In Portuguese, when we use a verb that asks for both a direct and indirect object (and the objects are known, i.e. we’re aware of what/who they are), we can create a contraction by combining the third person direct object pronoun with the indirect object pronoun. Sounds complicated, we know. Let’s see a practical example… […]
Merging Clitic Object Pronouns
Clitic Pronouns: 3rd Person
In this lesson we’ll explore 3rd-person clitic object pronouns in Portuguese. We saved these for last because they are a little bit more complicated. Unlike the others we’ve practiced so far in the Clitic Pronouns unit, there are different forms depending on whether it’s a direct or indirect object pronoun. (Visit the introduction learning note […]
Clitic Pronouns: Direct & Indirect Objects
are one of the trickiest subjects to learn and master in Portuguese. But don’t despair — we’re here to help! Throughout these lessons you’ll learn how to use clitic object pronouns correctly, but first you should understand more about the difference between direct and indirect objects. The objects of a sentence can be represented in various […]
Object Pronouns in Portuguese
In this lesson, we’ll have a look at direct and indirect object pronouns in Portuguese. These fall into the category of , along with reflexive pronouns, which we will cover separately, but which follow many of the same rules. Keep in mind that we are focusing on how to use object pronouns in European Portuguese, as […]
Measurements in Portuguese
What do cooking, taking a trip, shopping for clothing, and building or furnishing a home have in common? They all involve measurements. To prepare you to discuss different types of measurements in Portuguese, we’re going to cover some basic Portuguese vocabulary related to length, width, height, size, weight, volume, and distance. Here are some simple […]
Adverbs of Manner: Well, Poorly, etc.
, sometimes called adverbs of mode, tell us how an action happened or the way in which it was carried out. Easy, right? Adverbs of manner can sometimes be mistaken for adjectives, but one thing that distinguishing an adverb of manner (or any adverb) is that they are always invariable. In other respects, Portuguese adverbs […]
Degrees of Adjectives
In Portuguese, adjectives change form depending on the gender and number of the noun. Similarly to English, they can also be expressed in different : Positive Degree This is the basic form of each adjective. We use it to qualify a noun without making any comparisons. Comparative Degree You use the comparative degree to… you […]
Simple Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
So far, you’ve learned what prepositions are and you’ve been introduced to quite a few of them. Similar to English, there are dozens of prepositions in Portuguese grammar. There are simple prepositions (single words, some of which form contractions with pronouns and articles) and there are prepositional phrases. For example: Simple preposition (de): Prepositional phrase […]
Bastante, Quase, and Realmente
In this learning note, we’ll explore 3 tricky Portuguese words that can take on very different meanings depending on their placement in a sentence or the type of word they modify: We’ve mentioned these words before, but let’s take a closer look to get more comfortable with their different uses. The Many Lives of Bastante […]
Adverbs of Time: Já
One of the most common adverbs of time is , which at its core means in this moment. Like all other adverbs of time, já is always invariable. It is one of the most frequently used adverbs, and possibly one of the most confusing for non-native speakers! The meaning of já in Portuguese varies quite […]
Adverbs of Place: Here and There
Portuguese has several to indicate the relative position of a person or object. These adverbs are particularly useful to learn: . In short, cá and aqui both mean here. Aí, lá, ali, and acolá mean there. Below we’ll explore the finer differences between each of these words. Here and There In Portuguese, here and there are a […]
Adverbs of Place: Above and Below
No one’s above a little studying! In this lesson, we’ll be looking at some more Portuguese adverbs of place. Remember: Unlike other adverbs, adverbs of place only modify verbs. Acima is the equivalent of above, and as such it is rather straightforward. Abaixo means below (the opposite of acima). It refers to a thing or person that […]
Adverbs of Place: In, Out, etc.
In this lesson, we’ll be looking at some more adverbs of place. Remember: Unlike other adverbs, adverbs of place only modify verbs. Dentro Fora
Adverbs of Place: Near, Far, etc.
In this lesson, we’ll be looking at . These adverbs tell us where something happens or where something is, so they’re pretty essential for building up your Portuguese sentences. Placing Adverbs of Place Portuguese adverbs of place are quite versatile as they can be placed before or after the verb they’re modifying. Unlike other adverbs, […]
A Portuguese Kitchen
Enjoying food is an important part of the culture of Portugal. Whether you’re buying groceries, ordering at a restaurant, or just talking about food, you’ll need to be comfortable with the basics of Portuguese cooking vocabulary. To start, let’s focus on some of the things you might find in a Portuguese kitchen. Food Storage There […]
Food Groups
Exploring food groups is a convenient way to help us learn European Portuguese food vocabulary in a more organized way. Dairy Products First let’s look at some Leite, iogurte, and queijo are a part of many Portuguese people’s breakfasts and snacks. Queijo, in particular, is very important and there are several tasty varieties. As for leite, […]
Talking About Food
Portugal is a country of food lovers, so we use a lot of different expressions to describe the food we eat and how we feel about eating it. The 2 ways to say “I’m hungry” in Portuguese are: | Hunger and Satisfaction I’m Hungry! For starters, instead of saying I am hungry, in Portugal we […]
The Preposition “Com”
One very common Portuguese preposition is Like all prepositions, it’s an invariable word placed before a noun (or pronoun) to indicate the noun’s relationship to other words. When to Use “Com” Just like the English use of “with”, the preposition com is used to… Indicate people or things that are together: Say what something has, […]
Adverbs of Degree: A Little, A Lot, etc.
, also called , tell us about how intensely something occurs. For the most part, Portuguese adverbs of degree operate just like English adverbs in terms of their placement and usage. Word Order Portuguese adverbs of degree are usually placed before the word they’re modifying if it’s an adjective or adverb, and immediately after the […]
Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation
Adverbs of and adverbs of are some of the most essential words in all of the Portuguese language (and, indeed, any language). They are always invariable, so there is no need to worry about different variations. Affirmation Adverbs of affirmation are, as the name implies, words which signify that a given statement is true, or […]
Adverbs of Time: Almost, Always, etc.
can tell us when, how often, or for how long an action happens. As with most other Portuguese adverbs, adverbs of time are always invariable. In this lesson we’ll start with some of the most frequent adverbs of time in Portuguese, which are: Quase We dealt with quase in the previous lesson, as an adverb […]
Adverbs of Degree: More, Less, etc.
Let’s look at some more adverbs of degree, which you’ll remember are always invariable. We’ll see examples of each of the following adverbs: Mais Mais simply means more, or plus. Menos On the flip side, menos is equivalent to the English less, or minus.
Adverbs of Time
In this lesson, we’ll look at more examples of Remember: adverbs of time are always invariable, meaning they do not change form to match the gender or number of the word they reference. Cedo Tarde
Introduction to Portuguese Adverbs
To be more precise and descriptive in your Portuguese conversations, it’s important to master Portuguese . But what are they? Simply put, adverbs are words which modify other words – verbs, adjectives, and sometimes even other adverbs. They add to the meaning or clarify the manner in which a word applies to the rest of […]