used to sleep well.)
 Post: Portuguese imperfect conjugation

imperfect-conjugation-2512/)
 Video

imperfect tense of estar

To express was.
When talking about action in the past, use the imperfect
indicative tense of estar –> estava.
 Eu estava almoçando quando você ligou. (I was having lunch

when you called.)
 Ela estava ocupada ontem. (She was busy yesterday.)
*Don’t use this to express was for talking about permanent

things in the past (I was a young boy; She was a sick baby etc.)
– use ser for that.
 Post: ESTAR-the definitive reference

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/estar-the-definitive-
reference-27511/)
 Video

imperfect tense of ser
or, would (always) happen. Ser is irregular.
The only form you need to know is this: ser > era
 Ela era uma criança tranquila. (She was a quiet child.)

 Era uma vez. (Once upon a time.)
 Video

imperfect tense of ter

or, would (always) happen. Ter is irregular.
The only form you need to know is this: ter > tinha
 Eu tinha muito dinheiro. (I had lots of money.)

 Video

indefinite pronouns: qualquer, bastante,

tanto
These indefinite pronouns are also very common.
qualquer = whicever one, whatever

bastante = plenty
tanto(a) = so much, many
qualquer >  Pode usar qualquer um. (You can use whichever
one.)
bastante >  Me divirto bastante. (I have plenty of fun.)
tanto >  Ele te ama tanto. (She loves you so much.)
tanta >  Temos tanta coisa. (We have so much.)
 Posts: Somewhere, anywhere, nowhere in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/somewhere-
anywhere-nowhere-in-portuguese-25033/) | tanto quanto —
as much as — in Portuguese (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/tanto-quanto-1017/)
 Video
indefinite pronouns: algum, nenhum

algum(a) = some
nenhum(a) = no one
algum >  Vamos para algum lugar. (Let's go somewhere.)

alguma >  Mais alguma coisa? (Something more?)
nenhum >  Nenhum carro me interessa. (No car interests me.)
nenhuma >  Nenhuma dessas coisas. (None of these things.)
indefinite pronouns: uns, vários, certo

uns = some (masculine)

umas = some (feminine)
vários(as) = various
certo(a) = certain, right
uns >  Vamos falar com uns amigos. (Let's talk with some
friends.)
umas >  Eu conheço umas pessoas. (I know some people.)
vários >  Tenho vários sonhos. (I've got various dreams.)
várias >  Existem várias maneiras. (Various ways exist.)
certo >  Estou pensando num certo homem. (I'm thinking of a
certain man.)
certa >  Faça a coisa certa! (Do the right thing!)
indefinite pronouns: uns, vários, certo

uns = some (masculine)

umas = some (feminine)
vários(as) = various
certo(a) = certain, right
uns >  Vamos falar com uns amigos. (Let's talk with some
friends.)
umas >  Eu conheço umas pessoas. (I know some people.)
vários >  Tenho vários sonhos. (I've got various dreams.)
várias >  Existem várias maneiras. (Various ways exist.)
certo >  Estou pensando num certo homem. (I'm thinking of a
certain man.)
certa >  Faça a coisa certa! (Do the right thing!)
ir embora
The phrase vamos embora evolved from the old time phrase
Vamos em boa hora. — meaning, let’s go at a good time (while
spirits are high). It’s current meaning is roughly: go away, leave.
Used it together with the verb ir like this:
 Vamos embora logo. (Let's go soon.)

 Preciso ir embora. (I need to leave.)
 Estamos indo embora. (We're leaving.)
já volto
Já volto means, I’ll be right back. Literally, already, I’m back.
You just need to remember that já means, already. Volto is from
the verb, voltar.
jeito
jeito = way, manner
Several important expressions use this word:
dar um jeito
Literally, to give a way.
Use it to say: We will find a way (to fix something, solve a
problem).
 Vou dar um jeito nesse cabelo! (I'm going to fix this hair!)
 Ele vai dar um jeito para resolver. (He's going to find a way to
solve it.)
não tem jeito

There is no way.
 Simplesmente não tem jeito. (There's simply no way.)
 expresssions (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/grammar-tags/expresssions/)
me deixa
DEIXAR = to leave, let. Brazilians use this verb all the time in
expressions such as “me deixa”.
 Me deixa sozinho! (Leave me alone!)

 Me deixa! (Leave me alone!)
 Me deixa em paz! (Leave me in peace!)
The me is the reflexive pronoun (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-grammar/reflexive-pronouns/).
It’s there to make it clear that you are saying yourself, and not
someone else. *If you wanted to say for example, “I’ll let you
speak” you would use the pronoun te rather than me: Te deixa
falar!
 Posts: Deixa pra lá – in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/deixa-pra-la-
portuguese-34691/) | Pode deixar (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/pode-deixar-25487/)
não dá
No way! It’s impossible.
 Não dá para entender. (It's impossible to understand.)

 Não dá para estudar. (It's impossible to study.)
 Não dá para fazer nada! (It's impossible to do anything.)
 Posts: Não dá. Eu odeio! (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/nao-da-eu-odeio-34907/) | Dar para
(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/dar-para-21352/)
 Video
nem
Use nem when you want to say, don’t even.
 Nem pensar! (Don't even think about it! )

 Eu nem sei. (I don't even know.)
 Eu nem reparei. (I didn't even notice.)
object pronouns (simple)

There are two extremely common substitutions made in
conversational Portuguese:
para você > get’s replaced by te

para mim > get’s replaced by me
These make sentences shorter, more streamlined. *Note the
word order changes. The me, te pronoun goes before the verb.
Ela falou para você ? >  Ela te falou? (Did she tell you?)
Pode falar para mim? >  Pode me falar? (Can you tell me?)
Eu vou falar para você. >  Eu vou te falar. (I'm going to tell
you.)
You can also replace você in situations like this:
Eu não conheço você. >  Eu não te conheço. (I don't know

you.)
Ele vai ajudar você? >  Ele vai te ajudar. (He's going to help
you.)
Eu ajudo você. >  Eu te ajudo. (I'll help you.)
 Post: Using te instead of você: Object Pronouns

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/direct-object-
pronouns-22188/)
 Video
past participles
A past participle is just a verb conjugation that describes
something that is over and done: written, said, cooked, closed
etc.
 A porta está aberta. (The door is opened.)

 O projeto é completado. (The project is completed.)
 Ela está cansada. (She's tired.)
 Ele foi morto. (He was killed.)
*The endings must take the gender of the subject:

a porta > aberta; o escritório > aberto
 Post: Hacking Portuguese Participles

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/hacking-
portuguese-participles-30182/)
 Video

plurals: m, ão endings
Ending in “m” change the m to ns.
o homem >  os homens (the men)

o jardim >  os jardins (the flowers)
Ending in ão change the ão to ões.
a lição >  as lições (the lessons)

a razão >  as razões (the reasons)
 Post: Portuguese Plural for M and ÃO endings

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/portuguese-plural-
for-m-and-ao-endings-21270/)
 Video
plurals: r, z, s endings
Add an es.
mulher >  mulheres (women)

bar >  bares (bars)
rapaz >  rapazes (boys)
raíz >  raízes (roots)
português >  portugueses (Portguese)
país >  países (countries)
 Video
plurals: simple case
Simple case: just add an s.
o carro >  os carros (the cars)

a casa >  as casas (the houses)
 Video
poder: to be able to, can

It’s similar to CONSEGUIR but used more often. It’s conjugation
is irregular.
 Você pode me ajudar? (Can you help me?)

 Eu posso trabalhar amanhã. (I can work tomorrow.)
 A gente pode fazer juntos? (Can we do it together?)
I can eu posso 
you/he/she can você/ele/ela pode
 Complete conjugation. (http://www.conjuga-me.net/verbo-

poder)
 Post: PODER in Portuguese (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/poder-in-portuguese-5255/)
tags/verbs/)
poder + verb
Poder = to be able to, can. It’s often paired with a verb like this:
 Posso sair? (Can I go leave?)

 Você pode ir? (Can you go?)
 Ela pode ajudar? (Can she help?)
* Note the verb after poder is always in the infinitive.
 Posts: Pode deixar (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/pode-deixar-25487/) | PODER in Portuguese
(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/poder-in-
portuguese-5255/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
por + articles
por = by, for
Por often gets used along with “the” (o, a). When it does it gets
contracted like this:
> por + o = pelo
> por + a = pela
 Ela jogou tudo pela janela. (She threw everything out the
window.)
 Vamos pelo centro da cidade. (Let's go by way of
downtown.)
 Pelo amor de Deus! (For the love of God!)
 Post: POR and PARA in Portuguese

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/por-and-para-
27606/)
present tense: perder, pedir, dormir

Some popular irregular verbs in the present tense.
to lose perder 
I lose eu perco
you/he/she lose(s) você/ele/ela perde
to ask for, request pedir 

I ask for eu peço
you/he/she ask(s) for você/ele/ela pede
to sleep dormir 
I sleep eu durmo
you/he/she sleep(s) você/ele/ela dorme
* More accurately called, the present indicative tense.
 Video

present perfect
To say “I’ve been working every weekend” you use the present
perfect verb form. Just use TER + past participle of any VERB:
eu >  Eu tenho trabalhado todo dia. (I've been working every
day.)
você >  Você tem treinado? (Have you been training?)
ele/ela >  Ela tem saído muito! (She's been going out a lot!)
You only need to modify the TER to match the subject.
 Posts: The Present Perfect Tense (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/present-perfect-tense-2320/) | I’ve been
working (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/ive-been-
working-5376/) | Perfectly Speaking (https://www.semantica-
portuguese.com/speak-perfectly-12860/)
 Video

present progressive tense

Drop the ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and adding -ando, -endo, -indo
respectively.
Use this to say whats happening right now : I’m working, He’s
surfing, You’re talking, etc. (often called the Portuguese “ing”).
-ar verbs
She’s arriving Ela está chegando

Who’s talking? Quem está falando?
-er verbs
I’m eating. Eu estou comendo

He’s losing. Ele está perdendo
-ir verbs
He’s insisting. Ele está insistindo

She’s driving. Ela está dirigindo
 Eu estou trabalhando agora. (I'm working now.)

 Você está comendo açúcar? (Are you eating sugar?)
 Ele está dirigindo. (He's driving.)
 Posts: The Present Progressive (gerund)

(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/the-portuguese-
gerund-26489/) | The Present Progressive : examples
(https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/the-portuguese-
gerund-2-30149/)
 Video

present subjunctive
Use this tense to talk about things that are uncertain to happen:
in the present.
 Eu espero que você pense melhor. (I hope that you think

better.)
 Você quer que eu dirija? (Do you want me to drive?)
 É importante que você aprenda. (It's important that you
learn.)
 Post: the Portuguese Subjunctive (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/the-portuguese-subjunctive-29410/)

present vs. past: pedir, ouvir

PEDIR and OUVIR have similar ~irregulr conjugations in the
present and the simple past. These are very common verbs and
worth remembering!
Present tense
pedir >  Eu peço desculpas amiga (Excuse me my friend.)

ouvir >  Eu ouço bem. (I hear well.)
Past tense
*this is the preterit indicative tense.
pedir >  Eu pedi uma Coca-Cola. (I ordered a Coca-Cola.)

ouvir >  Eu ouvi um barulho. (I heard a noise.)
 Video

simple past tense ~ar verbs

“simple past” = action that is over and done.
to speak falar 
I said eu falei
you/he/she said você/ele/ela falou
we said nós falamos
they/you all said eles/elas falaram
* More accurately called, the preterit indicative tense.

 Video

simple past tense ~er verbs

to eat comer 
I ate eu comi
you/he/she ate você/ele/ela comeu
we ate nós comemos
they/you all ate eles/elas comeram
 Video

simple past tense ~ir verbs
to leave, depart partir 

I left eu parti
you/he/she left você/ele/ela partiu
we left nós partimos
they/you all leave eles/elas partiram
 Video

simple past tense: ser, ir

These two essential verbs are very irregular in the “simple past”
tense. BUT – they’re exactly the same! Saying was or went, is
usually written the same.
to be ser 
I was eu fui
you/he/she were(was) você/ele/ela foi
to go ir 
I went eu fui
you/he/she went você/ele/ela foi
 Post: FUI in Portuguese (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/fui-in-portuguese-29717/)
 Video

simple past tense: ter, dizer, fazer

Some popular irregular verbs in the simple past tense.
to have ter 
I had eu tive
you/he/she had você/ele/ela teve
to say, tell dizer 

I said eu disse
you/he/she said você/ele/ela disse
to make, do fazer 
I did eu fiz
you/he/she did você/ele/ela fez
 Video

querer dizer
This translates to “to mean”.
 Quer dizer que você está sem dinheiro? (You mean you have
no money?)
 Eu quero dizer que eu gostei! (I mean that I liked it!)
Literally: to want to say.
 Video
reflexive verbs
Almost any verb can be used reflexively. Whenever the subject
is receiving and doing the action at the same time, it’s reflexive.
To make a verb reflexive just add a me or se to say myself (me),
or yourself, himself, herself (se):
Reflexive
Pronoun
Eu me Eu me levantei. (I got myself up)
Você se Você se levantou. (You got yourself up)
Ele se Ele se levantou. (He got himself up)

Ela se Ela se levantou. (She got herself up)
A gente se A gente se levantou. (We got ourselves up)
 Eu não me lembro. I don't (myself) remember

 Você se machucou? Did you hurt yourself?
 Não vou me preocupar. I'm not going to worry (myself).
 Eu me sentei. I sat (myself) down.
 Nós nos divertimos. We enjoyed ourselves.
 Eu me chamo Juliana. I call myself Juliana.
 Post: Portuguese Reflexive Verbs (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-reflexive-verbs-34693/)
 Video
ser & ficar

Ser & ficar can be used somewhat interchangeably in cases like
these:
location
When talking about something permanent – a post office, the
park, your home you can use either ser or ficar to describe
where exactly it is, is located.
Onde é? >  O hotel é aqui. (The hotel's here.)

Onde fica? >  O hotel fica aqui. (same)
becoming
é >  É muito difícil. (It's very difficult.)

fica >  Fica muito difícil (same)
 Posts: Portuguese verb FICAR (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-verb-ficar-24200/) | To SER or
not to ser. (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/to-ser-or-
not-to-ser-21374/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
ser & ficar: becoming

Ser & ficar can be used interchangeably to express that
something is becoming or, “getting”:
é >  É muito difícil. (It's very difficult.)
fica >  Fica muito difícil (It's very difficult.)
 Posts: Portuguese verb FICAR (https://www.semantica-

portuguese.com/portuguese-verb-ficar-24200/) | To SER or
not to ser. (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/to-ser-or-
not-to-ser-21374/)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
ser in the infinitive

Just like any verb, you can use ser (to be) in it’s infinitive.
It's good to be Brazilian! >  É bom ser brasileiro.

It's easy to be happy. >  É fácil ser feliz.
tags/verbs/)
tanto(a)
That much, so much, as much, so many.
 Gostei tanto do show! (I liked the show so much!)

 Tantas pessoas têm carros. (So many people have cars.)
tão
Use tão to express so, so much, so very. Use it convey degree,
not quantity.
 Eu fiquei tão cansado. (I got so sleepy.)

 O filme é tão triste. (The movie is so sad.)
 Ela parece tão feliz. ( She looks so happy.)
ter que
To have to or, must.
Ter que literally means to have that.
 Eu tenho que ir. (I have to go.)

 Você vai ter que pagar. (You're going to have to pay.)
 la tem que entender. (She has to understand.)
 Video
tags/verbs/)
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Nós vamos! >  A gente vai! (We're going!)

 Post: A gente (https://www.semantica-portuguese.com/a-

 Acabei de acordar. (I just woke up.)

 Post: Portuguese Adverbs of Intensity

 Eu faço tudo certo! (I make everything right!)

 Post: Portuguese adverbs of manner

adverbs of place: longe & perto

If the de is followed by an o, a (articles) or an ele, ela (pronouns)

 Post: Portuguese adverbs of position

adverbs of position & place

All of these must be followed by a de (of).

If the de is followed by an o, a (articles) or an ele, ela (pronouns)

de + a = da >  Eu estou longe da cidade. (I'm far from the

 Post: Portuguese adverbs of position

 Post: Você tem certeza? (https://www.semantica-

antes de & depois de

You’re literally saying after of and before of.

antes de >  Me liga antes de sair. (Call me before going out.)

 Post: antes & depois in Portuguese

 Eu vou começar a correr. (I'm going to start to run.)

 Minha casa é maior do que essa. (My house is bigger than

 Post: Portuguese Comparatives (https://www.semantica-

contractions desse, dessa, dele, dela

With esse and essa: (this)

de + esse = desse >  Sei tudo desse lugar. (I know

With ele and ela: (him/her)

de + ele = dele >  É a casa dele? (Is it his house?)

 Post: Common Contractions (https://www.semantica-

This is becomming the accepted standard, preferred form of

Eu estou aqui. >  Eu tô aqui. (I'm here.)

 Dá para fazer? (Can it be done?/ Would it be possible to

 Post: Dar para (https://www.semantica-

 Eu vou descer aqui. (I'm going to get oﬀ here.)

 Ela pode subir. (She can come up.)

 Eu deveria ter ficado. (I should to have stayed.)

diminutives & augmentives

masculine words --inho >  bonitinho, devagarinho (cute,

It’s also very common to change noun endings to lend a sense

--ão >  Ele é meu amigão. (He's my great friend.)

 Post: Physical descriptions in Portuguese

 A camisa branca está em falta. (We're out of the white

 Post: We’re out of it! (https://www.semantica-

 Eu estou com fome. (I'm hungry.)

 Eu estou sem dinheiro. (I have no money.)

 Post: estar com, estar de (https://www.semantica-

 Estou de dieta. (I'm on a diet)

 Ele trabalharia hoje mas... (He would work today but...)

 Post: the Conditional in Portuguese

 verb tenses (https://www.semantica-

 Me liga quando você chegar. (Call me when you arrive.)

 Post: the Future Subjunctive (https://www.semantica-

 verb tenses (https://www.semantica-

 Eu gosto de você. (I like you.)

(1) it’s been a while

 Há muito tempo! (It's been a long time!)

 Post: Portuguese verb HAVER (https://www.semantica-

Tell me everything! Me conte tudo!

-er and -ir regular verbs

Get out of here! Suma daqui!

esperar >  Me espera! (Wait for me!)

 Post: The Portuguese Imperative (https://www.semantica-

 verb tenses (https://www.semantica-

imperfect indicative tense