Irregular Verbs in Brazilian Portuguese: Estar, Ter, and Ir
In Brazilian Portuguese, irregular verbs have unique conjugations and are essential for communication. Below, we’ll explore estar (to be), ter (to have), and ir (to go). Each includes its conjugation (for commonly used forms) and examples to demonstrate usage.
1. Estar (To Be)
The verb estar is used to express temporary states, emotions, and locations.
Present Tense Conjugation:
- Eu estou (I am)
- Ele/Ela/Você está (He/She/You are)
- Nós estamos (We are)
- Eles/Elas/Vocês estão (They/You all are)
Examples:
- Eu estou feliz hoje. (I am happy today.)
- Nós estamos no escritório. (We are at the office.)
- Eles estão preocupados. (They are worried.)
2. Ter (To Have)
The verb ter is used to indicate possession, age, and certain idiomatic expressions.
Present Tense Conjugation:
- Eu tenho (I have)
- Ele/Ela/Você tem (He/She/You have)
- Nós temos (We have)
- Eles/Elas/Vocês têm (They/You all have)
Examples:
- Eu tenho uma ideia interessante. (I have an interesting idea.)
- Nós temos tempo para ajudar você. (We have time to help you.)
3. Ir (To Go)
The verb ir describes movement or future intentions when combined with another verb in the infinitive form.
Present Tense Conjugation:
- Eu vou (I go/am going)
- Ele/Ela/Você vai (He/She/You go/are going)
- Nós vamos (We go/are going)
- Eles/Elas/Vocês vão (They/You all go/are going)
Examples:
- Eu vou ao mercado agora. (I am going to the market now.)
- Nós vamos viajar no próximo mês. (We are going to travel next month.)
- Eles vão à praia amanhã. (They are going to the beach tomorrow.)
Using “Ir” with Prepositions
Ir para: in daily life we prefer to use the preposition PARA, it is like GO TO. (ir para)
- Eu vou para o Brasil. (I am going to Brazil to stay.)
- Ela vai para a escola estudar. (She is going to school to study.)
Ir a: Also we can use the preposition A, means the same thing but this is more formal, so we usually don’t use in in daily life.
- Eu vou à biblioteca. (I am going to the library.)
- Nós vamos ao teatro. (We are going to the theater.)
Note on Contractions:
- “A” combines with definite articles:
- a + o = ao (to the – masculine)
- a + a = à (to the – feminine)