A1 Present Tense 19 min read Easy

Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding)

For regular -ir verbs, the conjugation pattern is identical to -er verbs except for the Nós form, which uses -imos.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To conjugate regular -ir verbs, remove the -ir and add the endings: -o, -es, -e, -imos, -is, -em.

  • Drop the -ir from the infinitive: 'partir' becomes 'part-'.
  • Add the correct ending for the subject: 'Eu parto'.
  • Note that 'nós' uses -imos and 'vós' uses -is.
Stem + (-o, -es, -e, -imos, -is, -em)

Overview

The Portuguese language organizes its verbs into three primary conjugations: those ending in -ar, -er, and -ir. While you may have already familiarized yourself with the -ar and -er categories, understanding regular -ir verbs is crucial for comprehensive present tense mastery. This final group allows you to express actions like abrir (to open), partir (to leave, to split), decidir (to decide), and assistir (to watch, to assist).

These verbs are highly functional in daily communication, covering a broad spectrum of common activities.

Regular -ir verbs maintain a consistent pattern, making them predictable once the core rules are understood. They share significant similarities with regular -er verbs in their conjugation, differing in only one key form. This inherent regularity makes them an accessible and rewarding part of your Portuguese learning journey.

Mastering this conjugation completes your foundation in regular present tense actions, enabling fluent expression of current activities, habits, and general truths.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Conjugated Verb English Translation
:-------------- :-------------- :------------------
Eu (I) abro I open
Tu (You - informal) abres You open
Você/Ele/Ela (You/He/She/It) abre You/He/She/It opens
Nós (We) abrimos We open
Vocês/Eles/Elas (You all/They) abrem You all/They open

How This Grammar Works

Portuguese verb conjugation operates on the principle of modifying a verb's ending to convey information about the subject, tense, and mood. For regular verbs, this modification follows a predictable pattern. The infinitive form of a verb, such as abrir, consists of a stem (abr-) and a thematic vowel plus infinitive ending (-ir).
The stem carries the core lexical meaning of the verb, while the ending is purely grammatical, signaling its conjugation class.
In the present tense, the process involves removing the infinitive ending (-ir) and attaching new, specific endings that agree with the subject pronoun. This agreement system is a hallmark of Romance languages, inherited from Latin, ensuring clarity on who is performing the action. The regularity of -ir verbs means that once you learn the set of endings for this category, you can apply them to virtually any regular verb ending in -ir, facilitating rapid vocabulary expansion and grammatical accuracy.
The endings themselves are chosen to create a harmonious phonetic and morphological system within the language.

Formation Pattern

1
Conjugating a regular -ir verb in the present tense is a straightforward, three-step process. This method ensures accuracy and consistency across all verbs in this category. We will use the verb partir (to leave, to split) as our primary example to demonstrate this pattern. Follow these steps meticulously:
2
Identify the Infinitive Verb: Begin with the verb in its unconjugated, infinitive form. For this exercise, our example is partir.
3
Isolate the Verb Stem: Remove the infinitive ending (-ir) from the verb. The remaining part is the verb stem. For partir, removing -ir leaves you with the stem part-.
4
Attach the Present Tense Endings: Based on the subject pronoun, add the corresponding regular present tense ending to the stem. These endings are specific to the -ir conjugation.
5
Here is a breakdown of the stem and the endings you will attach for each person:
6
| Subject Pronoun | Verb Stem | Ending | Conjugated Verb | English Translation |
7
| :-------------- | :-------- | :------ | :-------------- | :------------------ |
8
| Eu (I) | part- | -o | parto | I leave/split |
9
| Tu (You - informal) | part- | -es | partes | You leave/split |
10
| Você/Ele/Ela (You/He/She/It) | part- | -e | parte | You/He/She/It leaves/splits |
11
| Nós (We) | part- | -imos | partimos | We leave/split |
12
| Vocês/Eles/Elas (You all/They) | part- | -em | partem | You all/They leave/split |
13
This pattern is consistent for all regular -ir verbs. Apply these specific endings to any regular -ir verb stem to correctly conjugate it in the present tense. For instance, decidir (to decide) becomes eu decido, nós decidimos.

When To Use It

The simple present tense of regular -ir verbs is a versatile grammatical tool, employed in various contexts to describe actions and states in the present moment or within a general timeframe. Its utility extends beyond merely stating what is happening right now.
  • Actions occurring now: This is the most direct application. The simple present can describe an action actively taking place at the moment of speech. For example, Eu abro a janela. (I open the window / I am opening the window.) Here, abro indicates a current action.
  • Habitual actions, routines, or recurring events: The present tense is used to express actions that happen regularly or are part of a routine. Nós partimos para o trabalho às oito. (We leave for work at eight.) This conveys a daily habit, not necessarily an action happening at this precise second.
  • General truths, facts, or permanent states: To state universal truths, scientific facts, or unchanging conditions, the simple present is appropriate. A loja abre às nove horas. (The store opens at nine o'clock.) This statement expresses a fixed fact about the store's operating hours.
  • Future actions in informal contexts, often with a time expression: In casual speech, the present tense can refer to future events, especially when a time adverbial makes the future context clear. Eles partem amanhã de manhã. (They leave tomorrow morning.) This use is common and implies a fixed plan.
  • Instructions or commands (with você/vocês): While the imperative mood exists for commands, the present tense can sometimes function as a polite or indirect instruction, particularly with the você or vocês forms. Você abre o livro na página vinte. (You open the book to page twenty.) This is less a question and more a directive.
Understanding these applications allows for precise and natural communication in Portuguese, ensuring you select the correct tense to match the intended meaning of your message.

When Not To Use It

While the simple present tense is highly versatile, there are specific situations where its usage is grammatically incorrect or semantically less appropriate. Employing alternative structures or tenses in these contexts ensures greater clarity and adherence to standard Portuguese usage.
  • Emphasis on an ongoing action: While the simple present can mean 'I am opening,' if you want to explicitly emphasize that an action is currently in progress and ongoing, Portuguese commonly uses the progressive tense. In Brazil, this is estar + gerund (e.g., Eu estou abrindo a porta. – I am opening the door.). In Portugal, the equivalent is estar a + infinitive (e.g., Eu estou a abrir a porta. – I am opening the door.). Using the simple present when the progressive is strongly implied can sometimes sound less natural.
  • Completed past actions: The simple present tense refers to the present or future, not the past. For actions that have already concluded, the preterite (pretérito perfeito simples) or imperfect (pretérito imperfeito) tenses are necessary. For instance, Eu abri a janela. (I opened the window.) correctly conveys a past action, not Eu abro a janela. if the action is finished.
  • Hypothetical or conditional statements: For actions that depend on a condition or are purely hypothetical, the simple present is generally not used in the main clause. The conditional mood (condicional) or other specific tenses would be appropriate. For example, Eu abriria a porta se tivesse a chave. (I would open the door if I had the key.), not Eu abro a porta se tivesse a chave.
  • Actions with future intention without a clear time marker: While the present tense can denote future plans with specific time adverbs, for a general statement of future intention without a fixed time, the simple future (futuro simples) or the periphrastic future (ir + infinitive) is more common. For example, Eu vou partir. (I am going to leave.) or Eu partirei. (I will leave.) are clearer for an unspecific future action than Eu parto. if the context isn't implicitly future.
Understanding these distinctions prevents awkward phrasing and ensures your Portuguese communicates precisely what you intend.

Common Mistakes

Even experienced learners encounter pitfalls when conjugating regular -ir verbs. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their origins is a critical step toward achieving accuracy and fluency. These aren't just random slips; they often reflect transfer errors from other languages or incomplete pattern recognition.
  • The Nós form confusion: This is arguably the most frequent error. Learners often mistakenly apply the -emos ending from -er verbs to the nós form of -ir verbs. For instance, saying nós abremos instead of nós abrimos. This happens because nós is the only form where regular -er and -ir verbs diverge significantly, while most other forms share similar vowel patterns. Always remember that -ir verbs take the -imos ending for nós.
  • Vowel shifts in seemingly regular verbs: A small subset of -ir verbs exhibits a stem change in certain conjugations, particularly the eu form, while remaining otherwise regular. The verb dormir (to sleep) is a prime example: Eu durmo (not eu dormo), but Tu dormes, Ele dorme, Nós dormimos, Eles dormem. This o to u stem change (dorm- to durm-) is a minor irregularity common in verbs like subir (to go up) -> eu subo, cobrir (to cover) -> eu cubro. These are best learned individually, but they follow a pattern within their own category.
  • Incorrect pronunciation of -em: The final -em in forms like eles abrem is a nasal diphthong, not a simple 'em' sound as in English 'them.' In Brazilian Portuguese, it often sounds like /ẽj/ (similar to 'aing' in 'hanging'). In European Portuguese, it's typically /ɐ̃j/ or /ɐ̃/ (closer to 'uhn' with a nasal quality). Mispronouncing this can alter comprehensibility. Practice mimicking native speakers to master this sound.
  • Confusion with -er verb endings: While the Nós form is unique, the Eu, Tu, Você/Ele/Ela, and Vocês/Eles/Elas forms for -ir verbs often look identical or highly similar to their -er counterparts. This similarity can lead to overgeneralization, causing the Nós error. The key is to specifically isolate and commit the -imos ending for -ir verbs in the Nós form to memory.
  • Mistaking the verb stem: When a verb has a prefix, such as descobrir (to discover), learners might incorrectly remove more than just the -ir ending. The stem of descobrir is descobr-, not cobr-. Always ensure you are removing only the infinitive ending to correctly isolate the base stem.
Addressing these specific points of error will significantly enhance your accuracy and confidence when using -ir verbs.

Memory Trick

Internalizing verb conjugations can feel daunting, but a simple, effective memory trick can solidify your understanding of regular -ir verbs and differentiate them from their -er cousins. The key lies in focusing on the vowel in the infinitive ending and associating it with the distinct Nós form.

- For -IR verbs: Notice the I in -ir. This I is your mnemonic for the Nós form: it will always take the ending -imos. Think: IR verbs use IMOS.

- For -ER verbs: Similarly, notice the E in -er. This E cues you for the Nós form: it will always take the ending -emos. Think: ER verbs use EMOS.

This simple association isolates the only significant difference between regular -er and -ir verb conjugations in the present tense. For all other persons (Eu, Tu, Você/Ele/Ela, Vocês/Eles/Elas), the endings are either identical or extremely similar. Therefore, if you can conjugate a regular -er verb, you already know 80% of the regular -ir verb pattern. Just remember to swap that E for an I when you're conjugating Nós for an -ir verb.

Another visual aid: imagine the I in IR as standing tall and distinct, just like the I in -imos stands out as unique for this verb group. This little mental bookmark can prevent one of the most common conjugation errors.

Real Conversations

To truly grasp the utility of regular -ir verbs, it is essential to observe their natural application in contemporary Portuguese dialogue. These examples demonstrate how native speakers integrate these verbs into casual, modern communication, reflecting real-world usage rather than textbook constructions.

S

Scenario 1

Planning a movie night via text message (Brazil)
A

Ana

E aí, você decide o que vamos assistir hoje? To sem ideia.

(Hey, are you deciding what we’re going to watch today? I’m out of ideas.)

B

Bruno

Ainda não decidi, mas to abrindo o streaming agora. Já partimos pra escolher!

(Haven't decided yet, but I'm opening the streaming [app] now. We're already moving to choose!)

Explanation*: Ana uses decide (from decidir) in a casual question. Bruno replies with decidi (past tense, a common and natural contrast) and then abrindo (gerund, common in Brazil to express 'opening right now'). The phrase já partimos pra escolher uses partimos (from partir) to mean 'we're moving on to choose,' indicating a transition of action.

S

Scenario 2

Discussing daily routines (Portugal)
M

Marta

Vocês partem sempre tão cedo para o trabalho?

(Do you always leave so early for work?)

D

Diogo

Sim, nós partimos às sete, para evitar o trânsito. A loja onde eu trabalho abre às oito.

(Yes, we leave at seven, to avoid traffic. The store where I work opens at eight.)

Explanation*: Marta uses partem (from partir) to inquire about a habitual action, employing the vocês form. Diogo confirms with partimos and then uses abre (from abrir) to state a general fact about his workplace. Both instances highlight the use of the present tense for routines and facts.

S

Scenario 3

A quick interaction at a coffee shop (Brazil)
C

Cliente

Com licença, vocês servem café descafeinado?

(Excuse me, do you all serve decaffeinated coffee?)

A

Atendente

Sim, claro. Nós servimos de tudo aqui.

(Yes, of course. We serve everything here.)

Explanation*: The client uses servem (from servir) to ask about a service provided, a common interaction. The attendant responds with servimos, confirming the general availability of the item. This shows the verb servir (to serve) in a typical customer service exchange.

These dialogues illustrate how -ir verbs are woven into the fabric of everyday Portuguese, conveying habits, ongoing actions, and general statements with fluidity.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

One of the most effective strategies for mastering regular -ir verbs is to contrast them directly with regular -er verbs. These two categories are remarkably similar in their present tense conjugations, making the few differences crucial to understand and remember. Recognizing these patterns reduces the cognitive load and helps prevent common errors.
Let's compare comer (a regular -er verb, meaning 'to eat') with abrir (a regular -ir verb, meaning 'to open') side-by-side in the present tense:
| Subject Pronoun | Comer (to eat, -ER) | Abrir (to open, -IR) | Observations |
| :-------------- | :------------------- | :------------------- | :----------- |
| Eu | como | abro | Identical! |
| Tu | comes | abres | Identical! |
| Você/Ele/Ela | come | abre | Identical! |
| Nós | comemos | abrimos | DIFFERENT |
| Vocês/Eles/Elas | comem | abrem | Identical! |
As observations in the table highlight the critical insight: for Eu, Tu, Você/Ele/Ela, and Vocês/Eles/Elas, the endings for regular -er and -ir verbs in the present tense are identical. This means that if you have already mastered -er verb conjugations, you have already learned the majority of the -ir pattern.
The sole difference in the entire regular present tense paradigm occurs in the Nós form. -ER verbs consistently use the ending -emos (e.g., comemos), while -IR verbs consistently use the ending -imos (e.g., abrimos). This single distinction is the primary point of differentiation that learners must commit to memory.
Both verb categories historically derive from Latin infinitives that followed similar conjugation patterns, which explains their strong resemblance. Focusing on this unique Nós ending for -ir verbs simplifies the learning process dramatically, allowing you to leverage existing knowledge while pinpointing the exact point of divergence.

Progressive Practice

1

Consistent and varied practice is indispensable for internalizing verb conjugations. Beyond rote memorization, engaging with regular -ir verbs through active usage and contextual exposure will solidify your understanding and improve your fluency. These strategies encourage deeper learning and retention.

2

- Active Conjugation Drills: Daily, select 5-10 new regular -ir verbs from your vocabulary (e.g., discutir, permitir, proibir, consumir, dividir). Write out their full present tense conjugations for all subject pronouns (Eu, Tu, Você/Ele/Ela, Nós, Vocês/Eles/Elas). This active recall reinforces the pattern and builds muscle memory.

3

- Sentence Creation: For each conjugated form you practice, construct 2-3 original sentences using that verb in a meaningful context. For example, after conjugating dividir: Eu divido o bolo com meus amigos. (I share the cake with my friends.), Nós dividimos as tarefas de casa. (We divide the household chores.). This ensures you connect the conjugation to practical application.

4

- Listening Immersion: Actively listen for -ir verbs in authentic Portuguese content. Pay attention when watching films, listening to podcasts, or streaming music. Try to identify the verb's infinitive and the subject pronoun based on its ending. Ele assiste to assistir, Nós partimos to partir.

5

- Speaking Practice: Integrate these verbs into your conversations. Force yourself to use a different -ir verb each day in a sentence with a language partner or during self-talk. The act of producing the language solidifies the patterns faster than passive recognition.

6

- Flashcards with Context: Create flashcards for challenging -ir verbs or those with minor irregularities (like dormir's stem change). On one side, write the infinitive; on the other, include its full conjugation and 1-2 example sentences for context. Review these regularly, focusing on the Nós form.

7

- Identify Patterns in Reading: When reading articles, books, or social media posts in Portuguese, consciously seek out and highlight -ir verbs. Confirm their conjugation mentally and observe how they function within the sentence structure. This analytical approach enhances your grammatical intuition.

8

By systematically incorporating these progressive practice techniques, you will move beyond simply knowing the rules to instinctively applying them in real-time communication.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common queries about regular -ir verbs helps clarify nuances and reinforce understanding for learners at all levels.
  • Q: Are all -ir verbs perfectly regular in the present tense?
  • A: No. While many are regular, some common -ir verbs exhibit minor irregularities, often involving stem changes. The verb dormir (to sleep) is a classic example: Eu durmo, Tu dormes, Ele dorme, Nós dormimos, Eles dormem. Notice the o to u stem change in the eu form (and often in the tu, ele/ela, eles/elas forms, but not nós). Other examples include subir (to go up) -> eu subo, cobrir (to cover) -> eu cubro, fugir (to flee) -> eu fujo. These are generally predictable within specific categories of stem-changing verbs.
  • Q: What about the vós form? Is it used for -ir verbs?
  • A: The vós (you all/ye) form (vós abris, vós partis) exists in Portuguese grammar, particularly in European Portuguese, but it is considered archaic and is virtually obsolete in contemporary spoken Portuguese. In daily conversation, vocês is universally used for plural 'you.' You will primarily encounter vós in older literature, religious texts, or formal, ceremonial contexts. For practical communication, focusing on vocês is sufficient and correct.
  • Q: How do I distinguish between Tu and Você conjugations, especially as they often share the same verb form as Ele/Ela?
  • A: In Portuguese, Tu is the informal second-person singular pronoun, primarily used in Portugal and some regions of Brazil (e.g., Southern Brazil, parts of the Northeast). Você is the more widely used second-person singular pronoun in Brazil and is also common in Portugal for addressing strangers or in more formal settings. The conjugation for Você (and Vocês) always mirrors the third-person singular (or plural) conjugation. So, Tu abres but Você abre, just like Ele abre. Context and regional usage will dictate which pronoun to use, but the grammatical rule for verb agreement is consistent: Você functions grammatically as a third-person subject.
  • Q: Can a single -ir verb have multiple meanings?
  • A: Absolutely. Many verbs in Portuguese, including -ir verbs, are polysemous, meaning they possess multiple distinct meanings depending on context. For example, partir can mean 'to leave' (Ele parte amanhã. – He leaves tomorrow.) or 'to split/break' (Eu parto o pão. – I break the bread.). Similarly, servir can mean 'to serve' (food, drinks) or 'to be useful/to fit' (Isso não me serve. – That doesn't suit me.). Always consider the surrounding words and the overall sentence to determine the precise meaning.
  • Q: Why do some verbs like assistir require a preposition when they mean 'to watch'?
  • A: This is an important detail for assistir. While assistir can mean 'to assist' (and is transitive without a preposition, Eu assisto os alunos.), when it means 'to watch' (a movie, TV show, game), it becomes an intransitive verb and requires the preposition a before the direct object. For example, Eu assisto ao filme. (I watch the movie.), not Eu assisto o filme. This is a specific grammatical feature of assistir when conveying 'to watch' and is crucial for correct usage, particularly in European Portuguese and formal Brazilian Portuguese. In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, assistir o filme is common, but assistir ao filme is still considered more formally correct.

Conjugation of 'Abrir' (To Open)

Pronoun Ending Verb Form
Eu
-o
abro
Tu
-es
abres
Você/Ele/Ela
-e
abre
Nós
-imos
abrimos
Vós
-is
abris
Vocês/Eles/Elas
-em
abrem

Meanings

The present indicative is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, or events happening right now for verbs ending in -ir.

1

Habitual Action

Actions performed regularly.

“Eu divido o lanche.”

“Ela parte cedo.”

2

Current State

Describing a state or immediate action.

“Eu abro a janela.”

“Ele assiste ao filme.”

3

General Truth

Facts that are always true.

“A vida parte o coração.”

“O sol assiste ao mundo.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem + Ending
Eu abro
Negative
Não + Stem + Ending
Eu não abro
Interrogative
Stem + Ending + ?
Você abre?
Short Answer
Sim/Não + Pronoun + Verb
Sim, eu abro.
Plural
Stem + -imos/-em
Nós abrimos
Formal
Você + Verb
Você abre

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu abro a porta.

Eu abro a porta. (Daily life)

Neutral
Eu abro a porta.

Eu abro a porta. (Daily life)

Informal
Abro a porta.

Abro a porta. (Daily life)

Slang
Tô abrindo a porta.

Tô abrindo a porta. (Daily life)

The -IR Verb Map

ABRIR

Singular

  • Eu abro I open
  • Tu abres You open

Plural

  • Nós abrimos We open
  • Eles abrem They open

Examples by Level

1

Eu abro a porta.

I open the door.

2

Você parte hoje?

Are you leaving today?

3

Nós dividimos o bolo.

We share the cake.

4

Eles admitem o erro.

They admit the mistake.

1

Eu não assisto a filmes de terror.

I don't watch horror movies.

2

Ela decide o que comer.

She decides what to eat.

3

Nós partimos às oito.

We leave at eight.

4

Eles abrem a loja cedo.

They open the store early.

1

Eu insisto em falar português.

I insist on speaking Portuguese.

2

Você permite a entrada?

Do you allow entry?

3

Nós discutimos o projeto.

We discuss the project.

4

Eles transferem o dinheiro.

They transfer the money.

1

Eu não concebo uma vida sem música.

I cannot conceive of a life without music.

2

Ela adverte sobre os riscos.

She warns about the risks.

3

Nós refletimos sobre as mudanças.

We reflect on the changes.

4

Eles convertem os dados.

They convert the data.

1

Eu submeto o relatório ao diretor.

I submit the report to the director.

2

Ele se desmente diante das provas.

He contradicts himself in the face of evidence.

3

Nós repartimos os lucros igualmente.

We distribute the profits equally.

4

Eles se divertem com a situação.

They find the situation amusing.

1

Eu não me permito falhar.

I do not permit myself to fail.

2

Ela intervém na discussão.

She intervenes in the discussion.

3

Nós pressentimos o perigo.

We sense the danger.

4

Eles se ressentem da decisão.

They resent the decision.

Easily Confused

Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding) vs -er vs -ir verbs

They look similar in the infinitive.

Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding) vs Tu vs Você

Different endings for second person.

Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding) vs Present vs Past

Similar stems.

Common Mistakes

Eu abro-ir

Eu abro

Don't keep the -ir.

Nós abremos

Nós abrimos

Use -imos for -ir verbs.

Ele abris

Ele abre

Third person singular is -e.

Eles abrem

Eles abrem

Correct, but watch for spelling.

Eu partimos

Eu parto

Wrong pronoun ending.

Você partem

Você parte

Singular vs plural.

Nós partem

Nós partimos

Wrong conjugation.

Eu assisto-o

Eu assisto

Redundant pronoun.

Nós decidimos

Nós decidimos

Correct, but check context.

Eles permitem

Eles permitem

Correct.

Eu submeto-me

Eu me submeto

Reflexive placement.

Eles se divertem

Eles se divertem

Correct.

Nós repartimos

Nós repartimos

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ a porta.

Nós ___ o bolo.

Você ___ o filme?

Eles ___ cedo.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Eu assisto a vídeos.

Texting very common

Já abro.

Job Interview common

Eu decido as metas.

Travel common

Nós partimos às 10.

Food Delivery occasional

Eu divido a conta.

Email common

Permito o acesso.

💡

Focus on the 'nós' form

It's the best way to distinguish -ir from -er verbs.
⚠️

Don't forget the 'o' in 'Eu'

It's the most common beginner error.
🎯

Use flashcards

Practice the endings daily.
💬

Regional differences

Remember that 'tu' and 'você' have different conjugation rules in some regions.

Smart Tips

Look for the -imos ending for 'nós'.

Nós partemos. Nós partimos.

Always check the subject.

Eu parte. Eu parto.

Focus on the last syllable.

Eu abro. Eu abro.

Identify the infinitive.

Eles abrem. Eles abrem (abrir).

Pronunciation

a-BRO

Vowel stress

The stress usually falls on the penultimate syllable.

Question

Você abre? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'O-ES-E-IMOS-IS-EM' rhythm like a drum beat.

Visual Association

Imagine a door (abrir) with six handles, each labeled with the ending.

Rhyme

O, es, e, imos, is, em, the -ir verbs are fun for them!

Story

I open (abro) the book, you open (abres) the door, we open (abrimos) our hearts.

Word Web

AbrirPartirDividirAssistirDecidirPermitir

Challenge

Conjugate three -ir verbs in your head while walking to the store.

Cultural Notes

People often use 'a gente' instead of 'nós'.

The 'vós' form is still used in formal contexts.

Standard Portuguese is used, similar to Brazil.

Derived from Latin third conjugation -ire verbs.

Conversation Starters

Você abre a janela?

Nós decidimos o destino?

Você assiste a séries?

Eles partem hoje?

Journal Prompts

Write about your morning routine.
Describe a decision you made today.
What do you watch on TV?
How do you share tasks at work?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abro
Eu takes -o.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Nós ___ o bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dividimos
Nós takes -imos.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele partimos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele parte
Ele takes -e.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu abro a porta
Subject-Verb-Object.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I decide.

Answer starts with: Eu ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu decido
Eu takes -o.
Conjugate 'assistir' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: assistem
Eles takes -em.
Match the pronoun to the ending. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -imos
Nós uses -imos.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você abre? B: Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abro
Eu takes -o.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abro
Eu takes -o.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Nós ___ o bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dividimos
Nós takes -imos.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele partimos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele parte
Ele takes -e.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

a / abro / Eu / porta

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu abro a porta
Subject-Verb-Object.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I decide.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu decido
Eu takes -o.
Conjugate 'assistir' for 'Eles'. Conjugation Drill

Eles ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: assistem
Eles takes -em.
Match the pronoun to the ending. Match Pairs

Nós - ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -imos
Nós uses -imos.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você abre? B: Sim, eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abro
Eu takes -o.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Conjugate 'assistir' (to watch). Fill in the Blank

Nós ___ ao jogo de futebol. (We watch the soccer game.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: assistimos
Match the pronoun to the correct verb form for 'dividir'. Match Pairs

Match the pairs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Eu -> divido","Voc\u00ea -> divide","N\u00f3s -> dividimos","Eles -> dividem"]
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

garante / O / o / gerente / preço.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O gerente garante o preço.
Select the correct form for 'Tu' (informal). Multiple Choice

Tu ___ a porta? (Do you open the door?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abres
Translate 'I insist' to Portuguese. Translation

How do you say 'I insist'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu insisto
Fix the verb in this sentence. Error Correction

A gente partimos o bolo agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A gente parte o bolo agora.
Complete with 'discutir'. Fill in the Blank

Eles ___ sobre futebol todo dia. (They argue about soccer every day.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: discutem
Identify the correct 'Nós' form. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós escrevemos (from escrever) e nós abrimos (from abrir).
Translate 'She allows'. Translation

Translate: 'Ela permite'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She allows
Conjugate 'imprimir' (to print). Fill in the Blank

Eu ___ o documento agora. (I print the document now.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: imprimo

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a historical remnant of the Latin conjugation.

Yes, but it's informal.

No, some like 'ir' are irregular.

Try to guess based on the pattern.

It's neutral in Brazil.

Add 'não' before the verb.

Mostly, but 'vós' is used.

A few hours of practice.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

abrir

The 'nós' form is -imos in both.

French moderate

ouvrir

Portuguese is more regular.

German low

öffnen

German has more irregular verbs.

Japanese low

akeru

No person-based conjugation.

Arabic low

yaftahu

Arabic is triconsonantal.

Chinese none

dakai

No verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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