Geared toward Absolute Beginners, this course gives you a solid start and foundation to build upon.
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.
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Beginners A2
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A2 level.
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A1level.
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).
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The use of the subjunctive in Portuguese is way more frequent than in English. That alone can be a stumbling block for many language learners as they may lack the feel for when to use it.
In general, the present subjunctive in Portuguese is used to express uncertainty, doubt, will, and opinion, among others.
Here’re a few examples:
É possível que hoje chegue tarde a casa. It might come back today.
Talvez tenhas sorte. Maybe you’ll be lucky.
Quero que sejas feliz. I want you to be happy.
In what follows, I will walk you through the present subjunctive’s conjugation and usage in greater detail.
Concerning regular verbs, the present subjunctive is easy to form. You take the stem from the infinitive form and add the conjugation-endings according to each group:
Note that a handful of regular verbs need to have their spellings tweaked to conform to Portuguese pronunciation patterns*, namely verbs whose infinitive forms end in -car, -gar, -cer, and -çar:
Going from the first-person of the indicative-mood
There are several irregular verbs where you can still apply the conjugation patterns above. However, you get the stem from the first-person of theindicative-mood (present tense), and not from their infinite form:
FIRST-PERSON INDICATIVE-MOOD
PRESENT-SUBJUNCTIVE
PODER
posso
possa; possas; possa; possamos; possam
FAZER
faço
faça; faças; faça; façamos; façam
VER
vejo
veja; vejas; veja; vejamos; vejam
VIR
venho
venha; venhas; venha; venhamos; venham
TER
tenho
tenha; tenhas; tenha; tenhamos; tenham
Know it by heart
For a few other irregular verbs, you don’t have any reference stem to go from – you’ll have to learn it by heart. Still, many of them take the same familiar endings of the present subjunctive:
PRESENT-SUBJUNCTIVE
SER
seja; sejas; seja; sejamos; sejam
ESTAR
esteja; estejas; esteja; estejamos; estejam
IR
vá; vás; vá; vamos; vão
DAR
dê; dês, dê, dêmos; deem
QUERER
queira; queiras; queira; queiramos; queiram
SABER
saiba; saibas; saiba; saibamos; saibam
HAVER
haja
When to use the present subjunctive
The present subjunctive in Portuguese is often used in complex sentences and placed inside the dependent clause (right after a linking word or expression). In this section, I will guide you through several such structures.
! We often use the personal subjunctive in structures where we could also use the present infinitive instead. In that sense, they are closely related and whether we use one or the other often depends on the linking word/expression being used. Here’s a reading that goes hand in hand with the present article: Portuguese Personal Infinitive: What Is It and When to Use It.
Verbs expressing will, desire, emotion, and doubt
We often use the present subjunctive when the verbs in the main clause express either will, desire, emotion, or doubt, and are followed by the linking word que*.
* quecorresponds to that in English – it is a linking word* that introduces dependent clauses and is often followed by subjunctives.
We use the present subjunctive when expressing doubt with the adverb talvez(maybe):
Talvezvá hoje à praia. Maybe I’ll go to the beach today.
However, there are other adverbs equivalent to talvez that call to the indicative mood instead:
Se calharvou hoje à praia. Possivelmentevou hoje à praia. Provavelmente, vou hoje à praia.
Expressing opinion
We use the indicative mode when we express our opinion and beliefs * in affirmative sentences. In negative sentences, however, we use the present subjunctive:
Indicative / affirmative sentences
(1) Eu acho que este filme é muito mau. I think this movie is really bad.
(2) Ela acredita que o tempo vai melhorar amanhã. She believes the weather will improve tomorrow.
Subjunctive / negative sentences
(1) Eu não acho que este filme seja tão mau. I don’t think this movie is that bad.
(2) Ela não acredita que o tempo vá melhorar amanhã. She doesn’t believe the weather will improve tomorrow.
* To express opinion and beliefs, we often use the verbs pensar, achar, acreditar, and crer among others.
Impersonal structures
é + adjective + que + subjunctive
We often use the present subjunctive after the structure é + adjective + que:
É importante quepercebas a situação. It is important that you understand the situation.
É melhor quevás para casa. It is better if you go home.
É possível que ela chegue hoje à noite. It’s possible that she will come this evening.
Note! In situations expressing facts and certainty, the verb of the dependent clause is normally in the indicative mood. But as soon as that certainty is negated, the subjunctive shows again:
Indicative / affirmative sentences
(1) É óbvio que ele está contente. It’s obvious he’s happy.
(2) É claro que elavai gostar do presente. I am sure she will like the present.
Subjunctive / negative sentences
(1) Não é óbvio que ele esteja contente. It’s not so obvious he’s happy.
(2) Não é certo que ela vá gostar do presente. I’m not so sure she will like the present.
Há + quem + subjunctive
We use the present subjunctive after the impersonal expression há quem *:
Há quemache que fumar não faz mal à saúde. There are those who think that smoking is not bad for your health.
Há quemdiga que o Bin Laden continua vivo. There are people who believe that Bin Laden is still alive.
The present subjunctive often follows exclamative (and frequent) expressions such as Oxalá, Deus queira que, and Tomara que:
Oxalá ela recupere! I hope she will recover.
Deus queira que ele consiga superar as dificuldades! God help him overcome these trying times!
Tomara que elasaiado hospital já amanhã! I hope she leaves the hospital already tomorrow!
Dependent clauses
Concessive clauses
We often use the present subjunctive in concessive clauses*. In Portuguese, common linking words introducing concessive clauses are mesmo que, ainda que, or embora, among others:
Here’re some examples:
Sou muito poupado emboratenha muito dinheiro. I am thrifty, even though I have a lot of money.
Ainda quegoste muito de comida, tento não comer em demasia. Even though I love food, I try to not eat too much.
Vou trabalhar mesmo queesteja doente. I go to work even if I am sick.
* Concessive clauses express an idea that is in opposition to the main clause. In English, concessive clauses are often introduced with the linking words although or even though.
Time clauses
We use the present subjunctive in time clauses*. In Portuguese, common linking words introducing time clauses are logo que, antes que, or até que. A few examples:
Liga-me logo quechegues a Lisboa. Call me as soon as you arrive in Lisbon.
Vamos para casa antes que comece a chover. Let’s go home before it starts raining.
Não saio do trabalho até quetermine este relatório. I am not leaving the office until I am done with this report.
*In English, time clauses are often introduced with linking expressions as soon as, before, or until, among others.
Final clauses
We use the present subjunctive in final clauses*. In Portuguese, final clauses are often preceded by linking expressions such as para que or a fim de que:
Eu estou a estudar para queconsiga arranjar um bom trabalho. I am studying so that I can find a good job.
Comprei um guarda chuva a fim de que não me molhe. I bought an umbrella in order to avoid getting wet.
* Final clauses express the intention or purpose in relation to the main clause. In English, final clauses are often introduced by linking words such as in order to or so that.
Conditional clauses
We often use the present subjunctive in conditional clauses*. In Portuguese, the present subjunctive often follows the linking expressions caso, desde que, anda não ser que:
Caso não haja tinto, bebe-se branco. If there isn’t red wine, weäll drink white.
Empresto-te dinheiro desde que me pagues de volta. I can lend you money provided that you will pay me back.
Hoje vou jogar ténis a não ser quechova muito. I am playing tennis today unless it rains a lot.
* Conditional clauses express contingency in relation to the main clause. In English, conditional clauses are often introduced by if, in case, and unless, among others.
Completive clauses
We use the present subjunctive in completive clauses* when the latter follow verbs that express doubt, emotions, orders, or wishes. In this case, these clauses are invariably introduced by que:
O Carlos exige que nos casemos até ao final do year. Carlos is demanding that we get married by the end of this year.
Eu receio que ele me deixe. I am afraid that he will leave me.
* Completive clauses, also known as complement clauses, complete the idea of the verb in the main clause. In English, they are often introduced by the linking word that.