Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs

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Portuguese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Irregular Verbs

Welcome to our lesson on Irregular Verbs in Portuguese! Understanding irregular verbs is essential for anyone starting their journey into the Portuguese language. While regular verbs follow predictable patterns, irregular verbs can be a bit unpredictable, which makes them both a challenge and an exciting part of learning Portuguese. Mastering these verbs will enhance your ability to communicate effectively and naturally in everyday situations.

In this lesson, we will explore:

• The importance of irregular verbs in Portuguese

• A detailed breakdown of common irregular verbs in the present tense

• Examples of these verbs in context

• Exercises to practice what you've learned

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of some of the most commonly used irregular verbs and how to conjugate them in the present tense.

The Importance of Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are an integral part of the Portuguese language. They are used frequently in daily conversations, and knowing how to conjugate them correctly can significantly improve your fluency. Unlike regular verbs that follow predictable patterns, irregular verbs often change forms in unexpected ways. This can be tricky for beginners, but with practice, you'll find that these verbs become easier to recognize and use.

Let’s dive into the world of irregular verbs!

Common Irregular Verbs in Present Tense

In this section, we will cover 20 common irregular verbs in the present tense. Each verb will be presented in a table format, showcasing its conjugation for the pronouns: eu (I), tu (you, informal), ele/ela/você (he/she/you, formal), nós (we), vós (you all, rare), eles/elas/vocês (they/you all).

Here’s the list of verbs we will explore:

1. Ir (to go)

2. Ser (to be)

3. Estar (to be)

4. Ter (to have)

5. Fazer (to do/make)

6. Dizer (to say/tell)

7. Poder (to be able to/can)

8. Trazer (to bring)

9. Ver (to see)

10. Saber (to know)

11. Querer (to want)

12. Vir (to come)

13. Dar (to give)

14. Ler (to read)

15. Escrever (to write)

16. Sentir (to feel)

17. Preferir (to prefer)

18. Escolher (to choose)

19. Caber (to fit)

20. Valer (to be worth)

Here are the conjugations for each verb:

Ir (to go)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
vou	[voʊ]	I go
vais	[vaiʃ]	you go
vai	[vai]	he/she/you go
vamos	[ˈvɐ̃muʃ]	we go
ides	[ˈidɨʃ]	you all go
vão	[vɐ̃w]	they/you all go

Ser (to be)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
sou	[soʊ]	I am
és	[ɛʃ]	you are
é	[ɛ]	he/she/you are
somos	[ˈsomuʃ]	we are
sois	[soɪʃ]	you all are
são	[sɐ̃w]	they/you all are

Estar (to be)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
estou	[ɛˈstoʊ]	I am
estás	[ɛˈtaʃ]	you are
está	[ɛˈsta]	he/she/you are
estamos	[ɛˈstɐ̃muʃ]	we are
estais	[ɛʃˈtaɪʃ]	you all are
estão	[ɛ̃ˈstɐ̃w]	they/you all are

Ter (to have)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
tenho	[ˈteɪɲu]	I have
tens	[tɛ̃ʃ]	you have
tem	[tɛ̃]	he/she/you have
temos	[ˈtemuʃ]	we have
tendes	[ˈteɲdɨʃ]	you all have
têm	[tɛ̃w]	they/you all have

Fazer (to do/make)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
faço	[ˈfaʊsu]	I do/make
fazes	[ˈfaʒɨʃ]	you do/make
faz	[fɑz]	he/she/you do/make
fazemos	[fɐˈzemuʃ]	we do/make
fazeis	[fɑˈzeɪʃ]	you all do/make
fazem	[ˈfɑzɨ̃w]	they/you all do/make

Dizer (to say/tell)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
digo	[ˈdɪɡu]	I say/tell
dizes	[ˈdizɨʃ]	you say/tell
diz	[diz]	he/she/you say/tell
dizemos	[dizeˈmuʃ]	we say/tell
dizeis	[dizˈeɪʃ]	you all say/tell
dizem	[ˈdizɨ̃w]	they/you all say/tell

Poder (to be able to/can)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
posso	[ˈpɔsu]	I can
podes	[ˈpɔdɨʃ]	you can
pode	[ˈpɔdʒe]	he/she/you can
podemos	[pɔˈdɛmʊʃ]	we can
podeis	[pɔˈdeɪʃ]	you all can
podem	[ˈpɔdɨ̃w]	they/you all can

Trazer (to bring)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
trago	[ˈtɾaɡu]	I bring
trazes	[ˈtɾazɨʃ]	you bring
traz	[tɾaz]	he/she/you bring
trazemos	[tɾaˈzemuʃ]	we bring
trazeis	[tɾaˈzeɪʃ]	you all bring
trazem	[ˈtɾazɨ̃w]	they/you all bring

Ver (to see)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
vejo	[ˈveɪʒu]	I see
vês	[veɪʃ]	you see
vê	[veɪ]	he/she/you see
vemos	[ˈvɛmuʃ]	we see
vedes	[ˈvedɨʃ]	you all see
veem	[ˈveɪ̃w]	they/you all see

Saber (to know)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
sei	[seɪ]	I know
sabes	[ˈsabɨʃ]	you know
sabe	[ˈsabʊ]	he/she/you know
sabemos	[saˈbemʊʃ]	we know
sabeis	[saˈbeɪʃ]	you all know
sabem	[ˈsabɨ̃w]	they/you all know

Querer (to want)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
quero	[ˈkɛɾu]	I want
queres	[ˈkɛɾɨʃ]	you want
quer	[kɛʁ]	he/she/you want
queremos	[keˈɾemʊʃ]	we want
quereis	[kɛˈʁeɪʃ]	you all want
querem	[ˈkɛɾɨ̃w]	they/you all want

Vir (to come)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
venho	[ˈveɲu]	I come
vens	[vẽʃ]	you come
vem	[vẽj]	he/she/you come
vimos	[ˈvimuʃ]	we come
vindes	[ˈvĩdɨʃ]	you all come
vêm	[vẽj̃]	they/you all come

Dar (to give)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
dou	[doʊ]	I give
dás	[daz]	you give
dá	[da]	he/she/you give
damos	[ˈdɐmuʃ]	we give
dais	[daɪʃ]	you all give
dão	[dɐ̃w]	they/you all give

Ler (to read)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
leio	[ˈleɪu]	I read
lês	[leɪʃ]	you read
lê	[leɪ]	he/she/you read
lemos	[ˈlemuʃ]	we read
ledes	[ˈledɨʃ]	you all read
leem	[ˈleɪ̃w]	they/you all read

Escrever (to write)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
escrevo	[ɛsˈkɾɛvu]	I write
escreves	[ɛsˈkɾɛvɨʃ]	you write
escreve	[ɛsˈkɾɛvɪ]	he/she/you write
escrevemos	[ɛsˈkɾeːmʊʃ]	we write
escreveis	[ɛsˈkɾeːɪʃ]	you all write
escrevem	[ɛsˈkɾɛvɨ̃w]	they/you all write

Sentir (to feel)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
sinto	[ˈsĩtu]	I feel
sentes	[ˈsẽtɨʃ]	you feel
sente	[ˈsẽtʃ]	he/she/you feel
sentimos	[sẽˈtʃĩmuʃ]	we feel
sentis	[sẽˈtʃiʃ]	you all feel
sentem	[sẽˈtẽw]	they/you all feel

Preferir (to prefer)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
prefiro	[pɾeˈfiɾu]	I prefer
preferes	[pɾeˈfeɾɨʃ]	you prefer
prefere	[pɾeˈfeɾɪ]	he/she/you prefer
preferimos	[pɾeˈfeɾimuʃ]	we prefer
preferis	[pɾeˈfeɾiʃ]	you all prefer
preferem	[pɾeˈfeɾẽw]	they/you all prefer

Escolher (to choose)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
escolho	[ɛsˈkoʊʎu]	I choose
escolhes	[ɛsˈkoʊʒ]	you choose
escolhe	[ɛsˈkoʊʎɪ]	he/she/you choose
escolhemos	[ɛsˈkoʊʎemuʃ]	we choose
escolheis	[ɛsˈkoʊʎeɪʃ]	you all choose
escolhem	[ɛsˈkoʊʎɨ̃w]	they/you all choose

Caber (to fit)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
caibo	[ˈkaibu]	I fit
cabes	[ˈkabɨʃ]	you fit
cabe	[ˈkabʊ]	he/she/you fit
cabemos	[kaˈbɛmuʃ]	we fit
cabeis	[kaˈbɛɪʃ]	you all fit
cabem	[ˈkabɨ̃w]	they/you all fit

Valer (to be worth)

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
valho	[ˈvaʊʎu]	I am worth
vales	[ˈvalɨʃ]	you are worth
vale	[ˈvalʊ]	he/she/you are worth
valemos	[vaˈlemuʃ]	we are worth
valeis	[vaˈleɪʃ]	you all are worth
valem	[ˈvalɨ̃w]	they/you all are worth

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned the conjugation of these irregular verbs, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are 10 exercises designed to help reinforce what you’ve learned.

1. Conjugate the verb "ir" in the present tense for the pronoun "ele".

• Answer: vai

2. Translate the sentence: "I want to see." into Portuguese.

• Answer: "Eu quero ver."

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb "ter": "Nós _____ um carro novo."

• Answer: temos

4. Conjugate the verb "fazer" for the pronoun "tu".

• Answer: fazes

5. What is the English translation of "Eles vêm amanhã"?

• Answer: "They come tomorrow."

6. Write a sentence using the verb "saber" in the present tense.

• Answer: "Eu sei a resposta." (I know the answer.)

7. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of "ver": "Eu _____ um filme hoje."

• Answer: vejo

8. Translate the sentence: "We are happy." into Portuguese.

• Answer: "Nós estamos felizes."

9. Conjugate the verb "dar" for the pronoun "você".

• Answer: dá

10. What is the present tense form of "preferir" for "eles"?

• Answer: preferem

Detailed Solutions and Explanations

1. Conjugation of "ir" for "ele":

• "Ele vai" means "He goes."

2. Translation of "I want to see":

• "Eu quero ver" captures the desire to see something in Portuguese.

3. Fill in the blanks for "ter":

• "Nós temos um carro novo" means "We have a new car."

4. Conjugation of "fazer" for "tu":

• "Tu fazes" indicates the action of doing/making from an informal perspective.

5. Translation of "Eles vêm amanhã":

• This means "They come tomorrow," indicating a future event.

6. Using "saber" in a sentence:

• The sentence "Eu sei a resposta" means "I know the answer," showing knowledge.

7. Fill in the blanks for "ver":

• "Eu vejo um filme hoje" translates to "I see a movie today."

8. Translation of "We are happy":

• "Nós estamos felizes" expresses a current state of happiness.

9. Conjugation of "dar" for "você":

• "Você dá" means "You give," showing the act of giving.

10. Present tense form of "preferir" for "eles":

• "Eles preferem" means "They prefer."

Congratulations on completing this lesson on irregular verbs! Keep practicing and using these verbs in your conversations to become more comfortable with them. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Table of Contents - Portuguese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Unit 1: Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Greetings
• Basic Phrases

  ---

Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Ser and Estar

  ---

Unit 3: Family and Descriptions

• Family Members
• Physical Descriptions
• Personality Descriptions

  ---

Unit 4: Verbs - Future and Conditional Tenses

• Future Tense
• Conditional Tense

  ---

Unit 5: Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Cultures

• Brazil
• Portugal
• Cape Verde
• Angola

  ---

Unit 6: Food and Drink

• Food
• Drink
• Eating Customs

  ---

Unit 7: Verbs - Past Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Unit 8: Travel and Transportation

• Air Travel
• Ground Transportation
• Transportation Customs

  ---

Unit 9: Indefinite Pronouns and Prepositions

• Indefinite Pronouns
• Prepositions

  ---

Unit 10: Health and Emergencies

• Medical Vocabulary
• Emergency Services

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• How to Use Be
• Negation
• Regular Verbs
• How to Use Have
• Conditional Tense
• Time
• Articles
• Questions
• How to Use be

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