Understanding the Verb “Ser” in Brazilian Portuguese
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb SER is one of the most important verbs to learn because it means “to be.”
It is used to describe PERMANENT qualities, such as identity, nationality, and physical characteristics. Let’s break it down in a simple way with examples to help you understand how to use ser correctly.
Conjugation of the Verb Ser (Present Tense)
The verb ser changes depending on the subject of the sentence. Here is how it looks in the present tense:
- Eu sou – I am
- Você/Ele/Ela é – You are / He is / She is
- Nós somos – We are
- Vocês/Eles/Elas são – You are (plural) / They are
Now, let’s look at some examples to see how ser is used.
Example 1: Describing Identity
In Portuguese, ser is used to tell someone who you are.
- Eu sou Maria. – I am Maria.
- Ele é João. – He is João.
- Nós somos estudantes. – We are students.
In these examples, ser helps describe someone’s name or occupation, which are considered permanent qualities.
Example 2: Describing Nationality
Ser is also used to talk about where you are from.
- Eu sou do Brasil. – I am from Brazil.
- Ela é americana. – She is American.
- Nós somos brasileiros. – We are Brazilian.
Nationality is another quality that doesn’t change easily, so we use ser.
Example 3: Describing Physical Characteristics
When you want to describe what someone or something looks like, you also use ser.
- Ele é alto. – He is tall.
- Ela é bonita. – She is beautiful.
- Vocês são inteligentes. – You (plural) are smart.
Here, you can see that ser helps describe permanent characteristics like height, beauty, or intelligence.
Example 4: Talking About Time and Dates
Ser is used to tell time or dates as well.
- Que horas são? – What time is it?
- São duas horas. – It is two o’clock.
- Hoje é segunda-feira. – Today is Monday.
In these cases, we use ser to express facts about time and days, which are considered constant.
Important Tip: Ser vs. Estar
In Portuguese, there is another verb that also means “to be” called estar. The difference is that ser is used for permanent or long-term qualities, while estar is used for temporary states or conditions. For now, focus on using ser for things that are generally unchanging.
- Use ser for identity, nationality, physical characteristics, and time.
- Remember that ser changes depending on who you are talking about.
Here’s a quick practice:
- Eu ____ estudante. (I am a student.)
- Ela ____ brasileira. (She is Brazilian.)
- Nós ____ amigos. (We are friends.)
The correct answers are:
- Eu sou estudante.
- Ela é brasileira.
- Nós somos amigos.
If you want to practice more SER in present tense, do the exercice below.
Complete as frases com a forma correta do verbo “ser”:
- Eu ______ professora de português.
(I am a Portuguese teacher.) - Ele ______ muito alto.
(He is very tall.) - Nós ______ amigos há muitos anos.
(We have been friends for many years.) - Você ______ muito simpática.
(You are very friendly.) - Elas ______ brasileiras.
(They are Brazilian.) - Hoje ______ terça-feira.
(Today is Tuesday.) - O livro ______ interessante.
(The book is interesting.) - A casa ______ grande e bonita.
(The house is big and beautiful.) - Vocês ______ estudantes de inglês?
- (Are you English students?)
- A comida aqui ______ deliciosa!
(The food here is delicious!)
Answers:
Eu sou professora de português.
Ele é muito alto.
Nós somos amigos há muitos anos.
Você é muito simpática.
Elas são brasileiras.
Hoje é terça-feira.
O livro é interessante.
A casa é grande e bonita.
Vocês são estudantes de inglês?
A comida aqui é deliciosa!
If you have any questions, comment here.