Learning Notes

In the previous lessons of this unit, you learned about variable demonstratives, which change depending on the gender and number of the objects(s) they describe. Here’s some good news for you: invariable demonstrative pronouns are much easier to learn, because as you can see below, there are only 3 of them. You still have to consider the […]

As we mentioned, when you say this, that, these, or those in Portuguese, you have to be a little more specific… Variable demonstratives are used to indicate all of the following at once: a person or object’s gender the number (one or more) the position in space or time The gender and number part is […]

The European Portuguese demonstratives are este(s), esta(s), esse(s), essa(s), aquele(s), aquela(s), isto, isso, and aquilo. identify a particular person or object and establish its location in relation to the speaker, the listener, or simply within the general context. They can tell us, for example, whether something is close or distant, in either space or time. […]

In The preposition is usually a bit easier to understand compared to others. Although there are multiple uses, em most commonly refers to being “in” something, either physically or conceptually: Other Meanings Em can also have other meanings, such as about, on, and at.

This difference between por and para in Portuguese is a topic that is tricky for English speakers. Although both of these words can translate to “for”, you have to choose the correct one depending on the context. As with the other prepositions, it’s best to think about how each word is used, rather than the […]

 is one of the first Portuguese prepositions you should learn because it’s extremely common and used in a variety of different situations. De can correspond to many different English translations, depending on the context. Let’s explore some of its many uses: About By On

What is a Preposition? In this Learning Note, we’ll learn about Portuguese prepositions, but first let’s review: what exactly is a preposition? are short words that usually occur before a noun (or pronoun). They show how the noun relates to another element in the sentence in terms of time, location, movement, or other parameters. For […]

In Portugal, is full of traditions and superstitions. Just like Christmas, the celebration begins with a family dinner, and even more holiday sweets. It’s All About o Dinheiro! Superstition says that you can attract in the new year by eating chocolate.

Celebrating Christmas: Then and Now Portugal has no official religion, but most of its population is Christian (81% Catholic). However, only about 19% attend mass and take the sacraments regularly. In Portugal, Church and State are formally separate, but the Catholic institution still has a strong influence, especially for the older population. Like other parts […]

Explicative coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas explicativas), link parts of the sentence to indicate a reason or explanation. The most common are:   (at the start of sentences) (in the middle of sentences) (in the middle of sentences) (in the middle of sentences) Examples:

Conclusive coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas conclusivas), as the name implies, introduce a consequence or conclusion. More specifically, these Portuguese conjunctions indicate a cause and effect relationship between parts of the sentence. The most common are: For the most part, these can be used interchangeably, with portanto being considered slightly more polished, and appearing more often […]

Disjunctive coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas disjuntivas) express an idea of choice or alternative, i.e. that only one of the parts of the sentence can be true. The most obvious example is: Here are some other examples: