Understanding “Ter Que” in Brazilian Portuguese
When learning Brazilian Portuguese, one of the essential structures to master is “ter que,” which translates to “to have to” or “must” in English. This phrase is commonly used to express necessity or obligation. In this article, we will explore its usage, conjugation, and provide examples to help you understand and use “ter que” correctly.
Basic Structure
The phrase “ter que” consists of the verb “ter” (to have) followed by the conjunction “que” (that). Together, they form a construction that implies an obligation to perform an action.
Conjugation of “Ter”
To use “ter que,” you need to conjugate the verb “ter” according to the subject of the sentence. Here are the present tense conjugations of “ter”:
- Eu tenho que (I have to)
- Você/Ele/Ela tem que (You/He/She has to)
- Nós temos que (We have to)
- Vocês/Eles/Elas têm que (You/They have to)
Using “Ter Que” in Different Tenses
While the present tense is common, “ter que” can be used in various tenses. Here are some examples in different tenses:
Present Tense
- Eu tenho que estudar para a prova. (I have to study for the exam.)
Past Tense (Pretérito Perfeito)
- Ontem, ele teve que trabalhar até tarde. (Yesterday, he had to work late.)
Future Tense
- Amanhã, nós teremos que acordar cedo. (Tomorrow, we will have to wake up early.)
Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfeito)
- Quando éramos crianças, tínhamos que fazer lição de casa todos os dias. (When we were children, we had to do homework every day.)
Common Uses and Examples
“Ter que” is versatile and can be used in various contexts to express necessity or obligation. Here are some common scenarios:
- Personal Obligations:
- Eu tenho que ir ao médico hoje. (I have to go to the doctor today.)
- Você tem que fazer as compras da semana. (You have to do the weekly shopping.)
- Work or School Responsibilities:
- Eles têm que entregar o relatório até sexta-feira. (They have to submit the report by Friday.)
- Nós temos que estudar para a prova final. (We have to study for the final exam.)
- General Necessities:
- Em dias quentes, temos que beber muita água. (On hot days, we have to drink a lot of water.)
- Para viajar, você tem que ter um passaporte válido. (To travel, you have to have a valid passport.)
In Brazilian Portuguese we can use “precisar” (need) and “ter que” (have to) in the same contexts.
Eu tenho que comprar remédio
Eu preciso comprar remédio
(I have to or I need to buy medicine)
Practice and Exercises
To solidify your understanding, try to create your own sentences using “ter que” in different tenses. Here are a few prompts:
- What do you have to do tomorrow?
You can use “eu tenho que…”