A1 Present Tense 8 min read Easy

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

Master the irregular 'dou' and 'dá' to unlock hundreds of essential Portuguese daily expressions and social interactions.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The verb 'dar' means 'to give', but its first-person singular form is unique: 'dou'.

  • The 'eu' form is irregular: 'Eu dou' (I give).
  • The rest of the singular forms follow standard patterns: 'você dá' (you give).
  • Plural forms are regular: 'nós damos' (we give), 'eles dão' (they give).
Subject + dar (conjugated) + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Overview

The verb dar in Portuguese signifies 'to give,' yet its usage extends far beyond the literal act of handing something over. It is a highly fundamental and versatile irregular verb, crucial for expressing a wide range of actions, states, and idiomatic concepts in everyday conversation. For an A1 learner, mastering dar in the present tense is essential for basic communication and understanding native speakers.

Its frequent appearance in both formal and informal contexts, including modern digital interactions, makes it a cornerstone of Portuguese fluency.

Like many high-frequency verbs, dar deviates from standard conjugation patterns, making it irregular. This irregularity means you cannot simply apply the rules for regular -ar verbs to conjugate it. Understanding these unique forms and the diverse situations in which dar is employed will significantly enhance your ability to communicate naturally in Portuguese.

It acts as a linguistic Swiss Army Knife, serving many functions where other languages might use multiple distinct verbs.

Conjugation Table

Pronoun Conjugation Example (Brazil) Example (Portugal)
:-------- :---------- :------------------------- :--------------------------
Eu dou Eu dou um presente. Eu dou um presente.
Tu dás (less common) Tu dás um abraço.
Você dá Você dá um conselho. Você dá um conselho.
Ele/Ela dá Ele dá aulas. Ele dá aulas.
Nós damos Nós damos uma festa. Nós damos uma festa.
Vocês dão Vocês dão um like. Vocês dão um like.
Eles/Elas dão Elas dão risada. Elas dão risada.

How This Grammar Works

Portuguese verbs are categorized into three groups based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns within these groups. However, dar is an irregular verb of the first conjugation (-ar), meaning its present tense forms do not adhere to the standard -ar endings.
The irregularity of dar stems from its ancient origins and frequent use, leading to phonetic changes over time that solidified into unique forms. Instead of simply changing the -ar to -o for eu (like falar -> eu falo), dar undergoes a more significant transformation to dou. This reflects a common linguistic principle: high-frequency words often resist regularization.
In the present tense, dar is used to describe:
  • Habitual actions or routines: Ele dá aulas de português todos os dias. (He gives Portuguese classes every day.)
  • Actions occurring at the present moment: Eu dou meu nome agora mesmo. (I give my name right now.)
  • General truths or facts: Essa janela dá para o jardim. (This window faces the garden.)
  • Idiomatic expressions: These are phrases where the literal meaning of dar ('to give') is lost, and the expression takes on a new meaning. For instance, dar certo (to work out, to succeed) doesn't literally mean 'to give right' but functions as a cohesive unit. Such expressions are fundamental to natural Portuguese.

Formation Pattern

1
Conjugating dar in the present tense requires memorization, as it diverges from the predictable patterns of regular -ar verbs. Each form has specific characteristics that you must learn individually.
2
Eu (I): The form is dou. This is the most irregular and crucial form. Instead of the expected -o ending for -ar verbs, dar uses -ou. This ending is unique to dar and ir (which becomes vou), marking them as distinct. For example, Eu dou um conselho. (I give advice.)
3
Tu (You - informal): The form is dás. The infinitive's a changes to an accented á, followed by -s. The acute accent (´) is vital; it indicates stress and distinguishes it from the preposition/article das (de + as). This form is prevalent in Portugal and certain regions of Brazil, but less common in general Brazilian Portuguese. Example: Tu dás sempre boas ideias. (You always give good ideas.)
4
Você/Ele/Ela (You/He/She): The form is dá. Similar to tu dás, the a becomes á, but without the final -s as it's a third-person singular form. The accent is equally important here, distinguishing dá from the preposition/article da (de + a). This is the most common second-person singular form in Brazil. Example: Ele dá aulas na universidade. (He teaches at the university.)
5
Nós (We): The form is damos. This is the only form that behaves somewhat regularly for an -ar verb, taking the standard -amos ending. This makes it easier to remember. Example: Nós damos as mãos. (We hold hands / give hands.)
6
Vocês/Eles/Elas (You plural/They): The form is dão. This form features the nasal diphthong ão, indicated by the tilde (~) over the a. This sound is highly characteristic of Portuguese and requires careful pronunciation. The ão ending is a common feature for many plural verb conjugations in Portuguese. Example: Elas dão muitas risadas. (They laugh a lot / give many laughs.)

When To Use It

Dar is extraordinarily versatile. Here's a breakdown of its primary uses:
  • Literal 'To Give': When physically transferring an object or abstract item to someone. This is the most straightforward application.
  • Eu dou um livro ao meu irmão. (I give a book to my brother.)
  • Você dá a sua opinião na reunião. (You give your opinion in the meeting.)
  • Idiomatic Expressions: These are crucial for sounding natural and are very common in daily Portuguese. The meaning is often non-literal.
  • dar certo / dar errado: To work out / to go wrong. Espero que tudo dê certo no projeto. (I hope everything works out in the project.) Às vezes as coisas dão errado. (Sometimes things go wrong.)
  • dar uma olhada/olhadinha: To take a look (informal). Dá uma olhadinha nesses documentos, por favor. (Take a look at these documents, please.)
  • dar um abraço / dar um beijo: To give a hug / to give a kiss. Ele sempre me dá um abraço quando me vê. (He always gives me a hug when he sees me.)
  • dar os parabéns: To congratulate. Nós damos os parabéns aos nossos colegas. (We congratulate our colleagues.)
  • dar uma festa: To throw a party. Eles dão uma festa de aniversário. (They throw a birthday party.)
  • dar carona: To give a ride. Minha amiga me dá carona para o trabalho. (My friend gives me a ride to work.)
  • dar um jeito: To find a way, to sort something out. Vamos dar um jeito nessa situação. (We'll find a way/sort out this situation.)
  • dar para + infinitive: To be possible to do something. This is a very common impersonal construction. Dá para terminar isso hoje? (Is it possible to finish this today?)
  • Spatial Relationships (dar para): To face, to overlook (used for windows, doors, balconies, etc.).
  • A janela do meu quarto dá para o mar. (My bedroom window faces the sea.)
  • Essa porta dá para o corredor. (This door leads to the corridor.)
  • Causing Emotions or Sensations: When something provokes a feeling or reaction.
  • Essa música me dá muita alegria. (This music gives me a lot of joy.)
  • A escuridão te dá medo? (Does the darkness give you fear/scare you?)
  • O trabalho excessivo dá cansaço. (Excessive work causes tiredness.)
  • Impersonal Weather Expressions: While fazer and estar are more common for weather, dar can sometimes be heard, particularly in certain regions or informal contexts. For A1, stick to fazer or estar for weather initially, but be aware of this use.
  • Dá sol hoje. (It's sunny today.) - Less common than Faz sol (Brazil) or Está sol (Portugal/Brazil).
  • Time References: Dar can also refer to the clock striking a certain hour.
  • O relógio dá sete horas. (The clock strikes seven o'clock.) - Less common in daily conversation than simply stating the time, but useful to recognize.

When Not To Use It

Despite its wide applicability, there are specific situations where using dar would be incorrect, awkward, or imprecise. Understanding these boundaries is crucial for accurate communication.
  • Formal Delivery or Handover: While dar means 'to give,' when the context implies a formal delivery, an official handover, or an obligation to deliver, entregar (to deliver, to hand over) is the correct verb.
  • Incorrect: O carteiro dá a encomenda.
  • Correct: O carteiro entrega a encomenda. (The postman delivers the package.)
  • Incorrect: Você dá o trabalho ao professor.
  • Correct: Você entrega o trabalho ao professor. (You hand in the assignment to the teacher.)
  • Returning Something: For the action of returning an item, whether to its owner or to a specific place, the verb devolver (to return, to give back) is used, not dar.
  • Incorrect: Eu dou o livro de volta.
  • Correct: Eu devolvo o livro à biblioteca. (I return the book to the library.)
  • Incorrect: Ele me dá o dinheiro de volta.
  • Correct: Ele me devolve o dinheiro. (He gives me the money back / returns the money to me.)
  • **English

Present Indicative of 'Dar'

Pronoun Conjugation
Eu
dou
Você/Ele/Ela
dá
Nós
damos
Vocês/Eles/Elas
dão

Meanings

The verb 'dar' is the primary way to express the act of giving something to someone. It is also used in many idiomatic expressions.

1

Physical Giving

Transferring possession of an object.

“Eu dou flores para minha mãe.”

“Você dá o livro para ele?”

2

Social Media

To 'like' or interact with digital content.

“Eu dou um like na foto.”

“Ela dá um coração no post.”

3

Idiomatic

To result in or to work out.

“Isso dá certo.”

“Não dá para ir hoje.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + dar
Eu dou um presente.
Negative
Não + Subject + dar
Eu não dou presentes.
Question
Dar + Subject?
Você dá um presente?
Short Answer
Sim/Não + (pronoun) + dar
Sim, eu dou.
Plural
Subject + dar
Nós damos o livro.
Idiomatic
Não + dar + para
Não dá para ir.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu ofereço este presente a Vossa Senhoria.

Eu ofereço este presente a Vossa Senhoria. (Gift giving)

Neutral
Eu dou este presente para você.

Eu dou este presente para você. (Gift giving)

Informal
Toma, é pra você.

Toma, é pra você. (Gift giving)

Slang
Pega aí, presente pra tu.

Pega aí, presente pra tu. (Gift giving)

Uses of 'Dar'

Dar

Physical

  • dar um presente give a gift

Digital

  • dar um like give a like

Idiomatic

  • não dá it's not possible
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Eu dou um presente.

I give a gift.

2

Você dá o livro?

Do you give the book?

3

Nós damos flores.

We give flowers.

4

Eles dão um like.

They give a like.

1

Eu não dou dinheiro.

I don't give money.

2

Ela dá uma dica.

She gives a tip.

3

Vocês dão atenção?

Do you pay attention?

4

Eu dou o meu número.

I give my number.

1

Não dá para sair agora.

It's not possible to leave now.

2

Isso dá muito trabalho.

This is a lot of work.

3

Ele dá o braço a torcer.

He gives in.

4

Damos o melhor de nós.

We give our best.

1

O projeto dá bons resultados.

The project yields good results.

2

Ela dá aulas de português.

She teaches Portuguese.

3

Dão-se bem com todos.

They get along with everyone.

4

Não me dão ouvidos.

They don't listen to me.

1

Dá-se conta do erro.

He realizes the mistake.

2

Isso dá pano para mangas.

That's a long story.

3

Damos por encerrada a sessão.

We declare the session closed.

4

Dão mostras de cansaço.

They show signs of fatigue.

1

Dá-lhe com força!

Hit it hard!

2

Não se dá valor ao que é simples.

One doesn't value what is simple.

3

Dá-se o caso de ser verdade.

It happens to be true.

4

Dão-se a conhecer ao mundo.

They make themselves known to the world.

Easily Confused

The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes vs Dar vs. Entregar

Learners mix them up because both mean 'to give'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu dao

✓

Eu dou

Learners often apply regular -ar rules to this irregular verb.
✗

Eu da

✓

Eu dou

Confusing the third person with the first person.
✗

Eu dou para ele o livro

✓

Eu dou o livro para ele

Word order is slightly awkward.
✗

Ele da

✓

Ele dá

Missing the accent mark.
✗

Nós damos o presente para ela

✓

Nós damos o presente a ela

Both are okay, but 'a' is more formal.
✗

Não dá ir

✓

Não dá para ir

Missing the preposition 'para'.
✗

Eles dao

✓

Eles dão

Missing the tilde.
✗

Isso dá certo

✓

Isso dá certo

Actually correct, but learners often use 'funciona' instead.
✗

Eu dou uma caminhada

✓

Eu dou uma caminhada

Correct, but learners might use 'faço'.
✗

Dão-se bem

✓

Dão-se bem

Often forget the reflexive pronoun.
✗

Dá-se conta de que

✓

Dá-se conta de que

Often forget the 'de' preposition.
✗

Dão mostras de

✓

Dão mostras de

Confusing the idiom.
✗

Dá-lhe com força

✓

Dá-lhe com força

Confusing the pronoun placement.

Sentence Patterns

Eu dou ___ para ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Eu dou um like na foto.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Remember the 'dou'

The 'eu dou' form is the only irregular one in the singular.

Smart Tips

Always use 'dou'.

Eu dao. → Eu dou.

Pronunciation

/dɐ̃w̃/

The 'ão' sound

The 'ão' in 'dão' is a nasal diphthong.

Question rising

Você dá? ↑

Indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Eu dou' (I give) sounds like 'dough' (money). You give dough!

Visual Association

Imagine yourself handing a giant ball of pizza dough to a friend. You are saying 'Eu dou' as you hand it over.

Rhyme

Eu dou, você dá, o presente lá está.

Story

I walk into a shop. I give (dou) money. The clerk gives (dá) me a gift. We give (damos) each other a smile. They give (dão) me a receipt.

Word Web

dardoudádamosdãopresentelikeajuda

Challenge

Write 3 sentences using 'dar' about things you give to friends in one minute.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'dar' is used in almost every context, including 'dar um rolê' (to go for a ride/walk).

Comes from the Latin 'dare'.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você dá de presente?

Journal Prompts

Write about a gift you gave recently.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ um presente.

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

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ um presente.

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

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Reorder the words to make a sentence Sentence Reorder

um / eu / like / dou / vídeo / no

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu dou um like no vídeo.
Translate to Portuguese Translation

We give a party on Saturday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós damos uma festa no sábado.
Match the pronoun to the correct form Match Pairs

Match them:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu:dou, Você:dá, Nós:damos, Eles:dão
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

A janela ___ para o jardim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dá
Which one means 'It's possible'? Multiple Choice

Select the correct phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dá para ir.
Fix the conjugation Error Correction

Nós dão um jeito.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós damos um jeito.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Tu ___ o exemplo para todos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dás
Translate the phrase Translation

They give an opinion.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles dão uma opinião.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

sempre / certo / tudo / dá

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tudo dá certo sempre.
Identify the 'I' form Multiple Choice

How do you say 'I give'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dou

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

No, it is irregular in the first person singular.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

dar

Spanish uses 'doy', Portuguese uses 'dou'.

French moderate

donner

French doesn't have the irregular 'dou' form.

German low

geben

German changes the stem vowel.

Japanese low

ageru

Portuguese doesn't change the verb based on status.

Arabic low

a'ta

Arabic is not related to the Latin root.

Chinese low

gei

Chinese verbs never change form.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
Next
Weather with 'Fazer' (It makes sun)

Continue With

B1 Requires

The Verb 'Dar' in Past Tense (Eu dei, Ele deu)

Overview Mastering the verb `dar` (to give) in the Preterite tense (`Pretérito Perfeito Simples`) is fundamental for int...

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Portuguese -ER Verbs: The Present Tense (comer, beber)

Overview Portuguese regular verbs are categorized into three groups based on their infinitive endings: `-ar`, `-er`, and...
A1

Portuguese Verb SER: Who You Are (to be - permanent)

Overview The Portuguese verb `ser` is one of two fundamental verbs translating to 'to be' in English. It describes **inh...
A1

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

Overview The Portuguese language organizes its verbs into three primary conjugations: those ending in `-ar`, `-er`, and...
A1

Portuguese Verb 'Ter' (To Have/Age)

Overview In Portuguese, the verb `ter` is foundational, much like "to have" in English. However, its usage extends signi...
A1

The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make

Overview The Portuguese verb `fazer` is a fundamental and highly versatile verb, serving as the equivalent of both "to d...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!