A1 · Débutant Chapitre 12

Describing and Comparing Things

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60 exemples
6 min
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Master the art of describing, comparing, and owning your world in Portuguese.

  • Identify objects using possessive adjectives and demonstrative pronouns.
  • Compare two things using comparative structures.
  • Highlight the best or worst with superlative adjectives.
Own your words and compare with confidence!

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey there, future Portuguese speaker! Ready to level up your conversations? In this super useful chapter, you're going to unlock the power of describing and comparing everything around you with amazing precision. First up, we'll tackle **Possessive Adjectives** like meu (my), teu (your), and seu (his/her/its). You'll learn how to clearly say who owns what – no more guessing if it's *your* book or *his* car! Then, we'll dive into **Demonstrative Pronouns**: este, esse, and aquele (this and that). Imagine pointing out exactly *which* item you mean: the one right next to you, the one near your friend, or that one way over there. Super handy for shopping or just chatting! After that, things get really exciting as we jump into **Making Comparisons**! You'll master how to say one thing is mais...que (more than) another, or menos...que (less than) something else. Want to say two things are equally great? We've got you covered with tão...como (as...as). And for the grand finale, you'll learn **Superlatives** like o mais (the most), so you can declare something is *the best* or *the prettiest*! Think about it: at a restaurant, you can confidently say, 'My coffee is stronger than your coffee,' or 'This dish is tastier than that one.' When you're shopping, you'll easily ask for 'this shirt here' or point out 'that cheaper one over there.' By the end of this chapter, you won't just be learning words; you'll be expressing yourself with clarity and confidence, avoiding misunderstandings, and really making your Portuguese shine. Don't worry, this is much easier than it sounds! With just a few fun exercises, you'll be a pro. 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: Use possessives and demonstratives to specify items in a store.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Compare items using comparative and superlative structures.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome, future Portuguese speaker! Ready to level up your conversations? In this super useful chapter, you're going to unlock the power of describing and comparing everything around you with amazing precision.
This is a foundational step in your A1 Portuguese grammar journey, essential for clear communication and building confidence. Learning how to describe and compare is a cornerstone of basic Portuguese grammar, allowing you to express preferences, distinguish objects, and make your speech much more dynamic.
Imagine being able to point out exactly what you mean, or articulate why you prefer one thing over another. This chapter covers crucial elements like Possessive Adjectives (my, your, his), Demonstrative Pronouns (this, that), and various forms of Comparisons (more than, less than, as...as). You'll also learn to form Superlatives (the most, the prettiest), which are vital for expressing strong opinions.
Mastering these concepts will dramatically improve your ability to interact in everyday situations, from ordering food to shopping or simply chatting with new friends.
By the end of this guide, you won't just be learning words; you'll be expressing yourself with clarity and confidence, avoiding misunderstandings, and really making your Portuguese shine. This is key for any Portuguese language learner aiming for fluency. Don't worry, this is much easier than it sounds!
With just a few fun examples, you'll be a pro at describing and comparing things in Portuguese.

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core mechanics of describing and comparing in Portuguese. First, Possessive Adjectives tell us who owns something. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
For example, meu (my) is for masculine singular nouns (meu carro - my car), while minha is for feminine singular nouns (minha casa - my house). Similarly, teu/tua/teus/tuas mean 'your' (informal singular), and seu/sua/seus/suas mean 'his/her/its/your' (formal singular/plural). So, Seu livro can mean 'His book,' 'Her book,' or 'Your (formal) book.' Context is key here!
Next, Demonstrative Pronouns help us point things out. Este/Esta/Estes/Estas (this/these) refer to something close to the speaker (Este café - This coffee). Esse/Essa/Esses/Essas (that/those) refer to something close to the listener (Essa caneta - That pen).
And Aquele/Aquela/Aqueles/Aquelas (that/those) refer to something far from both (Aquele prédio - That building over there). Remember, they also change for gender and number.
When Making Comparisons, you'll use specific structures. To say something is 'more...than', use mais...que. For instance, Este bolo é mais doce que o seu (This cake is sweeter than yours).
For 'less...than', it's menos...que: Ela é menos alta que ele (She is less tall than him). To express equality ('as...as'), use tão...como: Ele é tão inteligente como ela (He is as intelligent as her). Finally, Portuguese Superlatives allow you to say 'the most' or 'the least'.
Use o mais/a mais (the most) or o menos/a menos (the least), again agreeing in gender and number. É o carro mais rápido (It's the fastest car), or É a cidade mais bonita (It's the most beautiful city). These structures are fundamental for developing your Portuguese grammar A1 skills.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Minha carro é novo.
✓ Correct:
Meu carro é novo.
(My car is new.)
*Explanation:* The possessive adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Carro is masculine, so it needs meu, not minha.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Este livro é mais interessante de aquele.
✓ Correct:
Este livro é mais interessante que aquele.
(This book is more interesting than that one.)
*Explanation:* When making comparisons of inequality (more/less than), Portuguese uses que (than), not de.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu quero o mais barato camisa.
✓ Correct:
Eu quero a camisa mais barata.
(I want the cheapest shirt.)
*Explanation:* The definite article (o/a) and the adjective in a superlative construction must agree in gender and number with the noun, and the adjective usually comes after the noun.

Real Conversations

A

A

Este café é delicioso! (This coffee is delicious!)
B

B

Sim, mas o meu café é mais forte que o seu. (Yes, but my coffee is stronger than yours.)
A

A

Qual livro você prefere, esse ou aquele? (Which book do you prefer, this one or that one?)
B

B

Eu gosto mais deste. É o livro mais interessante da loja. (I like this one more. It's the most interesting book in the store.)
A

A

Sua casa é tão grande como a minha. (Your house is as big as mine.)
B

B

Sim, mas a sua tem um jardim maior! (Yes, but yours has a bigger garden!)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know whether to use 'este' or 'esse' in Portuguese?

Este (and its variations) refers to things close to the speaker. Esse (and its variations) refers to things close to the listener or recently mentioned.

Q

Can 'seu' mean 'your' and 'his/her' at the same time?

Yes, seu/sua/seus/suas can mean 'your' (formal), 'his', 'her', or 'its'. Context usually clarifies the meaning.

Q

Are there exceptions to the 'mais...que' and 'menos...que' comparison rules?

Yes, some irregular adjectives have special comparative forms, like bom (good) becoming melhor (better) and mau (bad) becoming pior (worse).

Q

When do I use 'o mais' versus 'a mais' for superlatives?

You use o mais for masculine singular nouns and a mais for feminine singular nouns. They must agree with the noun they describe.

Cultural Context

In daily Portuguese conversation, especially in Brazil, you'll find that esse/essa are often used more broadly than strictly near the listener and can sometimes replace este/esta even for things near the speaker. This is a common regional variation. Regarding possessives, the choice between teu/tua (informal 'your') and seu/sua (formal 'your') depends heavily on the region and the level of formality.
In most of Brazil, seu/sua is used for both formal and informal 'your', as the pronoun *você* has largely replaced *tu*. However, in parts of Southern Brazil and Portugal, *tu* and *teu/tua* are still very common. Mastering these descriptive and comparative structures allows for richer, more nuanced interactions in any Portuguese-speaking environment.

Exemples clés (6)

1

O meu irmão mora no Rio.

Mon frère habite à Rio.

Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)
2

Cadê a minha chave?

Où est ma clé ?

Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)
3

Esta cadeira aqui é muito confortável.

Cette chaise ici est très confortable.

Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele
4

Passa-me esse sal, por favor?

Passe-moi ce sel, s'il te plaît ?

Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele
5

A tua casa é tão organizada como um museu.

Ta maison est aussi ordonnée qu'un musée.

Comparaisons d'Égalité (tão...como)
6

O meu Wi-Fi é tão rápido como o teu.

Mon Wi-Fi est aussi rapide que le tien.

Comparaisons d'Égalité (tão...como)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💬

Les Brésiliens aiment la simplicité

Dans le portugais brésilien de tous les jours, tu vas souvent entendre des phrases sans o ou a devant le possessif. Les deux sont corrects, mais c'est plus décontracté. Cadê meu celular?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)
🎯

La version brésilienne

Au Brésil, quand tu parles, tu entendras souvent 'Esse' pour tout ce qui est près de toi ou de ton interlocuteur. 'Este' est beaucoup moins utilisé, surtout à l'oral. Seule la distance lointaine garde son aquele :
Essa caneta aqui é minha.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele
💡

Utilise `que` par défaut

Si tu hésites entre que ou do que, choisis que. C'est toujours correct et super courant :
Ela é mais alta que eu.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Faire des comparaisons : Plus... que (mais...que)
⚠️

Le mythe de 'Menas'

N'utilise jamais le mot 'menas'. Même si le nom est féminin comme l'eau, on dit toujours 'menos'. C'est une erreur classique :
Eu bebo menos água que você.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparer avec 'Moins que' (Menos... que)

Vocabulaire clé (5)

carro car livro book bom good caro expensive camisa shirt

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

At the Boutique

Review Summary

  • Meu/Teu/Seu + Noun
  • Este/Esse/Aquele + Noun
  • Mais + Adj + Que
  • Menos + Adj + Que
  • Tão + Adj + Como
  • O/A + mais + Adj

Erreurs courantes

In Portuguese, 'grande' is irregular in the comparative. Use 'maior' instead of 'mais grande'.

Wrong: O meu livro é mais grande que o teu.
Correct: O meu livro é maior que o teu.

Demonstratives must match the noun's gender. 'Casa' is feminine.

Wrong: Este casa é bonita.
Correct: Esta casa é bonita.

Similar to 'grande', 'bom' has an irregular comparative form: 'melhor'.

Wrong: O meu carro é mais bom.
Correct: O meu carro é melhor.

Next Steps

You've done an amazing job! Keep practicing these structures and you'll be fluent in no time.

Label items in your room using possessives

Continue to: Time, Space, and Future Plans

Pratique rapide (10)

Quelle phrase traduit correctement "Sa voiture" (à lui) en portugais brésilien clair ?

Select the clearest option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O carro dele
Dele signifie de lui. O carro dela signifierait sa voiture (à elle).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)

Quelle phrase fait référence à quelque chose d'éloigné de tout le monde ?

Choisis la bonne phrase :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Olha aquele prédio!
'Aquele' est utilisé pour les objets éloignés à la fois de la personne qui parle et de celle qui écoute.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele

Le livre est près de toi (celui qui écoute). Complète la phrase.

Pode me emprestar ___ livro?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: esse
Parce que le livre est près de la personne à qui tu parles (toi), on utilise 'esse'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans ce classement de film

Este é o mais melhor filme do ano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Este é o melhor filme do ano.
'Melhor' est un superlatif irrégulier qui signifie déjà 'le meilleur'. On ne met jamais 'mais' devant.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les superlatifs en portugais : Dire 'Le plus' (O Mais)

Choisis le possessif correct qui s'accorde avec le genre de l'objet.

Eu gosto muito da ___ (my) casa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: minha
Casa est féminin singulier, donc on utilise minha.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)

Trouve l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Este bolo é tanto bom como o outro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Este bolo é tão bom comme o outro.
N'utilise jamais 'tanto' avec des adjectifs comme 'bom'. Utilise 'tão'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparaisons d'Égalité (tão...como)

Choisis le mot manquant pour compléter la comparaison.

A Maria é ___ inteligente como a Joana.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tão
On utilise 'tão' devant les adjectifs comme 'inteligente'. 'Tanto' sert pour les quantités.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparaisons d'Égalité (tão...como)

Complète la phrase avec la bonne forme du superlatif

Ela é a aluna ___ (intelligent) da classe.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mais inteligente
Comme l'article 'a' est déjà là, il te suffit de 'mais inteligente' pour compléter la phrase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les superlatifs en portugais : Dire 'Le plus' (O Mais)

Corrige l'erreur d'accord.

Find and fix the mistake:

Onde estão os minha sapatos?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Onde estão os meus sapatos?
Sapatos est masculin pluriel, donc minha doit devenir meus.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Adjectifs Possessifs : Mon, Ton, Son (meu, teu, seu)

Corrige l'erreur (Indice : Contraction de préposition).

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu gosto de este bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto deste bolo.
En portugais, 'de' + 'este' DOIT se contracter en 'deste'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les démonstratifs : Este, Esse, Aquele

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Parce qu'en portugais, les mots ont un genre ! Meu c'est pour les choses masculines (comme carro), et minha c'est pour les choses féminines (comme casa). Le possessif s'accorde avec l'objet, pas avec toi. Meu carro
Techniquement oui, mais au Brésil, les gens penseront que tu veux dire TA mère. Pour bien préciser SA mère (à lui), dis
a mãe dele
.
Techniquement, 'este' est pour les choses près de toi (celui qui parle), et 'esse' est pour les choses près de la personne à qui tu parles. Mais au Brésil, à l'oral, on utilise souvent 'esse' pour les deux ! Este livro (près de moi) vs Esse livro (près de toi).
'Aquilo' est neutre. Tu l'utilises quand tu ne connais pas le genre de l'objet ou que tu parles d'une idée ou d'une action abstraite. O que é aquilo? (qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?) vs Aquele prédio (ce bâtiment là-bas).
C'est super simple : mais + adjectif + que. Par exemple :
O sol está mais forte que ontem
(Le soleil est plus fort qu'hier).
Presque ! Sauf pour 4 exceptions : bom devient melhor, mau devient pior, grande devient maior et pequeno devient menor.
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