Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Regular-Verbs
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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. beber (to drink) 3. dançar (to dance) 4. estudar (to study) 5. trabalhar (to work)
Answers:
1. Eu canto, tu cantas, ele/ela canta, nós cantamos, vós cantais, eles/elas cantam. 2. Eu bebo, tu bebes, ele/ela bebe, nós bebemos, vós bebeis, eles/elas bebem. 3. Eu danço, tu danças, ele/ela dança, nós dançamos, vós dançais, eles/elas dançam. 4. Eu estudo, tu estudas, ele/ela estuda, nós estudamos, vós estudais, eles/elas estudam. 5. Eu trabalho, tu trabalhas, ele/ela trabalha, nós trabalhamos, vós trabalhais, eles/elas trabalham.
Cultural Note:
Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor. It is also spoken in some parts of Macau, and by immigrant communities in the United States, Canada, and several European countries. Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with over 250 million speakers.
Sources: