Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs

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Portuguese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense → Irregular Verbs

Introduction

Welcome to Unit 2 of the "Complete 0 to A1 Portuguese Course"! In this unit, we will explore the present tense of verbs in Portuguese. This tense is used to talk about actions that are happening now or are generally true. In the previous lesson, we learned how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. Now, we will focus on irregular verbs, which have unique conjugation patterns that do not follow the regular rules. Understanding irregular verbs is essential for building a solid foundation in Portuguese grammar.

In this lesson, we will cover some common irregular verbs and their conjugations in the present tense. We will also provide examples and exercises to practice using these verbs in context. By the end of this lesson, you will have a good grasp of how to conjugate and use irregular verbs in the present tense.

Let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of irregular verbs in Portuguese!

Conjugating Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense

Irregular verbs in Portuguese do not follow the regular conjugation patterns of regular verbs. Instead, they have unique conjugations for different pronouns. Despite their irregularities, these verbs are commonly used and play an important role in everyday conversations.

In the present tense, irregular verbs can have changes in their stem, endings, or both. Let's take a look at some common irregular verbs and their conjugations in the present tense:

Irregular Verb 1

The first irregular verb we will explore is "ser" (to be). This verb is irregular in both its stem and endings. Here is the conjugation of "ser" in the present tense:

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
Eu sou	/e-u soh/	I am
Tu és	/too ehsh/	You are (informal)
Ele/ela/você é	/eh-leh/eh-lah/vo-say eh/	He/she/you are (formal)
Nós somos	/nohsh soh-mohsh/	We are
Vós sois	/vohsh soysh/	You are (plural)
Eles/elas/vocês são	/eh-lehsh/eh-lahsh/voh-say soh/	They/you are

As you can see, "ser" has unique forms for each pronoun. Pay attention to the differences in pronunciation and endings. Practice saying these conjugations aloud to familiarize yourself with the sounds.

Irregular Verb 2

Another common irregular verb is "ter" (to have). This verb also has irregularities in its stem and endings. Let's see how "ter" is conjugated in the present tense:

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
Eu tenho	/e-u ten-yoh/	I have
Tu tens	/too tensh/	You have (informal)
Ele/ela/você tem	/eh-leh/eh-lah/vo-say tem/	He/she/you have (formal)
Nós temos	/nohsh tem-osh/	We have
Vós tendes	/vohsh ten-dehsh/	You have (plural)
Eles/elas/vocês têm	/eh-lehsh/eh-lahsh/voh-say tem/	They/you have

Notice how "ter" also has distinct forms for each pronoun. Practice pronouncing these conjugations to improve your Portuguese speaking skills.

Irregular Verb 3

The third irregular verb we will explore is "ir" (to go). This verb has irregularities in its stem but follows the regular verb endings. Let's take a look at how "ir" is conjugated in the present tense:

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
Eu vou	/e-u voh/	I go
Tu vais	/too vah-ees/	You go (informal)
Ele/ela/você vai	/eh-leh/eh-lah/vo-say vah-ee/	He/she/you go (formal)
Nós vamos	/nohsh vah-mohsh/	We go
Vós ides	/vohsh ee-desh/	You go (plural)
Eles/elas/vocês vão	/eh-lehsh/eh-lahsh/voh-say vah-oo/	They/you go

While "ir" follows the regular verb endings, its stem changes from "ir" to "vou" in the first-person singular form. Pay attention to these stem changes as they are crucial for conjugating irregular verbs correctly.

Using Irregular Verbs in Context

Now that we have learned how to conjugate some common irregular verbs in the present tense, let's see how we can use them in sentences. Understanding how to use these verbs in context will help you communicate effectively in Portuguese.

Example 1

Let's use the irregular verb "ser" in a sentence:

"I am a student." In Portuguese, we would say: "Eu sou estudante."

Example 2

Now, let's use the irregular verb "ter" in a sentence:

"She has two cats." In Portuguese, we would say: "Ela tem dois gatos."

Example 3

Finally, let's use the irregular verb "ir" in a sentence:

"We are going to the park." In Portuguese, we would say: "Nós vamos ao parque."

Practice constructing sentences using these irregular verbs to reinforce your understanding and improve your fluency in Portuguese.

Exercises

To practice what you have learned so far, let's do some exercises. Translate the following sentences into Portuguese using the appropriate form of the given irregular verb:

1. They are doctors. 2. I have a dog. 3. You (plural) go to school. 4. We are friends. 5. She has a car.

Take your time to complete the exercises and check your answers. Practice these exercises regularly to reinforce your knowledge of irregular verbs in the present tense.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing Unit 2 of the "Complete 0 to A1 Portuguese Course"! In this lesson, we explored the present tense of irregular verbs in Portuguese. We learned how to conjugate some common irregular verbs and saw examples of how to use them in context. By mastering irregular verbs, you have taken a significant step towards becoming fluent in Portuguese.

Continue practicing irregular verbs in the present tense to reinforce your understanding. In the next unit, we will delve into the difference between the verbs "ser" and "estar" and how to use them in sentences. Stay motivated and keep up the good work!

Table of Contents - Portuguese Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Unit 1: Greetings and Basic Phrases

Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense

Unit 3: Family and Descriptions

Unit 4: Verbs - Future and Conditional Tenses

Unit 5: Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Cultures

Unit 6: Food and Drink

Unit 7: Verbs - Past Tense

Unit 8: Travel and Transportation

Unit 9: Indefinite Pronouns and Prepositions

Unit 10: Health and Emergencies

Videos

Irregular verbs in Brazilian Portuguese: verb FAZER - YouTube

Irregular Verbs in Portuguese - YouTube

Learn European Portuguese (Portugal) - Irregular verbs (I) - YouTube

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