Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

Verb

Verb in the singular or in the plural?

Example

English equivalent

Dar

Bater

denoting

clock time.

The verb agrees with the number expressing time in the 3rd person singular or 3rd person plural.

Deu meia-noite.

Deram duas e quinze.

Bateu uma hora.

Bateram cinco e meia.

It's midnight.

It's two fifteen.

It's one o'clock.

It's half past five.

Dever and poder

followed by impersonal verbs (verbs denoting weather conditions, time, verb haver meaning there to be).

3rd person singular

Deve haver muitas pessoas na festa.

There must be a lot of people at the party.

Pode chover amanhã.

It might rain tomorrow.

Dever and poder

followed by other verbs.

Verbs dever and poder agree in the 3rd person singular or 3rd person plural with the subject.

Eles devem estar cansados.

They must be tired.

Aquele menino pode vencer a competição.

That boy may win the contest.