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 […]
Invariable Demonstrative Pronouns
Variable Demonstratives
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 […]
Introduction to Portuguese Demonstratives
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. […]
The Preposition "Em"
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.
The Difference Between Por and Para
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 […]
The Preposition "De"
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
Prepositions in Portuguese
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 […]
New Year’s Eve Traditions in Portugal
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.
The Holiday Season in Portugal
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 […]
Conjunctions That Present An Explanation
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) Examples:
Conjunctions That Indicate Cause & Effect
Conclusive coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas conclusivas), as the name implies, express a consequence or conclusion. More specifically, these Portuguese conjunctions indicate a cause and effect relationship between parts of the sentence. A couple common examples are and . In the right context, pois and logo can also be included in this group. As standalone words […]
Conjunctions That Present A Choice
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:
Conjunctions That Show Contrast
Adversative coordinative conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas adversativas) indicate a contrast between parts of the sentence. The most common ones are and Examples: Some less common adversative conjunctions are: Examples:
Conjunctions With An Additive Effect
Copulative coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas copulativas), also known as cumulative conjunctions, link parts of the sentence together with a simple additive effect. Here are a few common examples: Let’s see some examples of how to use these in a sentence:
Introduction to Portuguese Conjunctions
are words that connect other words or phrases together. They indicate different types of relationships between parts of the sentence. Unlike adjectives, Portuguese conjunctions do not change form according to a subject’s gender or quantity. They always stay the same (i.e. they are invariable). Conjunctions are important because they help you link your thoughts together […]
Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
As if learning 50 conjugations of each verb wasn’t enough, we also have to watch out for the dreaded irregular verbs! 🙈 In previous lessons, you learned the verb , one of the most common irregular verbs in Portuguese. But why is it called “irregular”? Well, verbs are irregular when they don’t follow the same […]
Portuguese Verbs and Personal Pronouns
Time for some action! 🕺🏻💃🏻 We’ve covered a few basics already, but we won’t get very far without talking about . This Learning Note is a brief overview of how Portuguese verbs work, as well as the personal pronouns associated with each conjugation. Just like in English, a Portuguese verb expresses an action. For example: […]
Introduction to European Portuguese
🌍 Countries that Speak Portuguese Did you know that Portuguese is the 6th most spoken language in the world? 🗣 Portuguese is spoken in Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), of course, but there are also many other countries and regions that speak the language. For example: Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, the Special […]
Definite Articles in Portuguese
A is basically a person, place, or thing. When we think of nouns, we tend to think of vocabulary words. But before we go adding a bunch of Portuguese words to your vocabulary, we have to get some boring really fun stuff out of the way first… How to Say “The” in Portuguese When we […]