Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Verbs in the Past, Present, and Future

falar (to speak) beber (to drink) assistir (to watch)

simple present
fal-o                beb-o        assist-o
fal-a                beb-e        assist-e
fal-amos beb-emos assist-imos
fal-am beb-em        assist-em
Stress: falo/fala/falamos/falam

simple past
fal-ei                 beb-i                assist-i
fal-ou        beb-eu        assist-iu
fal-amos beb-emos assist-imos
fal-aram beb-eram asssist-iram
Stress: falei/falou/falamos/falaram

past imperfect
fal-ava        beb-ia        assist-ia
fal-ava        beb-ia        assist-ia
                                                             fal-ávamos beb-íamos assist-íamos
                                                             fal-avam beb-iam assist-iam
                                                             Stress: falava/falava/falávamos/falava

simple future
fal-arei beb-erei assist-irei
fal-ará        beb-erá        assist-irá
fal-aremos  beb-eremos assist-iremos
fal-arão beb-erão assist-irão
Stress: falarei/falará/falaremos/falarão

Example:

Eu fal-o       I speak
Eu fal-ei       I spoke/have spoken
Eu fal-ava       I spoke/used to speak

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Prepositions are words which are used before a noun or pronoun to indicate their place, position, or time. Some verbs are also followed by prepositions.The preposition must always agree with the word that follows it. To use the right preposition it is important to know whether the word it relates to is a verb (with no gender) or whether it is a masculine, feminine, plural or singular noun.


Prepositions may not translate predictably between languages and lead to charming errors, but rarely misunderstandings.


Most frequently used prepositions (in their basic form)

de            of/from
em           in/on/at
a              to/for/at
para         to/for
por          for/by/through
com        with

Remark: Keep in mind that some verbs like gostar/precisar (to like/to need) require a preposition in Portuguese, but not in English.

Example:

Ela gosta de dançar.                         She likes dancing.
Eu vou para casa.                            I go home.
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Prepositions and the definite article


de +          o(s) - a(s) do(s) da(s)               of/from + the
em +         o(s) - a(s) no(s) na(s)                in/on/at + the
a +            o(s) - a(s) ao(s) à(s)                  to/for/at + the
para +       o(s) - a(s) para o(s) para a(s)     to/for + the
por +        o(s) - a(s) pelo(s) pela(s)           for/by/through + the
com +       o(s) - a(s) com o(s) com a(s)    with + the

Example:

Eles moram no Brasil.        They live in Brazil.
Obrigado pela informação. Thanks for the information.

Prepositions and the indefinite article

de +             um/uma de um de uma                                    of/from + a
em +            um/uma em um = num em uma = numa            in/on/at + a
a +               um/uma a um a uma                                        to/for/at + a
para +          um/uma para um para uma                               to/for + a
por +           um/uma por um por uma                                 for/by/through + a
com +          um/uma com um com uma                              with + a


Remark: Contractions dum/duma (de um/de uma) are rarely used in Brazil nowadays.
The contractions of prepositions and the indefinite article have a plural form, but they are rarely used.

Example:

Ela trabalha num banco.                 She works in a bank.
Vamos a um barzinho depois.         We are going to a pub later.

Prepositional Phrases

If a preposition has more than one word it is called a prepositional phrase. You have to memorize prepositional phrases. Remember that some prepositions can vary in gender (do/da) or in number (dos/das) depending on the context.

antes de                         before
a partir de                      from...on
de acordo com              according to
em vez de                      instead of
por causa de                 because of/due to


Example:


A escola fica perto do banco.                    The school is close to the bank.
Quem é aquele senhor atrás de você?      Who is that gentleman behind you?

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Comparisons

The comparative is used when two people or things are compared.

mais ... do que
more .... than

menos ... do que
less .... than

tão ... como/quanto
as .... as

tanto ... como/quanto
as much .... as

tanto(s)/tanta(s) ... como/quanto
as much/many .... as

Exception:

grande/pequeno                             maior(es)/menor(es)
big/small                                       bigger/smaller

bom/ruim                                      melhor(es)/pior(es)
good/bad                                      better/worse

bem/mal                                        melhor/pior
well/badly                                     better/worse

Example:

Esta cor é mais bonita do que aquela.
This color is nicer than that one.


Este livro é tão bom quanto aquele.
This book is as good as that one.


Ele ganha menos do que ela.
He earns less than she does.


Ele tem tanto trabalho quanto eu.
He has as much work as I have.


Ele fala inglês melhor do que eu.
He speaks English better than I do.


Seu apartamento é maior do que o meu.
Your apartment is bigger than mine.

The superlative is used when more than two people or things are compared.

o(s)/a(s) mais                           the most
o(s)/a(s) menos                        the least

Exception:

o(s)/a(s) melhor(es)/pior(es)      the best/worse
o(s)/a(s) maior(es)/menor(es)    the biggest/smallest

Example:

Este é o hotel mais famoso da cidade.           This is the most famous hotel in the city.
Este é o melhor hotel da cidade.                    This is the best hotel in the city.


In Portuguese, if you want to say that something is very or extremely expensive, beautiful, etc. you can express it in two different ways:

a) By adding the suffixes -íssimo, -érrimo or -imo to the adjective:

barato.. baratíssimo
cheap.. very cheap

pobre.. paupérrimo
poor..   very poor

difícil..  dificílimo
difficult,very difficult

Exception:

bom   ótimo/muito bom
good  very good

ruim   péssimo/muito ruim
bad    very bad

b) By placing muito (very/extremely) before the adjective:

barato..      muito barato
cheap..      very cheap


pobre ..      muito pobre
poor..         very poor

difícil..       muito difícil
difficult..    very difficult

Example:

Este exercício é facílimo.                This exercise is very easy.
Este exercício é muito fácil.            This exercise is very easy.

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Personal Pronouns

eu                 I
você = tu         you
o senhor         you (mark of respect - male person)
a senhora         you (mark of respect - female person)
ele                 he/it
ela                she/it
nós = a gente we
vocês        you
eles                 they 
elas                 they

Remark:

Você and tu (you) have the same meaning in Brazil, but você is more frequently used than tu throughout Brazil. In most regions tu is rarely heard. Use você because it is easier. Tu introduces a new verb form.
Você (you) is informal and it is widely used in almost any situation while o senhor/a senhora (you) is more formal and it is used as a mark of respect, normally when addressing to older people (including parents), important people or people you do not know, but mainly in really formal situations.


A gente (we) is a colloquial form and it is usually used in the spoken language instead of nós (we). Even though it means we, it is a singular form and therefore followed by a singular verb. In Portuguese there is also the female plural form of elas (they), which is used only to replace feminine noun (women/animal/things).

Example:

Você fuma?                                         Do you smoke?
O senhor mora aqui?                         Do you live here? (mark of respect)

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative or adjectives pronouns are used to point out a thing or person specifically. In Portuguese, demonstrative pronouns can be either masculine, feminine or neither masculine or feminine.

este(s) esta(s) isto        this 
esse(s) essa(s) isso        this 
aquele(s) aquela(s) aquilo that


Remark:

Este(s)/esta(s)/isto (this) normally followed by aqui (here) are used to point out things or people close to the speaker. Esse(s)/essa(s)/isso (this) normally followed by aí (there with you) are used to point out things or people close to the person the speaker is talking to. Aquele(s)/aquela(s)/aquilo (that) normally followed by ali/lá (there/over there) are used to point out things or people far from the speaker and the person the speaker is talking to. 

Demonstrative pronouns can be contracted with the preposition em and de.

Example:

Este livro é seu? Is this book yours?
O que é isto?        What is this?


Demonstrative Pronouns and Preposition em 

em + este(s)/esse(s)/  aquele(s)..        neste(s) nesta(s) nisto         in/on/at this 
em + esta(s)/essa(s)/ aquela(s)..  nesse(s) nessa(s) nisso         in/on/at this 
em + isto/isso/aquilo in/on/at + this   naquele(s) naquela(s) naquilo in/on/at that

Example:

Você também mora neste prédio?                  Do you also live in this building?
Ele não trabalha mais naquela empresa. He no longer works in that company.

Demonstrative Pronouns and Preposition de

de + este(s)/esse(s)/ aquele(s) de + esta(s)/essa(s)/ aquela(s) de + isto/isso/aquilo this 


deste(s) desta(s) disto                                                                                         this 
desse(s) dessa(s) disso                                                                                 this 
daquele(s) daquela(s) daquilo                                                                                 that

Example:

Não gosto desta música.            I don't like this music.
O que você acha deste vinho? What do you think of this wine?

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership. In Portuguese, possessive pronouns can be either masculine or feminine, singular or plural.

meu(s)/minha(s)                                my/mine
seu(s) = teu(s) sua(s) = tua(s)                your/yours
do senhor = seu(s) do senhor = seu(s) your/yours
da senhora = seu(s) da senhora = sua(s) your/yours
dele = seu(s) dele = sua(s)                his/his/its
dela = seu(s) dele = sua(s)                her/hers/its
da gente da gente                                 our/ours
nosso(s) nossa(s)                                 our/ours
seu(s) = de vocês sua(s) = de vocês your/yours
dele(s) = seu(s) dele = sua(s)                 their/theirs
dela(s) = seu(s) dele = sua(s)                 their/theirs

Remark: 

In Portuguese, parts of the body are usually used with the definite article, not with the possessive pronoun. Example: Ele quebrou o braço. (He broke his arm.).

Example:

Qual é o nome dele?                              What is his name?
(O) meu livro é novo. E o seu?               My book is new. And yours?

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Adverbs

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Adverbs are invariable and are usually placed before or after the word they modify. An adverb usually answers the questions how/when/where/why.

Ele fala bem português.                         He speaks Portuguese well.
Não vou à aula porque estou doente. I will not go to class because I am sick.
Ela chegou ontem.                                 She arrived yesterday.

Adverbs ending in -mente

Adverbs ending in -mente correspond to adverbs ending in -ly in English. These adverbs also come from adjectives as in English.


principal principalmente                 main > mainly
imediato/ imediata imediatamente immediate > immediately

Adjectives used as adverbs

There are also some adjectives in Portuguese which can be used as adverbs. 

Fale mais alto. Speak louder.
Anda rápido!         Walk fast!
Remark: Adjectives used as adverbs are invariable.

Adverbial Phrases

If an adverb has more than one word it is called adverbial phrase. A adverbial phrase normally begins with a preposition and it is like an expression you have to memorize.

à direita                  on the right
de manhã                  in the morning
em breve                  soon

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Adjectives

In Portuguese, adjectives, also nationalities and colors, can be either masculine or feminine (bonito/bonita - nice), singular or plural (bonito(s)/bonita(s) - nice). The noun and the adjective must always be in agreement. Adjectives are usually placed after a noun. However, certain adjectives are sometimes placed before a noun and often, the position of an adjective alters the sense of the phrase.

um carro novo          a new car
uma camisa branca  a white shirt
um bom professor  a good teacher
um grande médico  a great doctor









Masculine and Feminine Adjectives

brasileiro/ brasileira Brazilian
inglês/ inglesa        English
alemão/ alemã        German
europeu/ europeia European
cru/ crua                 raw
mau/ má                bad
bom/ boa                good
Exception: judeu > judia (jew)

Masculine or Feminine Adjectives

belga        Belgian
inteligente         intelligent
fácil                 easy
Exception: espanhol > espanhola (Spanish)

Plural of Adjectives


Keep in mind that adjectives can be singular or plural in Portuguese. 

bonita/ bonitas         nice/pretty
grande/ grandes big/great/large
brasileiro/ brasileiros Brazilian
europeu/ europeus European
alemão/ alemães German
naciona// nacionais national
fiel/ fiéis                 loyal
civil/ civis                 civil
fácil/ fáceis               easy
espanhol/ espanhóis   Spanish
azul/ azuis                 blue
bom/ bons        good
inglês/ ingleses         English
melhor/ melhores better
feliz/ felizes        happy

Remark: 


Simples (simple) and grátis (free of charge) are invariable and they can be used with both masculine and feminine, singular and plural nouns.

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Indefinite Articles

The Indefinite Article

singular um/ uma        a
plural uns/ umas         some

The indefinite article is used before nouns. It does not specify a noun. The plural form is normally used to show an approximate number (about/around) or instead of alguns/algumas (some).

um livro a book
uma caneta a pen

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Nouns and Articles

Nouns are words for naming persons, things, places and animals. In Portuguese, a noun can be either masculine or feminine in gender and singular or plural in number.It is very important to know the gender, otherwise you will not be able to speak the language correctly. The best way to learn the gender of a noun is to memorize it with its definite article.


In general nouns ending in -o as in carro (car) or nouns referring to male persons like amigo (male friend) or animals like gato (male cat) are masculine, and nouns ending in -a as in casa (house) or nouns referring to female persons like amiga (female friend) or animals like gata (female cat) are feminine.





Masculine and Feminine Nouns

o amigo/ a amiga
the male/female friend

o espanhol/ a espanhola
the Spanish guy/lady

o professor/ a professora
the male/female teacher

o inglês/ a inglesa
the English guy/lady

o alemão/ a alemã
the German guy/lady

o pai/ a mãe
the father/mother

Masculine or Feminine Nouns

o colega/ a colega
the male/female colleague

o chefe/ a chefe
the male/female boss

o repórter/ a repórter
the male/female reporter

Nouns used for both male or female persons and animals

a criança
the child

a cobra
the snake

The Definite Article

singular o/ a      the
plural os/ as the

The definite article is used before nouns, countries, continents, rivers, islands, regions, seasons of the year, days of the week, colors, possessive pronouns, parts of the body, titles and even before names in some regions of Brazil.


It specifies the noun and at the same time it indicates its gender and number.The definite article is more frequently used in Portuguese than in English.

o livro
the book


a caneta
the pen

Learn Portuguese in a few hours: Questions and Question Words

como
how, what


que, o que
what


de que, em que, para que 
what about, what about, what for


por que
why


qual, quais
what/which


quem
who/whom


com quem, de quem, em quem, para quem
with whom. about whom, in whom, to whom


onde, de onde, para onde
where, from where, to where


quando
when


quanto(s), quanta(s)
how much, how many



Examples:


Como/Qual é seu nome?
What is your name?


De onde ele é?
Where is he from?



Remark:


Sometimes que and qual have the same meaning in English and are usually confused. Que is always followed by a noun while qual is not. Qual usually implies a choice.


Question words using que (o que, por que, etc.) have a circumflex accent if they stand alone at the end of a sentence. Example: Não sei. Por quê? (I don't know. Why?)

Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary

办法   bànfǎ: means; method; way (of doing something)
吃饭  chīfàn: to eat a meal
应该   yīnggāi: ought to; should; must


德 dé : virtue; goodness; morality; ethics; kindness; favor; character; kind; Germany; German; 德语 déyǔ: German (language)


国籍 guójí: nationality
欢迎 huānyíng: to welcome; welcome
见 jiào: to see; to meet; to appear (to be something); to interview
可是 kěshì: but; however
买卖 mǎimài: buying and selling; business; business transactions
哪 nǎ: how; which
那 nà: that; those; then (in that case); commonly pr. [nei4] before a classifier, esp. in Beijing
请 qǐng: to ask; to invite; please (do something); to treat (to a meal etc); to request
日本    rìběn: Japan; Japanese
上个   shàngge: first (of two parts); last (week etc); previous; the above
时候   shíhou: time; length of time; moment; period
所以  suǒyǐ: therefore; as a result; so


同事  tóngshì: colleague; co-worker
同学 tóngxué: to study at the same school; fellow student; classmate


下个 xiàge: second (of two parts); next (week, etc.)下课 xiàkè: to finish class; to get out of class


现在   xiànzài: now; at present; at the moment; modern; current; nowadays
新 xīn: new; newly
要 yào: important; vital; to want; will; going to (as future auxiliary); may; must; (used in a comparison) must be; probably
月 yuè: moon; month


知 zhī: to know; to be aware
道 dào: direction; way; road; path; principle; truth; morality; reason; skill; method; 
知道 zhīdào:to know; to be aware of

中国    zhōngguó: China; Middle Kingdom
专家    zhuānjiā: expert; specialist
做 zuò: to do; to make; to produce; to write; to compose; to act as; to engage in; to hold (a party); to be; to become; to function (in some capacity); to serve as; to be used for; to form (a bond or relationship); to pretend; to feign; to act a part; to put on appearance

Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary

爸爸 bàba (informal) father

毕 bì the whole of; to finish; to complete; complete; full; finished; (Chinese surname)

业 yè business; occupation; study; estate; property

茶馆 cháguǎn teahouse

常常 chángcháng frequently; usually; often

大夫 dàifu doctor; minister of state (in pre-Han states)

当 dāng to be; to act as; manage; withstand; when; during; ought; should; match equally; equal; same; obstruct; just at (a time or place); on the spot; right; just at

当然 dāngrán only natural; as it should be; certainly; of course; without doubt

弟弟 dìdi younger brother

都 dōu all, both; entirely (due to) each; even; already

父亲 fùqin father


父母 fùmǔ father and mother; parents

高中 gāozhōng senior high school

个 gè individual; this; that; size; measure word for people or objects in general

哥哥 gēge older brother

和 hé and; together with; with; sum; union; peace; harmony; Japanese related; (Chinese surname)

或者 huòzhě or; possibly; maybe; perhaps

几 jǐ how much; how many; several; a few

姐姐 jiějie older sister

姐 jiě older sister

妹 mèi younger sister(姐妹 sisters)

机会 jīhuì opportunity; chance; occasion

妈妈 māma mama; mommy; mother

母亲 mǔqin mother (formal)

纽约     niǔyuē   new york

退休 tuìxiū to retire; retirement (from work)

想 xiǎng to think; to believe; to suppose; to wish; to want; to miss

市 shì market; city

兄 xiōng elder brother


弟 dì younger brother; junior male; I (modest word in letter)


希 xī rare; infrequent

望 wàng full moon; to hope; to expect; to visit; to gaze (into the distance); to look towards; towards

学习 xuéxí to learn; to study

医生 yīshēng doctor

医术 yīshù medical operation

有 yǒu to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be

住 zhù to live; to dwell; to stay; to reside; to stop; (suffix indicating firmness, steadiness, or coming to a halt)

Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary

不 bù: (negative prefix); not; no
高 gāo: high; tall; above average; loud; your (honorific); (Chinese surname)
兴     xìng:    feeling or desire to do something; interest in something; excitement
公司  gōngsī: (business) company; company; firm; corporation; incorporated
工作 gōngzuò: job; work; construction; task
贵 guì: expensive; noble; your (name); precious
汉语 hànyǔ: Chinese language
汉字   hànzì: Chinese character; Japanese: kanji; Korean: hanja
叫 jiào: to shout; to call; to order; to ask; to be called; by (indicates agent in the passive mood)
教 jiāo: to teach
教书 jiāoshū: to teach (in a school)
贸易 màoyì: (commercial) trade
美 měi: beautiful; very satisfactory; good; to be pleased with oneself; the Americas; abbr. for 美洲; USA; abbr. for 美國
国 guó: country; nation; state; national; (Chinese surname)
人 rén: man; person; people
认识 rènshi: to know; to recognize; to be familiar with; to get acquainted with somebody; knowledge; understanding; awareness; cognition
生日 shēngrì: birthday
什么 shénme: what
请问 qǐngwèn: Excuse me, may I ask...?
生 shēng: to be born; to give birth; life; to grow; raw, uncooked
意 yì: idea; meaning; thought; to think; wish; desire; intention; to expect; to anticipate; Italy; Italian; abbr. for 意大利
书 shū: book; letter; see also 書經 Book of History
外国 wàiguó: foreign (country)
晚会 wǎnhuì: evening party
姓 xìng: family name; surname; name
学院 xuéyuàn: college; educational institute; school; faculty
语言 yǔyán: language
在 zài: (located) at; (to be) in; to exist; in the middle of doing something; (indicating an action in progress)
做 zuò: to do; to make; to produce; to write; to compose; to act as; to engage in; to hold (a party); to be; to become; to function (in some capacity); to serve as; to be used for; to form (a bond or relationship); to pretend; to feign; to act a part; to put on appearance

Mandarin Chinese Conversation with Vocabulary List

先生: 小姐, 好久不见 . 你好!
小姐: 你好! 好久不见, 先生.

先生: 你最近忙吗?
小姐: 我很忙. 你呢 ?
先生: 我也忙.

小姐: 她是 你太太吗?
先生: 是, 她是我太太. 她是我同学 .

小姐: 太太, 你好吗?
太太: 我很好, 谢谢. 你呢 ?
小姐:  我很好, 谢谢.

先生: 好,好. 我们 走了. 再见!
小姐: 再见!

的  de: of; structural particle: used before a noun, linking it to preceding possessive or descriptive attributive.                 

好  hǎo: good; well; proper; good to; easy to; very; so; (suffix indicating completion or readiness).

久  jiǔ: (long) time; (long) duration of time.

很  hěn: (adverb of degree); quite; very; awfully.

路  lù: road; path; way; (Chinese surname).

老师  lǎoshī: teacher.

见  jiàn: to see; to meet; to appear (to be something); to interview.

吗  ma: (question tag).

忙  máng: busy; hurriedly; to hurry; to rush.

呢  ne: particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ("What about ...?", "And ...?"); particle for inquiring about location ("Where is ...?"); particle serving as a pause, to emphasize the preceding words and allow the listener time to take them on board ("ok?", "are you with me?"); (at the end of a declarative sentence) particle indicating continuation of a state or action; particle indicating strong affirmation.

你  nǐ: you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您) .们  men: plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals .

您  nín you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你).

是  shì is; are; am; yes; to be.

他们  tāmen: they.她们  tāmen: they; them (for females).它们  tāmen: they (for inanimate objects).

太  tài: highest; greatest; too (much); very; extremely.

我  wǒ: I; me; my.

同学  tóngxué: to study at the same school; fellow student; classmate.

上  shàng: on top; upon; above; upper; previous; first (of multiple parts); to climb; to get onto; to go up; to attend (class or university).
 
先生 xiānsheng: teacher; husband; doctor (topolect); Mister (Mr.).

小姐 xiǎojie: young lady; miss.

谢谢 xièxie: to thank; thanks.

也 yě: also; too; (in Classical Chinese) final particle implying affirmation; (Chinese surname).

再见 zàijiàn: goodbye; see you again later.

在 zài: (located) at; (to be) in; to exist; in the middle of doing something; (indicating an action in progress).

走 zǒu: to walk; to go; to run; to move (of vehicle); to visit; to leave; to go away; to die (euph.); from; through; away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走); to change (shape, form, meaning).

了 le: (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (completed action marker)

最  zuì: most; the most; -est (superlative suffix).

近  jìn: near; close to; approximately.

不 bù: (negative prefix); not; no.