Intermediate B1

This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the B1 level.

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My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:

  • perfeito vs. imperfeito / subjunctive mood intro
  • reading and listening comprehension
  • conversation

*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:

After this course, you'll have come closer to the B1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.

Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?

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Clean Slate A0

Geared toward Absolute Beginners, this course gives you a solid start and foundation to build upon.

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This is an introductory course to the Portuguese language as spoken in Portugal. Throughout the course, we will focus on the Portuguese sound system and basic Portuguese grammar.

You will also learn how to introduce yourself and day-to-day, useful phrases. Finally, we will discuss learning resources and strategies to support your learning journey.

After the course, you will have a basic understanding of European Portuguese pronunciation and grammar. You will also be capable of engaging in simple, short oral interactions. Last but not least, you will be aware of a variety of learning resources and strategies to help you succeed at learning the language.

Portuguese short story for beginners - de maos dadas - Portuguesepedia
Easy Reads for Portuguese Lanugage Learners - Entre a Felicidade e a Tristeza - by Portuguesepedia

I will keep you updated on upcoming course seasons

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Beginners A2

This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A2 level.

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My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:

  • prepositions
  • past tense: perfeito vs. imperfeito
  • listening comprehension and conversation

*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:

After this course, you'll have come closer to the A2 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.

Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?

Take this placement test

Beginners A1

This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A1 level.

If you have just started your learning journey, you may find this course too challenging. Consider enrolling for the Clean Slate A0 instead (if available).

CEFR Scale

Learn more about the CEFR scale

This is an all-round course, meaning that we’ll work on all aspects of language learning (at the A1 level):

  • pronunciation
  • listening comprehension
  • reading comprehension
  • conversation
  • grammar

After this course, you'll have come closer to the A1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.

Not sure if you should enroll in the A1 or A2 course?

Take this placement test

There are plenty of interesting options for our accommodation. It will most likely be a countryside house near Tavira.

I haven't booked it yet because I want to get a better idea of the group's composition (how many couples/singles) and your preferences before I do so. That will for instance help me understand how big a house we might need.

I look forward to soon talking to you about this and much more. Até breve, p

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Portuguese Verbs “Ir” vs. “Andar” – Know When to Use Either
Portuguese Verbs “Ir” vs. “Andar” – Know When to Use Either

Portuguese Verbs “Ir” vs. “Andar” – Know When to Use Either

I’ve noticed that Portuguese language learners often use the verb Andar when they actually want to say Ir, and vice-versa.

This happens almost without exception in a context where means of transport and mobility are implied.

Here’s the difference. We use Andar to talk about means of transport in general. However, we switch over to Ir as soon as we also mention the final destination:

ANDAR
Eu ando de carro todos os dias.
I use my car every day.

IR
Amanhã, vou de carro até ao Porto.
Tomorrow, I am going to Porto by car.

Now, both these verbs are high-frequency verbs and their usage goes well beyond the specific context mentioned above. I invite you to dive into these and other verb relics in my course Portuguese Verb Gems.

Andar 

Conjugation

Here’re a few verb forms of the regular* verb andar: 

PresentePretérito perfeitoPretérito imperfeito
Euando andeiandava
Tuandasandasteandavas
Ele, elaandaandouandava
Nósandamosandamosandávamos
Vós
Eles, elas		andamandaramandavam

* Learn more about Portuguese regular verbs:
→ Portuguese Regular Verbs and Conjugation Patterns in the Present Tense
→Portuguese Regular Verbs for the Past Tense

Usage

Walk

Andar means, of course, walk:

O Pedro gosta de andar a pé.
Pedro likes to walk.

A Susana anda 9 km todos os dias.
Susana walks 9 km every day.

Greetings

We use andar when we casually greet other people:

Então, como andas?
Hi, what’s up?

Olá, como é que tens andado?
Hi, how have you been?

Lately

We also use andar to talk about things we’ve been doing lately:

Ando a estudar Alemão.
I’ve been reading German.

Olá, como é que tens andado?
Hi, how have you been?

Also, to talk about how we’ve been getting on or feeling lately:

Ando preocupado ultimamente.
I’ve been worrying lately.

Tens andado calmo?
Have you been feeling calm?

Means of transport

We use andar to refer to means of transport: 

Eu ando muito de comboio.
I use the train a lot.

A Patrícia tem medo de andar de avião.
Patrícia is afraid of planes.

Costumas andar de bicicleta?
Do you cycle often?

As mentioned in the introduction,  it is in this context (means of transport) that confusion between andar and ir arises. 

Again, as soon as we also mention direction or final destination, we’d use ir instead of andar. Let’s then look more closely at this other verb.

Ir 

Conjugation

Here’re a few conjugations for the irregular verb ir*:

PresentePretérito perfeitoPretérito imperfeito
Euvoufuiia
Tuvaisfosteias
Ele, elavaifoiia
Nósvamosfomosíamos
Vós
Eles, elas		vãoforamiam

* Ir is actually regular in the imperfect tense (pretérito imperfeito). Learn more about Portuguese irregular verbs: Portuguese Must-Know Irregular Verbs.

Usage

Go

Granted, ir is the Portuguese equivalent of go and we use it to express movement (towards a final destination). 

– Onde vais?
– Vou à mercearia.

– Where are you going?
– I am going to the grocery store.

And so, we say ir de, not andar de, when we mention the means of transport that takes us to the final destination:

Hoje vou de comboio à aldeia dos meus pais.
Today, I’m taking the train to my parents’ village.

A Patrícia foi de carro a Paris.
Patrícia went to Paris by car.

Costumas ir de bicicleta para o trabalho?
Do you normally cycle to work?

Future time

Finally, we use ir as an auxiliary verb to mark the future time (analogously to the structure be going to):

Amanhã, vou estudar o dia inteiro.
Tomorrow, I’m going to study for the whole day.

Vais adorar este sumo. Prova!
You’re going to love this juice. Give it a try!

Reading tips! Learn more about Portuguese verb tenses: Portuguese Verb Tenses and Moods Explained: A Usage Rundown Anchored to English

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Break Free from the Tyranny of the Present Tense

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Master Portuguese Strong Language and Swear Like a Native.

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Where are you at? (1 Beginner–10 Fluent)