verbs

SER and ESTAR

Ser is for somewhat permanent characteristics. Don’t take this too literally – nothing is truly permanent 😉

very permanent ➜ Meu nome é Raquel. ➜ My name is Raquel.

somewhat permanent ➜ Eu sou brasileiro. ➜ I'm Brazilian.)

not so permanent ➜ Ele é casado. ➜ He's married.

Estar is for temporary passing things.

Eu estou cansado. (I'm tired.)

Como você está? (How are you?)

Posts: SER and ESTAR|ESTAR – the definitive reference|To SER or not to ser.

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SER and FICAR

Ser & Ficar can often be used interchangeably in cases like these:

location

When talking about something permanent – a post office, the park, your home you can use either ser or ficar to describe where exactly it is, is located.

Onde é? ➜ O hotel é aqui. ➜ The hotel is here.

Onde fica? ➜ O hotel fica aqui. (same)

becoming / getting to be / is

é ➜ É muito difícil. ➜ It's very difficult.

fica ➜ Fica muito difícil (same)

Posts: Portuguese verb FICAR|To SER or not to ser.

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subir ➜ to go up

present indicative
subir
to go up
eusubo
você, ele, elasobe
nóssubimos
vocês, eles, elassobem

Complete conjugation.

Vamos subir a serra. (Let's go up the hills.)

Vamos subir a escada. (Let's go up the stairs.)

O gato subiu na árvore. (The cat climbed the tree.)

SUBIR often takes the meaning of coming up the elevador to visit an apartment.

Ela pode subir. (She can come up.)

Eu estou subindo agora. (I'm coming up now.)

Vamos subir de elevador. (Let's go up the elevador.)

terminar ➜ to end, finish, terminate

present indicative
terminar
to finish
eutermino
você, ele, elatermina
nósterminamos
vocês, eles, elasterminam

Complete conjugation.

Translations of TERMINAR in Portuguese

terminar in Portuguese means TO… end, finish, finish, be over, break up.

Vou terminar logo. (I'm going to finish soon.)

Você vai terminar com ela? (Are you going to break up with her?)

the future tense using IR

You can use ir (to go) to say where you’re going, or what you’re going to do. Either way you just need to know how to conjugate ir in the present tense. It’s (very) irregular.

Present Indicative

  • Eu vou. ➜ I’m going
  • Você, ele, ela vai. ➜ You, he, she go(es)
  • Nós vamos ➜ We’re going
  • Vocês, eles, elas vão ➜ They’re going

Use ir in the present together with any noun to talk about where you’re going.

Eu vou à praia. (I'm going to the beach.)

Eu vou ao supermercado. (I'm going to the supermarket.)

Você vai no banco? (Are you going to the bank?)

Use ir in the present together with almost any verb to talk about what you’re going to do.

Eu vou correr. (I'm going to run.)

Você vai comer? (Are you going to eat?)

Nós vamos viajar. (We're going to travel.)

Post: The future with IR

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tomar ➜ to take

present indicative
tomar
to take, drink
eutomo
você, ele, elatoma
nóstomamos
vocês, eles, elastomam

Complete conjugation.

medicine Preciso tomar meu remédio. I need to take my medicine.

coffee Vamos tomar café primeiro. Let's have coffee first.

alcohol Vamos tomar uma cervejinha. Let's drink a beer.

taking care Ele sempre dizia para tomar cuidado. He always said to be careful.

Use TOMAR specifically when talking about taking medicine; candy; drugs; alcoholic drinks and coffee. Oh, and for taking care (caution)!

Post: Tomar in Portuguese

trancar ➜ to lock, latch

present indicative
trancar
to lock
eutranco
você, ele, elatranca
nóstrancarmos
vocês, eles, elastrancam

Complete conjugation.

Translations of TRANCAR in Portuguese

Trancar in Portuguese means TO… lock, lock-up, latch, fasten, suspend

Não esquece trancar a porta. (Don't forget to lock the door.)

Seu carro está trancado? (Is your car locked?)

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