A1 · Débutant Chapitre 7

Asking Questions and Explaining Why

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

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of asking questions and providing reasons to deepen your Portuguese conversations.

  • Identify the correct use of 'Quem' with prepositions.
  • Apply 'Como' to ask about names and methods.
  • Distinguish between 'Por que' for questions and 'Porque' for explanations.
Unlock deeper connections with every question you ask.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey friend! Ready to take an exciting leap in your Portuguese learning journey? This chapter is exactly what you need to become more confident in everyday conversations. Here, you'll learn how to ask key questions confidently and, more importantly, how to explain the reasons behind your statements. First, you'll get comfortable with Who? (Quem). You won't worry anymore about asking who someone is or who did something. You’ll even master placing prepositions like with (com) or from (de) correctly right before it. Next, we'll dive into How? (Como). Imagine you want to ask someone's name or understand how something works – Como is perfect for that! Like when you spot a delicious dish in Brazil and want to know how it’s made! And most importantly, you’re about to unlock the magic of Why? (Por que) and Because (Porque). I know it might seem a little tricky at first, as they look similar, but don’t worry! In this lesson, you'll clearly see that Por que (two separate words) is for *asking* why, and Porque (one combined word) is for *explaining* the reason! It’s like someone asks you,

Why are you learning Portuguese?
and you proudly reply,
Because I love it so much!
By finishing this chapter, you’ll be able to connect with people much more easily, understand them better, and express yourself clearly. You can ask a waiter in a cafe,
Whose coffee is this?
or ask a new friend,
How do they play this game?
And you’ll even be able to provide reasons for your choices. No more just pointing or guessing; you'll be able to speak and discover new worlds! Isn't that exciting? Let’s go!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Ask 'who' someone is and who they are with using correct preposition placement.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome to an exciting step in your Portuguese grammar A1 journey! This chapter is designed to boost your confidence in everyday conversations by teaching you how to ask essential questions and, just as importantly, how to explain the reasons behind your statements. Mastering these fundamental question words is crucial for any beginner learning Portuguese, allowing you to engage more deeply and understand the world around you in Portuguese-speaking countries.
You'll learn to inquire about people, understand how things work, and articulate your motivations.
By the end of this lesson, you won't just be memorizing words; you'll be actively using Portuguese question words to connect. We'll cover Quem (Who?), Como (How?), and the often-confused pair, Por que (Why?) and Porque (Because). Understanding these will unlock countless conversational possibilities, from asking a new friend's name to inquiring about a local dish or explaining your love for the language.
This foundational knowledge is key to building fluency and truly immersing yourself in the language.

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the essential Portuguese question words you'll master in this chapter. First up is Quem? (Who?). This is your go-to for identifying people.
You can use it simply, like Quem é? (Who is it?), or combine it with prepositions to ask more specific questions. For example, if you want to know With whom?, you'd say Com quem? or for Whose? (literally From whom?), it becomes De quem?.
* Quem é você? (Who are you?)
* Com quem você vai? (With whom are you going?)
* De quem é este livro? (Whose book is this? / From whom is this book?)
Next, we have Como? This versatile word means How? and is used to ask about methods, manners, or even someone's name or well-being. It’s perfect for understanding processes or getting to know someone.
* Como você está? (How are you?)
* Como você se chama? (What is your name? / How do you call yourself?)
* Como funciona isso? (How does this work?)
Finally, we tackle the Why? and Because in Portuguese: Por que and Porque. This is a common point of confusion for A1 Portuguese learners, but it's simpler than it looks! Use Por que (two separate words) when you are *asking* Why?.
It's always for questions, whether direct or indirect.
* Por que você está feliz? (Why are you happy?)
* Eu não sei por que ele não veio. (I don't know why he didn't come.)
When you are *explaining* the reason, use Porque (one combined word) for Because.
* Estou feliz porque aprendo português. (I am happy because I am learning Portuguese.)
* Ele não veio porque estava doente. (He didn't come because he was sick.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Porque você gosta de café?
✓ Correct: Por que você gosta de café?
*Explanation:* The most common error is confusing Por que (two words for asking Why?) with Porque (one word for answering Because). Remember, if it's a question, use Por que.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Quem você mora?
✓ Correct: Com quem você mora?
*Explanation:* When asking Who? in Portuguese, you often need to include a preposition (like com for with, para for for, de for from/of) before Quem, depending on the verb's requirement.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Qual é seu nome?
✓ Correct: Como você se chama?
*Explanation:* While Qual é seu nome? (What is your name?) is grammatically correct and understood, Como você se chama? (How do you call yourself?) is the more natural and commonly used way to ask someone's name in Brazilian Portuguese.

Real Conversations

A

A

Oi! Quem é você? (Hi! Who are you?)
B

B

Eu sou a Ana. E você, como se chama? (I am Ana. And you, what's your name?)
A

A

Por que você está aqui no Brasil? (Why are you here in Brazil?)
B

B

Estou aqui porque amo a cultura e a comida! (I am here because I love the culture and the food!)
A

A

Com quem você vai viajar? (With whom are you going to travel?)
B

B

Vou viajar com minha família. E como vamos? De carro. (I'm going to travel with my family. And how are we going? By car.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between Por que and Porque in Portuguese grammar?

Por que (two words) is used for asking Why? in questions. Porque (one word) is used for answering Because to provide a reason.

Q

How do I ask Whose is this? in Portuguese?

You would ask De quem é isto? or De quem é isso? (Whose is this/that?).

Q

Can I use Como to ask about someone's well-being?

Yes, absolutely! Como você está? (How are you?) is a very common way to ask about someone's well-being.

Q

Are there other forms of why/because in Portuguese besides Por que and Porque?

Yes, there are also Por quê (used at the end of a sentence or before punctuation) and Porquê (a noun meaning the reason/motive), but for A1 Portuguese, focusing on Por que for questions and Porque for answers is the most crucial distinction.

Cultural Context

In Portuguese-speaking cultures, especially in Brazil, asking questions is a fundamental part of building rapport. Using Como você se chama? is often preferred over a more direct
What is your name?
as it feels a bit softer and more polite. When asking Why?, Brazilians tend to be quite direct with Por que, and they appreciate clear answers using Porque.
Don't be afraid to ask Quem é? if you're unsure who's at the door, or Como funciona? when trying to understand something new. These questions are gateways to understanding and participating in daily life.

Exemples clés (6)

1

Quem é essa garota na foto?

Qui est cette fille sur la photo ?

Question : Qui ? (Quem)
2

De quem é este carregador?

À qui est ce chargeur ?

Question : Qui ? (Quem)
3

Olá! Como te chamas?

Salut ! Comment t'appelles-tu ?

Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)
4

Oi Pedro, como estás hoje?

Salut Pedro, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ?

Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)
5

Eu estudo português **porque** quero morar no Brasil.

J'étudie le portugais parce que je veux vivre au Brésil.

Dire 'Parce que' en portugais (Porque vs Por que)
6

Ela não foi à festa **porque** estava doente.

Elle n'est pas allée à la fête parce qu'elle était malade.

Dire 'Parce que' en portugais (Porque vs Por que)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

La colle à préposition

Si un verbe a besoin d'un petit mot comme 'de' ou 'com', il doit se placer juste devant Quem. On ne le laisse jamais traîner à la fin :
De quem você gosta?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question : Qui ? (Quem)
💡

Le connecteur 'Comme'

Tout comme en français, 'Como' sert à comparer deux choses. Par exemple :
Ele é forte como um touro.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)
🎯

Le test du remplacement

Si tu peux remplacer par 'pour quelle raison', utilise la forme séparée :
Por que você saiu?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander 'Pourquoi' en portugais (Por que)
🎯

Le raccourci des SMS

Dans tes messages rapides, personne n'écrit le mot entier. Utilise simplement pq pour les deux formes :
Não fui pq estava cansado
.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire 'Parce que' en portugais (Porque vs Por que)

Vocabulaire clé (6)

Quem Who Como How Por que Why Porque Because Com With De From/Of

Real-World Preview

users

Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Preposition + Quem + Verb
  • Como + Verb
  • Por que + Verb
  • Porque + Clause

Erreurs courantes

You used the question format for an answer. Remember: one word for reasons.

Wrong: Por que eu gosto.
Correct: Porque eu gosto.

Prepositions must come before 'Quem'.

Wrong: Quem com você fala?
Correct: Com quem você fala?

While 'Como' is 'how', for names we often use 'Qual'.

Wrong: Como é o seu nome?
Correct: Qual é o seu nome?

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job! Keep practicing these questions and you will be chatting like a local in no time.

Write 5 questions for a friend

Continue to: Making Comparisons

Pratique rapide (10)

Complète avec le bon 'pourquoi'

___ você está estudando agora?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por que
On utilise 'Por que' (deux mots, pas d'accent) pour commencer une question.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander 'Pourquoi' en portugais (Por que)

Complète avec le bon mot interrogatif.

___ é o seu professor?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quem
On demande l'identité d'une personne (le professeur), donc on utilise 'Quem'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question : Qui ? (Quem)

Complète la salutation.

___ estás hoje?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como
On utilise 'Como' (Comment) pour demander comment va quelqu'un.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)

Quelle phrase est correcte ?

Choisis la bonne question :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por que o café está frio?
'Por que' est pour les questions. 'Porque' est pour les réponses.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander 'Pourquoi' en portugais (Por que)

Quelle question permet de demander un prénom ?

Choisis la bonne phrase pour 'Comment t'appelles-tu ?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como te chamas?
En portugais, on dit littéralement 'Comment t'appelles-tu ?' (Como te chamas).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)

Trouve l'erreur

Find and fix the mistake:

Ela chorou por que estava triste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela chorou porque estava triste.
La phrase d'origine utilisait la forme de question au lieu de l'explication.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire 'Parce que' en portugais (Porque vs Por que)

Quelle phrase est correcte ?

Choisis la phrase qui utilise 'porque' correctement.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu estudo porque gosto.
C'est une explication ('parce que j'aime ça'), donc on écrit 'porque' tout attaché.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire 'Parce que' en portugais (Porque vs Por que)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu não entendo porque ele não liga.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não entendo por que ele não liga.
Même dans une question indirecte, on utilise 'por que' en deux mots.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander 'Pourquoi' en portugais (Por que)

Choisis la bonne traduction pour : 'À qui est ce livre ?'

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: De quem é este livre?
La possession s'exprime par 'De quem' (De qui).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question : Qui ? (Quem)

Corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase.

O que é a tua namorada? (Pour demander 'Elle est comment ?')

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como é a tua namorada?
'Como é' demande une description (Elle est comment ?). 'Quem é' demande l'identité (C'est qui ?).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Question Portugaise : COMO? (Comment, Nom & Description)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Non ! Il est invariable. On utilise Quem pour les hommes, les femmes et les groupes.
C'est incorrect. La bonne forme est
Com quem você está falando?
.
'Como é' demande une description permanente :
Como é o teu pai?
. 'Como está' demande un état temporaire :
Como está o teu pai hoje?
.
Non, on utilise le verbe avoir : Que idade tens?. Ne dis jamais Como velho és?.
Non, tu aurais l'air de poser des questions sans jamais répondre ! Utilise porque (un mot) pour donner des raisons : Porque eu quis.
C'est la préposition por + le pronom que. Ça veut dire littéralement 'pour quoi' :
Por que você vai?
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Daily Life: Family, Food, and Body
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Making Comparisons
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