LEARNING PORTUGUESE – ESSENTIAL VERBS

Embarking on the journey to learn Portuguese initiates a complex process, involving numerous crucial decisions. Typically, one of the initial choices made by Portuguese learners is to acquire a manual for learning and teaching the Portuguese language.

Upon cracking open the Portuguese textbook for the inaugural time, the student is promptly confronted with a pivotal inquiry. Where does one begin? Is it imperative to commit all this information to memory? Must every verb table be memorized? Should attention be directed towards prepositions? And what about numbers – are they indispensable? Should one prioritize cardinal or ordinal numbers? As for phonetics, is it necessary to internalize the rules elucidating each sound? Additionally, when should articles be employed? The uncertainties abound, and lacking an experienced teacher, defining a path to success becomes a formidable challenge.

There are several CRUCIAL elements to learn in the Portuguese language. In this article, we will discuss just one: which Portuguese verbs, in our opinion, are essential! Come along with us!

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS IN PORTUGUESE

Let’s start with the verb tenses in Portuguese. There are many in the Portuguese language, but an A1 level student (beginner) should ALWAYS start with the present tense.

It is fundamental to know what distinguishes a regular verb from an irregular verb in the Portuguese language. Regular verbs are those that are always conjugated in the same way. The endings we use are always the same. Thus, all students who know how to conjugate a regular verb, necessarily know how to conjugate all regular verbs.

REGULAR VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSE IN PORTUGUESE

In the “PRESENTE do INDICATIVO” there are three types of regular verbs:

VERBS ENDING in -AR. Examples: trabalhar, morar, estudar, comprar.

VERBS ENDING in -ER. Examples: comer, beber.

VERBS ENDING in-IR. Example: partir

IRREGULAR VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSE

Within the Portuguese language, a lengthy roster of irregular verbs exists in the present tense. Should a student at the A1 level commit all of them to memory? In our perspective, the answer is no; learners of Portuguese need not attempt to memorize every irregular verb. However, there are four verbs that every student should grasp as promptly as possible: SER, ESTAR, TER, and IR. All other irregular verbs can be acquired through exposure to the language. Students should initiate regular communication, gradually solidifying their grasp of conjugations in a more organic manner. Now, let’s delve into the conjugation of these four essential verbs!

The significance of regular verbs and these four irregular verbs is TREMENDOUS in the development of Portuguese students. From the very first day of class, we CONVEY this opinion to our students. We consistently assess them to ensure that everyone is adept at these conjugations. If you are studying Portuguese, heed our advice and commit these conjugations to memory! It is one of the fundamentals of the Portuguese language!

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