Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Regular-Verbs

Portuguese Grammar → Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense → Regular Verbs

In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. Portuguese verbs are divided into three groups, based on their endings: "-ar", "-er", and "-ir". Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when conjugated, based on their group.

Let's start by reviewing the present tense endings for regular verbs in Portuguese:

• "-ar" verbs: eu-o, tu-as, ele/ela-a, nós-amos, vós-ais, eles/elas-am
• "-er" verbs: eu-o, tu-es, ele/ela-e, nós-emos, vós-eis, eles/elas-em
• "-ir" verbs: eu-o, tu-es, ele/ela-e, nós-imos, vós-is, eles/elas-em

Conjugating "-ar" verbs:

To conjugate an "-ar" verb, simply remove the "-ar" ending and add the appropriate ending for the subject pronoun. Here is an example with the verb "falar" (to speak):

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
eu falo	['fa.lu]	I speak
tu falas	['fa.lɐʃ]	You speak
ele/ela fala	['fa.lɐ]	He/she speaks
nós falamos	[fɐ.'la.muʃ]	We speak
vós falais	[fɐ.'la.iʃ]	You all speak (informal)
eles/elas falam	[fɐ.'lɐ̃w]	They speak

Conjugating "-er" verbs:

To conjugate an "-er" verb, simply remove the "-er" ending and add the appropriate ending for the subject pronoun. Here is an example with the verb "comer" (to eat):

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
eu como	['ko.mu]	I eat
tu comes	['ko.mɨʃ]	You eat
ele/ela come	['ko.mi]	He/she eats
nós comemos	[ko.'me.muʃ]	We eat
vós comeis	[ko.'me.iʃ]	You all eat (informal)
eles/elas comem	[ko.'mẽj]	They eat

Conjugating "-ir" verbs:

To conjugate an "-ir" verb, simply remove the "-ir" ending and add the appropriate ending for the subject pronoun. Here is an example with the verb "partir" (to leave):

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
eu parto	['paɾ.tu]	I leave
tu partes	['paɾ.tɨʃ]	You leave
ele/ela parte	['paɾ.tɨ]	He/she leaves
nós partimos	[pɐɾ.'ti.muʃ]	We leave
vós partis	[pɐɾ.'tiʃ]	You all leave (informal)
eles/elas partem	[pɐɾ.'tẽj]	They leave

Note that some "-ir" verbs are irregular and do not follow this pattern. We will cover those in an upcoming lesson.

Examples:

• Eu falo português. (I speak Portuguese.)
• Nós comemos pão e queijo. (We eat bread and cheese.)
• Ele parte para o Brasil amanhã. (He leaves for Brazil tomorrow.)

Practice:

Now it's time for some practice. Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense:

1. cantar (to sing) 2.

Table of Contents - Portuguese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Unit 1: Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Greetings
• Basic Phrases

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Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Ser and Estar

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Unit 3: Family and Descriptions

• Family Members
• Physical Descriptions
• Personality Descriptions

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Unit 4: Verbs - Future and Conditional Tenses

• Future Tense
• Conditional Tense

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Unit 5: Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Cultures

• Brazil
• Portugal
• Cape Verde
• Angola

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Unit 6: Food and Drink

• Food
• Drink
• Eating Customs

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Unit 7: Verbs - Past Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

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Unit 8: Travel and Transportation

• Air Travel
• Ground Transportation
• Transportation Customs

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Unit 9: Indefinite Pronouns and Prepositions

• Indefinite Pronouns
• Prepositions

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Unit 10: Health and Emergencies

• Medical Vocabulary
• Emergency Services

Related Lessons

• Time
• Nouns
• Future Tense
• Irregular Verbs
• Articles
• Gender
• Questions
• Conditional Tense
• How to Use Have