Tendo como base questão

You’ll mostly encounter this in writing or formal speaking. It usually appears at the start of a sentence or a clause to frame what follows. While the prompt says Tendo como base questão, in real life, you’ll almost always add an article like a (the) or a demonstrative like esta (this). For example: Tendo como base a questão ambiental... (Based on the environmental issue...). It’s like a LEGO piece; it needs to click into a specific subject to work. If you're just chatting about what to eat for lunch, this might be a bit much, but if you're discussing why the office coffee machine is always broken, it adds a touch of 'professional investigator' to your complaint.

This phrase lives in the 'Formal' and 'Professional' neighborhood. You’ll find it in academic essays, legal documents, news editorials, and high-level business meetings. It’s definitely not something you’d use in a casual WhatsApp group with your friends unless you’re being intentionally ironic. Think of it as the linguistic equivalent of wearing a blazer—it’s polished, structured, and commands a bit of respect. If you use it in a job interview on Zoom, you’ll definitely score some 'sophisticated speaker' points. It's the opposite of slang; it's high-register Portuguese.

Let’s look at how this pops up in the wild. A news anchor might say: Tendo como base a questão da segurança pública, o governo propôs novas leis. (Based on the issue of public safety, the government proposed new laws.) On a LinkedIn post, a career coach might write: Tendo como base a questão do equilíbrio entre vida e trabalho, aqui estão cinco dicas. (Based on the issue of work-life balance, here are five tips.) Even in a heated YouTube comment section where someone is trying to sound smart, you might see: Tendo como base esta questão, seu argumento não faz sentido. (Based on this issue, your argument makes no sense.) It’s a tool for structure.

Reach for this phrase when you need to be precise and professional. Use it during a presentation to link two complex ideas. It’s perfect for the 'Conclusion' section of a report or when you're replying to a formal email where you need to address a specific point raised by the other person. If you’re a travel vlogger discussing the impact of over-tourism, starting a sentence with Tendo como base a questão da sustentabilidade... shows you’re taking the topic seriously. It tells your audience: 'I am being logical here, stay with me.'

Avoid this phrase in highly emotional or casual settings. If your partner asks why you forgot to buy milk, do not say Tendo como base a questão do esquecimento... unless you want them to roll their eyes into the next dimension. It’s too cold for intimate conversations. Also, don't use it if you don't actually have a 'base' or 'issue' to talk about. If you just want to say 'about' or 'regarding,' use simpler terms like sobre or em relação a. Using big phrases for small problems makes you sound like a textbook, and nobody wants to date a textbook.

One of the biggest trip-wires for learners is forgetting the article. You can't just leave questão hanging there like a lonely sock.

• ✗ Tendo como base questão segurança → ✓ Tendo como base a questão da segurança.
• ✗ Tendo como base em questão → ✓ Tendo como base a questão (Don't add em inside the phrase).
• ✗ Tendo como base a pergunta → ✓ Tendo como base a questão (A 'pergunta' is just a question you ask; a 'questão' is a broader issue or problem to be solved).

Remember, this phrase is about building an argument, not just asking where the bathroom is.

You might hear slightly different versions depending on who is talking. Com base na questão is a very common, slightly less stiff alternative. Partindo da questão (Starting from the issue) is another way to say the same thing with a bit more 'movement' in the language. In more academic circles, you might see Tomando por base a questão. These all do the same heavy lifting, just with different styles of 'blazers' on. In Portugal, the usage is almost identical to Brazil, though the rhythm of the sentence might feel a bit more clipped and formal.

Is this the same as 'about'? Not quite. 'About' is just a topic marker. This phrase implies that the topic is the *foundation* for what follows. Can I use it in a text message? Only if you're being funny or discussing something very serious with a colleague. Is it Brazilian or European Portuguese? It's used in both, but it's very common in formal Brazilian academic writing. Does it always need the word 'questão'? No, you could say Tendo como base o fato (Based on the fact) or Tendo como base a teoria (Based on the theory), but using it with questão specifically targets a problem or debate.