Portuguese Verbs - Portuguese Lessons (Grammar)

Essential Portuguese Grammar – Verbs

Unlike English, Portuguese verbs are divided into three main groups. It only depends on the ending of the verb:

Infinitive verbs can end in:

– ar: amar [to love],  cantar [to sing]

– er: vender [to sell], correr [to run]

– ir: partir [to leave], dormir [to sleep]

Moods and Tenses

Verbs also present moods and tenses. Mood indicates the attitude of the speaker towards the action or state of the verb, whereas tense indicates the time of the action or state of the verb.

Moods:

-        Indicative (real facts): Eu viajo anualmente. (I travel every year.)

-        Subjunctive (uncertain facts): Se eu tivesse dinheiro, compraria uma moto. (If I had money, I would buy a motorbike.)

-        Imperative (commands):  Vá! (Go!)

Tenses:

-  Present: Eu adoro dormir. (I like traveling.)

-  É uma pena que ele esteja doente. (It is a pity that he is sick.)

-  Past:    Ontem, eu comi pizza. (Yesterday, I ate pizza.)

Se eu fosse você, falaria com ela. (If I was you, I would talk to her.)

-   Future: Eu irei ao cinema amanhã. (I will go to the cinema tomorrow.)

Quando tiver acabado de me vestir, vou sair. (When I have finished dressing up, I will go out.)

Regular and Irregular Verbs

Verbs can be either regular or irregular. Regular verbs have a patter. Irregular verbs do not. The patterns followed by the Portuguese regular verbs are as follow:

Indicative - Present

Indicative - Past

Indicative - Future

Subjunctive – Present

Subjunctive – Past (If)

Subjunctive – Future

Imperative

Obs:

Portuguese verbs are more difficult than most think, but with practice and study everyone can understand and speak properly. The most important thing is to practice, listen, listen again and practice some more.