A1 · Beginner
Greetings and introductions
Portuguese greetings follow the time of day. An informal name uses chamar-se with tu. A respectful address uses o senhor or a senhora.
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Three lessons each at A1, A2, and B1. The explanation follows the language of this page. The examples stay in Portuguese.
This lesson is free practice. It does not award a CEFR certificate.
A1 · Beginner
A1 · Beginner
Nouns and articles
Portuguese nouns are masculine or feminine. The article agrees, and the last letter is only a hint.
Open lessonA1 · Beginner
ser, estar, and ter
Portuguese uses three verbs where English often uses “to be” or “to have.” ser classifies, estar locates or describes a state, and ter gives age and possession.
Open lessonA2 · Elementary
A2 · Elementary
Pretérito perfeito
The pretérito perfeito simples closes a finished event. Regular -ar verbs share one set of endings. The nós form keeps a written accent so it does not look like the present.
Open lessonA2 · Elementary
Contractions
de, em, a, and por join with a following article. The joined form is the one to write.
Open lessonA2 · Elementary
Irregular pretérito forms
Some frequent verbs do not use the regular pretérito endings. The forms in this lesson are a closed set. The sentence names the subject so the form is not a guess.
Open lessonB1 · Intermediate
B1 · Intermediate
Pretérito and imperfeito
The pretérito closes an event. The imperfeito says what used to happen or what was going on. A time word often decides.
Open lessonB1 · Intermediate
Infinitivo pessoal
Portuguese can put a personal ending on the infinitive. The ending names who does the action. If no particular person is meant, the plain infinitive stays.
Open lessonB1 · Intermediate
Pronoun placement
In European Portuguese, an affirmative main clause usually puts the object pronoun after the verb. A negative pulls it in front. Brazilian writing often prefers the pronoun in front in both cases. The answers here are European.
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