Brazilian Portuguese Grammar
| Aspect | Structure | Example | Meaning | Remarks |
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Intention, desire
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Verb querer followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Ele quer aprender a falar português fluentemente. | He wants to learn to speak Portuguese fluently. | Verb pretender means to intend. |
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Verb querer followed by a noun clause.
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Ele quer que eu vá à praia com ele. | He wants me to go to the beach with him. | ||
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Verb desejar followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Ela deseja morar no Brasil. | She wishes to live in Brazil. | ||
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Verb pretender followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Eles pretendiam passar duas semanas em Búzios, mas não puderam. | They intended to spend two weeks in Búzios, but they couldn't. | ||
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General ability
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Verb saber followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Ele sabe falar russo.
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He can speak Russian.
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Ele sabia falar italiano quando era criança.
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He could speak Italian when he was a kid.
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Ability at a specific time in the past
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Verb conseguir followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Ela conseguiu passar na prova de francês.
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She managed to pass the French test.
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Permission
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Verb poder followed by verbs in the (impersonal) infinitive.
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Posso entrar? Você pode me ajudar?
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May I come in? Can you help me?
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O pai da Maria me disse que ela pode viajar conosco hoje à noite.
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Maria's father told me that she can travel with us tonight. | |||
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