A1 · Débutant Chapitre 18

Asking Questions and Describing Existence

4 Règles totales
41 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of asking for what you need and describing the world around you in Portuguese.

  • Distinguish between asking for information and requesting items.
  • Identify the difference between formal and colloquial ways to describe existence.
  • Apply these structures to navigate daily life in Brazil or Portugal.
Ask, request, and exist with total confidence.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey there, future Portuguese speaker! Get ready to unlock some super essential communication skills in this exciting new chapter. We're diving deep into how to ask questions and describe what exists around you, making your conversations flow naturally. First up, we'll tackle the crucial difference between two verbs: 'perguntar' and 'pedir'. Think of 'perguntar' as asking to *know* something – like asking for information,

What time is it?
On the other hand, 'pedir' is for asking to *get* something, whether it's ordering a delicious pizza, asking for a favor, or even hailing an Uber. Mastering this distinction will instantly boost your ability to express your needs clearly! Next, we'll learn how to say there is or there are in Portuguese. You'll discover 'Há', a more formal and invariable way to express existence or denote time passed. But here's a secret for sounding like a local in casual Brazilian Portuguese: you'll often hear and use 'tem'. We'll show you exactly when and how to switch between them to sound completely natural. Imagine yourself confidently ordering your favorite meal at a bustling Rio de Janeiro restaurant, asking for directions to that hidden beach, or simply describing what's in your new apartment. By the end of this chapter, you won't just know the rules; you'll be able to actively ask for information, make requests, and describe your surroundings with ease. This is foundational for real-world interactions, and trust us, it's totally achievable and incredibly rewarding!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Ask for information using 'perguntar' and request items using 'pedir'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Describe the existence of people and objects using 'há' and 'ter'.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Hey there, future Portuguese speaker! Welcome to a super exciting chapter that will immediately boost your ability to connect and communicate in Portuguese. This guide focuses on two fundamental aspects of A1 Portuguese grammar: asking questions and describing what exists around you.
Mastering these skills is absolutely crucial for real-world interactions, whether you're navigating a new city, making friends, or simply describing your day. We'll dive into the nuances of asking for information versus asking for things, and how to express there is or there are like a native.
Understanding the difference between perguntar and pedir is a cornerstone of effective communication. It allows you to clearly express whether you're seeking knowledge or making a request. Similarly, learning to use Há and tem for existence will unlock your ability to describe your surroundings, ask about availability, and even talk about time.
This Portuguese grammar A1 chapter provides the foundational tools you need to engage in basic conversations, making your learning journey both practical and incredibly rewarding. Get ready to transform your passive knowledge into active communication!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the essential grammar rules for asking questions in Portuguese and describing existence Portuguese. First, we have The Verb 'Perguntar'. This verb means to ask when you are seeking information. Think of it as asking *to know* something. For example:
* Eu pergunto a hora. (I ask the time.)
* Você pergunta o nome dele? (Do you ask his name?)
Next, we explore How to Ask for Things & Order Food (Pedir). The verb pedir also means to ask, but specifically when you are asking *to get* something, making a request, or ordering. This is key for practical situations!
* Eu peço uma pizza. (I ask for a pizza / I order a pizza.)
* Ele pede ajuda. (He asks for help.)
Now, let's look at Saying 'There Is/Are' (Há). The verb haver (in its impersonal form há) is the more formal and grammatically correct way to say there is or there are. It is invariable, meaning it doesn't change for singular or plural, and it can also denote time passed.
* Há um livro na mesa. (There is a book on the table.)
* Há muitas pessoas aqui. (There are many people here.)
* Há dois anos. (Two years ago / There are two years.)
Finally, we have Using 'Ter' for 'There is/are' (Colloquial). While há is standard, in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, you'll frequently hear and use tem (from the verb ter, to have) to mean there is or there are. This is more informal and common in spoken language.
* Tem um livro na mesa. (There is a book on the table.)
* Tem muitas pessoas aqui. (There are many people here.)
* Tem café? (Is there coffee?) This colloquial usage is vital for sounding natural.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu peço a hora.
✓ Correct: Eu pergunto a hora.
*Explanation:* You use perguntar when you're asking for information (like the time), not when you're asking *to get* something.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Hão muitos livros.
✓ Correct: Há muitos livros.
*Explanation:* The impersonal form há is always singular, even when referring to multiple items. It never changes to hões or «hás.»
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Você tem um copo d'água? (meaning
    Is there a glass of water?
    )
✓ Correct: Tem um copo d'água? (or Há um copo d'água?)
*Explanation:* While ter means to have, when used impersonally for there is/are, it's typically just tem, not conjugated with a subject like você unless you mean
Do *you* have a glass of water?
.

Real Conversations

A

A

Oi! Você pode me perguntar o nome da rua? (Hi! Can you ask me the name of the street?)
B

B

Claro! Qual é o nome da rua? (Of course! What is the name of the street?)
A

A

Com licença, posso pedir um café, por favor? (Excuse me, can I order a coffee, please?)
B

B

Sim, claro. Mais alguma coisa? (Yes, of course. Anything else?)
A

A

Tem um caixa eletrônico por aqui? (Is there an ATM around here?)
B

B

Sim, há um caixa ali, perto da padaria. (Yes, there's an ATM there, near the bakery.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main difference between perguntar and pedir in Portuguese?

Perguntar means to ask for information (to *know* something), while pedir means to ask for a request, a favor, or to order something (to *get* something).

Q

When should I use há versus tem for there is/are in Portuguese?

Há is the formal, grammatically standard, and invariable form, often used in writing or more formal speech. Tem is the very common, colloquial, and informal way to say there is/are in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

Q

How do I form a basic question in A1 Portuguese?

Often, you can simply raise your voice at the end of a statement, or add a question word like onde (where), quando (when), quem (who), or o quê (what) at the beginning. For example, Você é brasileiro? (Are you Brazilian?).

Q

Can tem also mean has in Portuguese?

Yes! The verb ter primarily means to have (e.g., Eu tenho um carro - I have a car). Its use as there is/are (Tem um carro aqui - There is a car here) is a common colloquialism in Brazilian Portuguese.

Cultural Context

In Brazil, the use of tem for there is/are is overwhelmingly dominant in everyday spoken language. While há is understood and used in formal contexts or written Portuguese, relying on tem will make you sound much more natural and integrated into local conversations. When making requests with pedir, adding polite phrases like por favor (please) and com licença (excuse me) is always appreciated and shows respect.
Don't be afraid to use tem – it's a hallmark of casual Brazilian Portuguese!

Exemples clés (8)

1

Eu pergunto o preço do café.

Je demande le prix du café.

Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'
2

Você pergunta ao motorista se ele aceita Pix?

Tu demandes au chauffeur s'il accepte le Pix ?

Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'
3

Eu peço um café com leite, por favor.

Je commande un café au lait, s'il vous plaît.

Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)
4

Você pede o Uber ou eu peço?

Tu commandes l'Uber ou c'est moi ?

Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)
5

Há um gato na minha cama.

Il y a un chat sur mon lit.

Dire "Il y a" (Há)
6

Há muitas pessoas neste restaurante.

Il y a beaucoup de monde dans ce restaurant.

Dire "Il y a" (Há)
7

Tem um Uber chegando agora.

Il y a un Uber qui arrive maintenant.

Utiliser 'Ter' pour 'Il y a' (Familier)
8

Tem muitas fotos novas no seu Instagram.

Il y a beaucoup de nouvelles photos sur ton Instagram.

Utiliser 'Ter' pour 'Il y a' (Familier)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

Le raccourci WhatsApp

Au Brésil, dis toujours ceci avant de poser une question personnelle :
Posso te perguntar uma coisa?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'
💡

Pas besoin de préposition

Arrête de vouloir ajouter 'por' après pedir. C'est déjà inclus dans le verbe ! On dit Pedir pizza et pas pedir por pizza.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)
⚠️

Ne le mets jamais au pluriel

N'utilise jamais 'hão' pour dire 'il y a'. 'Há' est un super-héros solitaire qui gère tout, même le pluriel : Há muitos problemas.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire "Il y a" (Há)
🎯

Le secret du pluriel

Les Brésiliens gardent presque toujours 'tem' au singulier, même pour plusieurs choses :
Tem dois carros na rua.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Utiliser 'Ter' pour 'Il y a' (Familier)

Vocabulaire clé (6)

perguntar to ask (a question) pedir to ask for / to order há there is / there are tem there is / there are (colloquial) ajuda help informação information

Real-World Preview

coffee

At a Cafe in Lisbon

Review Summary

  • Perguntar + [question/info]
  • Pedir + [object]
  • Há + [noun]
  • Tem + [noun]

Erreurs courantes

You are seeking knowledge, not a physical object, so use 'perguntar'.

Wrong: Eu peço uma informação.
Correct: Eu pergunto uma informação.

Using 'tem' only describes existence; you need 'pedir' to request assistance.

Wrong: Tem um hotel aqui? (When meaning 'Can I ask for a hotel?')
Correct: Posso pedir uma recomendação de hotel?

While 'há' is grammatically correct, 'tem' is much more natural in everyday Brazilian conversation.

Wrong: Há muitos carros aqui (in casual speech).
Correct: Tem muitos carros aqui.

Next Steps

You have completed the A1 level! Your foundation is strong and you are ready for more complex conversations. Keep practicing every day!

Listen to a Brazilian podcast episode.

Continue to: Foundation & Connections

Pratique rapide (9)

Trouve l'erreur dans cette phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós pedir a conta, por favor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós pedimos a conta, por favor.
Le sujet est 'Nós' (Nous), donc le verbe doit être 'pedimos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)

Trouve l'erreur dans cette phrase.

Nós perguntam o preço.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós perguntamos o preço.
La forme 'nós' des verbes en -ar se termine toujours par '-amos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'

Complète avec la bonne forme de 'pedir'.

Eu ___ uma água com gás. (Je commande une eau gazeuse)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: peço
La forme pour 'Eu' est irrégulière : c'est 'Eu peço'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)

Complète avec la forme correcte pour 'Eu'.

Eu ___ o endereço da festa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pergunto
Pour 'Eu', on utilise la terminaison en '-o' avec la racine du verbe.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'

Complète la phrase avec la bonne forme du verbe.

___ dois carros na garagem. (Il y a deux voitures dans le garage.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Há
On utilise 'Há' (singulier) même quand l'objet est au pluriel (dois carros).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire "Il y a" (Há)

Trouve l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu cheguei a 10 minutos atrás.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu cheguei há 10 minutos.
Pour parler du temps passé, on utilise 'há' (le verbe), pas 'a' (la préposition).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire "Il y a" (Há)

Choisis la phrase grammaticalement correcte.

Quelle phrase dit correctement 'Il y a beaucoup de fleurs' ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Há muitas flores no jardim.
Le verbe 'haver' reste toujours au singulier 'Há' pour exprimer l'existence.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire "Il y a" (Há)

Quelle phrase est correcte pour commander ?

Choisis la traduction de 'Elle commande une salade'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela pede uma salada.
On utilise 'pedir' pour commander, et on ne met jamais 'por' après.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander des choses & Commander (Pedir)

Laquelle de ces phrases sert à obtenir une information ?

Choisis la bonne phrase pour demander l'heure :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu pergunto as horas.
'Perguntar' sert pour les infos, alors que 'pedir' sert pour les objets (comme la pizza).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions : Le verbe 'Perguntar'

Score: /9

Questions fréquentes (6)

Oui ! Utilise la forme réflexive :
Eu me pergunto por que ele saiu.
Généralement oui quand tu t'adresses à quelqu'un :
Eu pergunto ao meu amigo.
Presque ! La seule forme bizarre est le 'Eu peço'. Le reste suit les verbes en -ir.
Eu peço um suco.
Non ! Ça donnerait l'impression que tu veux acheter une question. Dis plutôt fazer uma pergunta.
'Há' est la forme correcte. 'Tem' vient du verbe avoir et s'utilise tout le temps au Brésil à l'oral. Par exemple : Tem café?.
Pas du tout ! Il est invariable. On dit Há um homem (masculin) et Há uma mulher (féminin).
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