A1 · Beginner Chapter 16

Moving Through Your Day

6 Total Rules
62 examples
7 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the essential irregular verbs that power your daily conversations in Portuguese.

  • Conjugate essential irregular verbs like ir, fazer, ver, and dar.
  • Describe your daily routine and future plans with confidence.
  • Communicate current weather conditions using natural Portuguese phrasing.
Master the verbs that move your day forward.

What You'll Learn

Ready to bring Portuguese into your everyday life? In this chapter, you'll learn how to talk about your daily activities just like a native speaker! We're diving into essential, frequently used irregular verbs like ir (to go), fazer (to do/make), ver (to see), and dar (to give). Don't worry if they seem a little tricky; with practice, you'll master them in no time. You'll learn how to say "I'm going to eat" or describe what tasks you're doing throughout the day. Then, we'll tackle a super useful topic: talking about the weather! In Portuguese, the weather sometimes does things (using 'fazer') and sometimes is things (using 'estar'). You'll figure out how to say "it's sunny or it's hot" with confidence. Imagine telling a Portuguese friend about today's weather or asking them where they're headed – this chapter empowers you for these common, real-life conversations. By the end, you'll be able to discuss your daily routine, make future plans, describe the weather, and even give things (like a compliment or an Instagram like!). These verbs are the key to countless everyday interactions. Let's make Portuguese even more exciting and start mastering these crucial skills!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'ir' to describe where you are going in your daily routine.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Describe the weather and your daily tasks using 'fazer' and 'estar'.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to "Moving Through Your Day," your essential guide to bringing Portuguese grammar A1 into your everyday life! This chapter is designed to help you confidently discuss your daily activities, from where you're going to what you're doing, just like a native speaker. We're diving into some of the most frequently used and crucial irregular verbs in Portuguese: ir (to go), fazer (to do/make), ver (to see), and dar (to give). Mastering these verbs is a cornerstone of A1 proficiency, enabling you to build countless everyday sentences.
Understanding these verbs is vital for expressing simple actions and intentions. You'll learn how to say "I'm going to eat" or describe the tasks you're "doing" throughout your day. Beyond personal actions, we'll also tackle a super useful topic: talking about the weather! In Portuguese, the weather sometimes "does" things (using fazer) and sometimes "is" things (using estar). By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently describe the weather, discuss your daily routine in Portuguese, make future plans, and even "give" things like a compliment or an Instagram like. These fundamental verbs are the key to unlocking real-life conversations and making your Portuguese journey even more exciting!

How This Grammar Works

In this chapter, we're focusing on some of the most common yet irregular verbs that are essential for A1 Portuguese grammar. Let's break them down:
Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)
Ir is one of the first verbs you'll learn, and it's highly irregular. It’s used to express movement to a place or to form the near future.
* Eu vou (I go/I am going)
* Tu vais (You go/You are going - informal)
* Ele/Ela/Você vai (He/She/You go/is going - formal/singular)
* Nós vamos (We go/We are going)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês vão (They/You go/are going - plural)
Example

Eu vou ao mercado (I go to the market). Nós vamos comer (We are going to eat).

The Verb Fazer: To Do and To Make
Fazer is another indispensable irregular verb, meaning "to do" or "to make." It's incredibly versatile.
* Eu faço (I do/make)
* Tu fazes (You do/make - informal)
* Ele/Ela/Você faz (He/She/You does/makes - formal/singular)
* Nós fazemos (We do/make)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês fazem (They/You do/make - plural)
Example

Eu faço o almoço (I make lunch). O que você faz no domingo? (What do you do on Sunday?)

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
Ver means "to see" and is irregular, particularly in the first person singular.
* Eu vejo (I see)
* Tu vês (You see - informal)
* Ele/Ela/Você vê (He/She/You sees - formal/singular)
* Nós vemos (We see)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês veem (They/You see - plural)
Example

Eu vejo um filme (I see a movie). Você vê a minha casa? (Do you see my house?)

The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes
Dar means "to give" and is also irregular. It's used for physical gifts, abstract concepts, and even digital interactions!
* Eu dou (I give)
* Tu dás (You give - informal)
* Ele/Ela/Você dá (He/She/You gives - formal/singular)
* Nós damos (We give)
* Eles/Elas/Vocês dão (They/You give - plural)
Example

Eu dou um livro (I give a book). Ele dá um like na foto (He gives a like to the photo).

Weather with 'Fazer' (It makes sun)
For general weather conditions, especially those related to temperature or light, fazer is often used impersonally (without a specific subject).
Example

Faz sol (It's sunny / It makes sun). Faz calor (It's hot / It makes heat). Faz frio (It's cold / It makes cold).

Weather with Estar: It is Hot (Está Quente)
Estar is used for the current state or temporary conditions of the weather.
Example

Está quente (It is hot). Está chovendo (It is raining). Está nublado (It is cloudy). While faz calor refers to the general condition of heat, está quente describes the current state of being hot.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Eu estou para a praia. (I am to the beach.)
✓ Correct: Eu vou para a praia. (I go to the beach.)
*Explanation:* When expressing movement or going to a place, always use ir (to go), not estar (to be). Estar is for location or state of being.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: O que você faze? (What do you do?)
✓ Correct: O que você faz? (What do you do?)
*Explanation:* The conjugation of fazer for você (and ele/ela) is faz, not "faze." Irregular verbs often have unique endings, so memorizing them is key.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: É sol hoje. (It is sun today.)
✓ Correct: Faz sol hoje. (It's sunny today.)
*Explanation:* For general weather conditions like "sunny," "hot," or "cold," Portuguese typically uses fazer impersonally (faz sol, faz calor, faz frio), not ser (é).

Real Conversations

A

A

Onde você vai hoje? (Where are you going today?)
B

B

Eu vou ao parque. Quero fazer um piquenique. (I'm going to the park. I want to have a picnic.)
A

A

Como está o tempo? Faz sol ou está nublado? (How is the weather? Is it sunny or cloudy?)
B

B

Está um pouco nublado, mas faz calor. (It's a little cloudy, but it's hot.)
A

A

Você vê o meu livro? Eu dou um like na sua foto se você achar! (Do you see my book? I'll give a like to your photo if you find it!)
B

B

Sim, eu vejo! Está na mesa. Você faz o almoço depois? (Yes, I see it! It's on the table. Will you make lunch later?)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do you say "I'm going to eat" using the verb ir for future plans in Portuguese?

You can say Eu vou comer. The structure ir + infinitive is a very common way to express the near future in Portuguese, much like "going to" in English.

Q

What's the main difference between using faz calor and está quente for weather?

Faz calor describes the general condition of the weather (it's a hot day/climate), while está quente describes the current state or temperature (it is hot right now). They are often interchangeable in casual conversation but carry slightly different nuances.

Q

Are all the common Portuguese grammar A1 verbs irregular like ir, fazer, ver, and dar?

No, while many very common verbs are irregular, a large number of verbs follow regular conjugation patterns. It's important to learn the irregular ones early as they are used so frequently.

Q

Can I use the verb dar for abstract concepts, not just physical objects?

Yes, absolutely! You can dar advice (dar conselhos), give a hug (dar um abraço), or even give importance (dar importância). It's a very versatile verb.

Cultural Context

These verbs are the bedrock of everyday communication in Portuguese-speaking countries. Brazilians and Portuguese speakers alike use ir, fazer, ver, and dar constantly in their daily routines, from planning their day to describing the weather. While weather expressions like faz sol (Brazil) and está sol (Portugal, though faz sol is also understood) can have slight regional preferences, the core meanings are universally understood. Mastering these allows for truly natural and authentic interactions.

Key Examples (8)

1

Eu vou ao cinema hoje à noite.

I am going to the movies tonight.

Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)
2

Você vai para a festa da Anitta?

Are you going to Anitta's party?

Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)
3

Eu faço o meu café todas as manhãs.

I make my coffee every morning.

The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make
4

Ela faz vídeos incríveis para o Instagram.

She makes amazing videos for Instagram.

The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make
5

Eu não vejo a hora de viajar.

I can't wait to travel. (Lit: I don't see the hour)

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
6

Você vê meus stories no Instagram?

Do you see my stories on Instagram?

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
7

Eu `dou` o meu número para você.

I give you my number.

The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes
8

Ela `dá` um like em todas as fotos.

She likes (gives a like to) all the photos.

The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Memorize the 'vou' form

It's the most common form. If you know 'vou', you're halfway there.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)
💡

The 'Eu' rule

Remember that only the first person is irregular. The rest are easy!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make
💡

Double E

Remember that 'veem' has two 'e's. It's the only way to distinguish it from 'vem' (comes).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
💡

Remember the 'dou'

The 'eu dou' form is the only irregular one in the singular.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes

Key Vocabulary (6)

ir to go fazer to do / to make ver to see dar to give sol sun quente hot

Real-World Preview

calendar

Planning the Day

Review Summary

  • Eu vou / Você vai
  • Eu faço / Você faz
  • Eu vejo / Você vê
  • Eu dou / Você dá
  • Faz + [noun]
  • Está + [adj]

Common Mistakes

The verb 'fazer' is irregular. The 'eu' form is 'faço', not 'fazo'.

Wrong: Eu fazo o almoço.
Correct: Eu faço o almoço.

Weather phenomena like sun require the verb 'fazer' in Portuguese, not 'ser'.

Wrong: É sol hoje.
Correct: Faz sol hoje.

While 'para' is understood, 'ao' (a + o) is the standard contraction for going to a masculine place.

Wrong: Eu vou para o parque.
Correct: Eu vou ao parque.

Next Steps

You are doing amazing! Keep using these verbs daily to lock them into your memory.

Describe your local weather in a journal.

Continue to: Desires, Skills, and Socializing

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct verb.

___ dois dias que estou aqui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faz
Time duration uses 'fazer'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make

Fill in the blank.

___ quente hoje.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Está
Estar is for temporary states.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Weather with Estar: It is Hot (Está Quente)

Conjugate 'ver' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ o mar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
First person singular is 'vejo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Tu vai ao cinema.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu vais ao cinema
Tu requires the second person singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)

Fill in the blank.

___ sol hoje.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faz
Use 'faz' for weather nouns.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Weather with 'Fazer' (It makes sun)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu veo o carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo o carro.
The correct form is 'vejo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ ao mercado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vou
Eu requires the first person singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Going Places: The Verb IR (to go)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faz calor
Use 'faz' for weather.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Weather with 'Fazer' (It makes sun)

Choose the correct form.

Nós ___ a lição.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazemos
Nós requires 'fazemos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Fazem frio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Faz frio
Verb must be singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Weather with 'Fazer' (It makes sun)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, in the present tense, it does not follow standard conjugation rules.
No, only for movement or future intent.
The 'ç' is used to maintain the 's' sound before 'o'.
It is very versatile, but sometimes 'realizar' or 'criar' are better.
It comes from Latin 'videre' and evolved differently than standard -er verbs.
Simply add 'não' before the verb: 'Eu não vejo'.
Previous Chapter
Mastering Regular Actions
Next Chapter
Desires, Skills, and Socializing
Back to Roadmap