Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the essential verbs that unlock daily conversations and social connections in Portuguese.
- Express your personal wants and desires.
- State your abilities and make polite requests.
- Distinguish between knowing facts and knowing people.
Speak your mind and connect with the world.
学べること
Hey friend, in this chapter, you're about to dive into some of the most essential Portuguese verbs you'll use every single day. Don't worry at all, it's much easier than you might think!
First up, you'll master how to express anything you desire with the verb querer. Imagine yourself ordering a coffee in a bustling Lisbon cafe, saying
I want a coffee,or simply expressing
I want to go to the park.Then, we move on to
poder, meaning can or to be able to.This is where you'll learn to make polite requests, like
Can you help me?or confidently declare
I can speak Portuguese.Pretty cool, right? After that, we tackle a super important distinction:
saber versus conhecer. Both mean to know, but they're used in totally different situations. You'll use saber for facts and skills, like I know how to cook.But for people and places,
conhecer is your go-to – think I know Lisbon or I know that person.Grasping this difference is key to sounding like a local! By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to clearly state your wants, talk about your abilities, make polite requests, and most importantly, get to know new people and chat about places you've been. Ready for this exciting journey?
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動詞 Querer: 願望表現と注文 (quer, querem)「〜したい」「欲しい」を伝える
quererは超重要！3人称単数はquerと短く言うのがポイントだよ。queroやqueremを使いこなそう。 -
動詞 PODER: 「できる」と「許可」「poder」を主語に合わせて変えて、その後に動詞を置くだけ！
possoやpodeを使って、できることやお願いを伝えましょう。 -
丁寧な依頼の仕方 (Poder)ポルトガル語で何かをお願いする時は、活用した
poderの後ろに「やりたいこと」をそのまま置くだけ！魔法の言葉podeとpor favorを覚えれば完璧です。 -
動詞 SABER：事実とスキル (知っている/できる)「情報」や「やり方」には
saberを使いましょう。特にEu sei（私は知っている）という特別な形と、人や場所には使わないというルールがポイントです！ -
ポルトガル語の動詞：人や場所を知っている (Conhecer)人や場所に「馴染みがある」「行ったことがある」なら
conhecerを使いましょう。自分の時はconheçoと «ç» を使うのがコツです！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
-
1
By the end you will be able to: Order a coffee and express basic needs using 'querer'.
-
2
By the end you will be able to: Explain your skills and ask for help politely.
-
3
By the end you will be able to: Correctly identify if you need 'saber' or 'conhecer' in a sentence.
チャプターガイド
Overview
Welcome to an exciting chapter in your A1 Portuguese grammar journey! This section is all about empowering you with the most fundamental verbs you’ll need to express yourself from day one. Mastering these verbs is key to unlocking basic communication, whether you're ordering food, asking for help, or simply getting to know new people and places.
We’ll dive into *querer* (to want), *poder* (can/to be able to), *saber* (to know facts/skills), and *conhecer* (to know people/places). These are absolute essentials for anyone learning Portuguese grammar at the beginner level.
Understanding these verbs will dramatically improve your ability to interact in real-world scenarios. Imagine confidently stating what you desire, expressing your capabilities, or making polite requests – all using simple, effective Portuguese verbs. We'll also tackle a common point of confusion for A1 Portuguese learners: the distinction between *saber* and *conhecer*, which both translate to
to know but have very different uses.By the end of this guide, you’ll not only grasp the core mechanics of these verbs but also understand how to use them naturally and effectively. This will lay a strong foundation for your conversational skills and boost your confidence in speaking Portuguese. Get ready to make your desires known, express your abilities, and connect with the world around you!
How This Grammar Works
Let's break down these crucial verbs, starting with querer. This verb is your go-to for expressing desires and ordering. For instance, if you're in a cafe, you might say
Eu quero um café(I want a coffee).
For plural subjects, it changes to querem, as in
Eles querem ir à praia(They want to go to the beach). Remember, when *querer* is followed by another verb, that second verb stays in its infinitive form, like
Eu quero comer(I want to eat).
Next up is poder, which means
can, may, or to be able to.It's incredibly useful for expressing ability or making polite requests. To ask if you can help, you'd say
Posso ajudar?(Can I help?). If you want to ask someone if they can do something, you'd use
Você pode vir?(Can you come?).
This verb is fundamental for polite interactions and discussing capabilities.
Now for the
to know verbs: saber and conhecer. This is where many A1 Portuguese learners get a bit stuck, but it's simpler than it seems! Saber is used for knowing facts, information, or knowing *how* to do something (a skill).For example,
Eu sei nadar(I know how to swim) or
Ela sabe a resposta(She knows the answer). On the other hand, conhecer is used for knowing people, places, or being familiar with something. You'd say
Eu conheço Lisboa(I know Lisbon) or
Nós conhecemos o Pedro(We know Pedro).
Understanding this distinction is a hallmark of good Portuguese grammar.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong:
Eu sei a Maria.
✓ Correct:
Eu conheço a Maria.
*Explanation:* The verb saber is used for knowing facts, information, or how to do something (a skill). For knowing a person, place, or being familiar with something, you must use conhecer.
- 1✗ Wrong:
Nós quer ir ao cinema.
✓ Correct:
Nós queremos ir ao cinema.
*Explanation:* The verb querer must be conjugated to match the subject.
Nósis plural, so the correct form is
queremos,not
quer.
- 1✗ Wrong:
Eu posso de ir.
✓ Correct:
Eu posso ir.
*Explanation:* When poder is followed by another verb, the second verb is in the infinitive form, and no preposition (like
de) is needed between them.
Real Conversations
A
A
O que você quer beber? (What do you want to drink?)
B
B
Eu quero uma água, por favor. (I want a water, please.)
A
A
Você pode me ajudar com o exercício? (Can you help me with the exercise?)
B
B
Sim, posso. Eu sei a resposta. (Yes, I can. I know the answer.)
A
A
Você conhece o centro da cidade? (Do you know the city center?)
B
B
Sim, eu conheço bem. E eu sei chegar lá. (Yes, I know it well. And I know how to get there.)
Quick FAQ
Q
How do I say
I can speak Portuguesein A1 Portuguese grammar?
You can say
Eu posso falar portuguêsor, more commonly for expressing a skill,
Eu sei falar português.Both are understood, but *saber* emphasizes the learned ability.
Q
What's the main difference between saber and conhecer in Portuguese?
Saber refers to knowing facts, information, or how to perform a skill. Conhecer refers to knowing people, places, or being familiar with something through experience.
Q
Can I use querer to make polite requests in Portuguese?
While
Eu queromeans
I want, it can sometimes sound a bit direct in Portuguese. For more polite requests, especially in formal settings, it's often better to use Gostaria de...(I would like...) or
Você pode...?(Can you...?).
Q
Are there regional differences for these verbs in Portuguese grammar?
The core meanings and conjugations of querer, poder, saber, and conhecer are fundamentally the same across Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil and Portugal, making them universally useful for A1 learners. Pronunciation, as always, will vary by region.
Cultural Context
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, politeness is highly valued. While querer directly translates to
to want, using Gostaria de...(I would like...) is often preferred for more polite requests, especially in shops or restaurants. However, saying
Eu quero um caféis perfectly acceptable and common in informal settings.
The distinction between saber and conhecer is crucial for sounding natural; mixing them up is a clear indicator of a non-native speaker. Poder is widely used for everyday requests and offering help, making it an indispensable verb for social interaction.
重要な例文 (4)
1
2
3
4
ヒントとコツ (4)
⚠️
「Quere」と言わないで！
初心者が一番やりがちなミスだよ。3人称（彼・彼女・あなた）は最後を削って短く
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞 Querer: 願望表現と注文 (quer, querem)
Quer と言うのが正解！ Ele quer sair agora.
💡
「Pix」で支払う時のコツ
ブラジルでは支払いの時に「Pix（ピックス）で払えますか？」と聞くのが定番です：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞 PODER: 「できる」と「許可」
Posso pagar com Pix?
💡
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 丁寧な依頼の仕方 (Poder)
魔法の言葉 'Por Favor'
Você pode... だけでも丁寧ですが、最後に por favor を添えるのが一番スマートでリスペクトが伝わります。 Você pode me ajudar, por favor?
🎯
「さあね」のニュアンス
質問されて全く見当がつかない時、ブラジル人はよくこう言います。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞 SABER：事実とスキル (知っている/できる)
Sei lá! （さあ、知らないよ！）。重要な語彙 (6)
Querer
To want
Poder
To be able to
Saber
To know (facts)
Conhecer
To know (people/places)
Ajuda
Help
Falar
To speak
Real-World Preview
coffee
At the Cafe
Review Summary
- Eu + quero + [noun/verb]
- Eu + posso + [verb]
- Eu + sei + [fact/how-to]
- Eu + conheço + [place/person]
よくある間違い
You used 'conhecer' (people/places) for a fact. Use 'saber' for facts.
Wrong:
Eu conheço a resposta.
正解:
Eu sei a resposta.
No preposition is needed after 'querer'. Just follow with the infinitive verb.
Wrong:
Eu quero de ir.
正解:
Eu quero ir.
You cannot use 'saber' for people. Always use 'conhecer' for people.
Wrong:
Eu sei João.
正解:
Eu conheço o João.
このチャプターのルール (5)
Next Steps
You've done an incredible job! Keep practicing these verbs, and you'll be chatting like a local in no time.
Write 5 sentences about what you know and what you want to know.
クイック練習 (6)
コーヒーを頼む時、一番丁寧な言い方はどれ？
一番丁寧なお願いを選んでください：
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você pode me trazer um café, por favor?
poder と por favor を組み合わせるのが、最も一般的で丁寧な頼み方です。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 丁寧な依頼の仕方 (Poder)
間違いを見つけて直してね。
Find and fix the mistake:
Nós conhece este restaurante.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós conhecemos este restaurante.
Nós（私たち）の時は、動詞の語尾が必ず -emos になります。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の動詞：人や場所を知っている (Conhecer)
正しい活用形を空欄に入れてね。
Eu ___ o Rio de Janeiro.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: conheço
主語が Eu の時は、特別な形の
conheço を使います。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の動詞：人や場所を知っている (Conhecer)
この文章の間違いを見つけて直してね。
Find and fix the mistake:
Você pode abre a porta para mim?
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você pode abrir a porta para mim?
pode の後ろに来る動詞は、活用させずに原形（abrir）にするのがルールです。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 丁寧な依頼の仕方 (Poder)
正しい文章を選んでね。
「私の姉を知っていますか？」はどれ？
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você conhece a minha irmã?
人について話す時は
conhecer を使い、女性名詞の前には a を置きます。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の動詞：人や場所を知っている (Conhecer)
「あなた」に対してお願いする時の poder の形を選んでね。
Você ___ me ajudar com as malas, por favor?
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pode
主語が
você の時、動詞 poder は pode になります。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 丁寧な依頼の仕方 (Poder)
Score: /6
よくある質問 (6)
ポルトガル語は効率を重視するんだ。
quer の方が短くてパンチがあるでしょ？ Ele quer café.使えるけど、少し注意が必要だよ。
Eu quero você は恋愛や身体的な意味が強くなるんだ。友達として好きなら gostar を使おう。両方の意味があります！ポルトガル語では許可も能力も「posso」でOKです：
Posso entrar?不規則動詞だからです。1人称（私）だけ形が変わる動詞はよくあります。
はい、特にブラジルではよく省略されます。目の前の人に話しているなら
Pode me ajudar? だけで十分通じますよ。もちろんです！「〜できる（可能性・許可）」という意味もあります。例えば
Você pode estacionar aqui（ここに駐車できます）のように使います。
