A1 · शुरुआती चैप्टर 7

Asking Questions and Explaining Why

4 कुल नियम
41 उदाहरण
5 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

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.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

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.

अध्याय गाइड

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.

मुख्य उदाहरण (4)

1

Olá! Como te chamas?

नमस्ते! तुम्हारा नाम क्या है?

पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)
2

Oi Pedro, como estás hoje?

हाय पेड्रो, आज तुम कैसे हो?

पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)
3

Por que você não atende o celular?

तुम अपना फोन क्यों नहीं उठा रहे हो?

पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)
4

Eu não sei por que a internet está lenta.

मुझे नहीं पता कि इंटरनेट धीमा क्यों है।

पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

💡

प्रेपोजीशन का साथ

अगर किसी क्रिया (verb) के साथ 'de' या 'com' लगता है, तो सवाल पूछते समय उसे 'Quem' के ठीक पहले लगाओ। जैसे:
Com quem você está falando?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: प्रश्न: कौन? (Quem)
💡

तुलना करने वाला शब्द

हिंदी की तरह ही, 'Como' का इस्तेमाल दो चीज़ों की तुलना के लिए होता है। जैसे:
Forte como um touro.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)
🎯

बदलकर देखो

अगर तुम इसकी जगह 'किस वजह से' (por qual razão) बोल सकते हो, तो दो शब्दों वाला por que ही सही है। जैसे:
Por que você estuda?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)
🎯

चैटिंग का शॉर्टकट

मैसेज करते समय कोई भी पूरा शब्द नहीं टाइप करता। 'por que' (क्यों) और 'porque' (क्योंकि) दोनों के लिए बस 'pq' लिख दो:
Não fui pq estava cansado.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'क्योंकि' कहना (Porque बनाम Por que)

मुख्य शब्दावली (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

सामान्य गलतियाँ

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

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

Prepositions must come before 'Quem'.

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

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

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

इस अध्याय के नियम (4)

1

प्रश्न: कौन? (Quem)

A1
लोगों के बारे में पूछने के लिए Quem का इस्तेमाल करो, इसे हमेशा एकवचन (singular) रखो, और de या com जैसे शब्दों को इसके ठीक पहले लगाओ।
Quem é essa garota na foto?
10 उदाहरण
2

पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)

A1
किसी चीज़ का तरीका, हाल-चाल, नाम या उसका विवरण पूछने के लिए como का इस्तेमाल करो। यह how, like और name के लिए एकदम सही है।
Olá! Como te chamas?
10 उदाहरण
3

पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)

A1
सवाल पूछने के लिए हमेशा बिना मात्रा वाला दो शब्दों का por que इस्तेमाल करो।
Por que você não atende o celular?
10 उदाहरण
4

पुर्तगाली में 'क्योंकि' कहना (Porque बनाम Por que)

A1
जब भी कोई वजह बतानी हो या 'क्योंकि' कहना हो, तो बिना स्पेस वाला porque इस्तेमाल करो। सवाल के लिए por que और जवाब के लिए porque बस इतना ही!
Eu estudo português **porque** quero morar no Bras...
11 उदाहरण

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

त्वरित अभ्यास (9)

वाक्य में गलती पहचानें।

Quem você vai sair com?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Com quem você vai sair?
पुर्तगाली में प्रेपोजीशन (com) अंत में नहीं रह सकता। इसे आगे आना चाहिए: 'Com quem...'।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: प्रश्न: कौन? (Quem)

इस वाक्य की गलती सुधारें।

Find and fix the mistake:

O que é a tua namorada? ('वह कैसी है?' पूछने की कोशिश)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como é a tua namorada?
'Como é' विवरण माँगता है (वह कैसी है?)। 'Quem é' पहचान पूछता है (वह कौन है?)।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)

गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें

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.
भले ही यहाँ क्वेश्चन मार्क न हो, पर यह एक अप्रत्यक्ष सवाल है, इसलिए दो शब्दों वाला 'por que' आएगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)

सही 'क्यों' चुनकर खाली जगह भरें

___ você está estudando agora?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por que
सवाल शुरू करने के लिए हम बिना मात्रा वाले दो शब्दों 'Por que' का इस्तेमाल करते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)

कौन सा वाक्य व्याकरण के हिसाब से सही है?

सही सवाल चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por que o café está frio?
'Por que' सवाल के लिए है, 'Porque' जवाब के लिए, और 'Por quê' सिर्फ वाक्य के अंत में आता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली में 'क्यों' पूछना (Por que)

कौन सा सवाल नाम पूछने के लिए है?

'तुम्हारा नाम क्या है?' के लिए सही वाक्य चुनें।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como te chamas?
पुर्तगाली में हम शाब्दिक रूप से कहते हैं 'तुम खुद को कैसे बुलाते हो?' (Como te chamas)।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)

'यह किताब किसकी है?' के लिए सही अनुवाद चुनें।

Choose the correct Portuguese sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: De quem é este livro?
'Whose' मालिकाना हक दिखाता है, जिसे पुर्तगाली में 'De quem' (किसका) कहा जाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: प्रश्न: कौन? (Quem)

सही सवाल शब्द के साथ खाली जगह भरें।

___ é o seu professor?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quem
हम एक व्यक्ति (प्रोफेसर) के बारे में पूछ रहे हैं, इसलिए 'Quem' सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: प्रश्न: कौन? (Quem)

अभिवादन पूरा करें।

___ estás hoje?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Como
हम किसी का हाल-चाल पूछने के लिए 'Como' (कैसे) का इस्तेमाल करते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली प्रश्न: COMO? (कैसे, नाम और विवरण)

Score: /9

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

नहीं! यह कभी नहीं बदलता। चाहे लड़का हो या लड़की, बस Quem बोलो। जैसे: Quem é ele?
नहीं, पुर्तगाली में प्रेपोजीशन अंत में नहीं आता। सही तरीका है:
Com quem você está falando?
'Como é' स्वभाव या पक्की खूबी पूछता है (जैसे: «वह कैसी है?»)। 'Como está' अभी की हालत पूछता है (जैसे: «वह अभी कैसा महसूस कर रही है?»)। Como está ela?
नहीं! पुर्तगाली में हम 'How old' नहीं कहते, बल्कि पूछते हैं Que idade tens? (तुम्हारी उम्र क्या है?)।
नहीं, जवाब देने के लिए आपको 'porque' (एक शब्द) चाहिए। जैसे: Porque eu quis.
क्योंकि यह असल में दो शब्दों 'por' और 'que' से बना है, जिसका मतलब है 'किसके लिए'। जैसे: Por que isso?
पिछला अध्याय
Daily Life: Family, Food, and Body
अगला अध्याय
Making Comparisons
रोडमैप पर वापस