A1 Present Tense 12 min read Easy

Asking Questions: The Verb 'Perguntar'

Use perguntar for information and pedir for favors; it's a regular -ar verb that's easy to conjugate.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'perguntar' to ask questions; remember it conjugates like other regular -ar verbs in the present tense.

  • Use 'perguntar' when you are literally asking a question: 'Eu pergunto a hora' (I ask the time).
  • Always conjugate for the subject: 'Eu pergunto', 'Você pergunta', 'Nós perguntamos'.
  • Use 'a' or 'para' when indicating the person you are asking: 'Eu pergunto ao professor'.
Subject + Perguntar (conjugated) + (a/para + Person) + (Question)

Overview

To master communication in Portuguese, understanding how to solicit information is essential. The verb perguntar serves the precise function of asking a question or making an inquiry. It is exclusively used when you are seeking data, facts, or answers from someone.

This verb carries a narrower semantic scope than the English 'to ask,' pertaining strictly to the act of verbal or written inquiry aimed at gaining knowledge. This distinction is crucial for A1 learners, as confusing it with requests for objects, services, or actions (which are handled by the verb pedir) is a common and significant error. Perguntar is a regular verb belonging to the first conjugation (-ar verbs), making its present tense conjugation highly predictable and an excellent entry point into Portuguese verbal morphology.

Linguistically, perguntar initiates an information-seeking speech act. It structures communication to elicit a verbal response rather than a physical one. For instance, if you are in Brazil and state Eu pergunto o caminho (I ask the way), you expect directions.

If you are messaging a friend in Portugal, Posso-te perguntar uma coisa? (Can I ask you something?) directly requests permission to pose an inquiry. Its regularity ensures that once you grasp the pattern, you can apply it consistently, building confidence in your ability to engage in basic conversational exchanges across all Portuguese-speaking regions.

Conjugation Table

Pronoun Conjugation Example Sentence (PT-BR) Translation (PT-BR) Example Sentence (PT-PT) Translation (PT-PT)
:-------------- :-------------- :---------------------------------------------- :---------------------------------------------- :---------------------------------------------- :----------------------------------------------
Eu pergunto Eu pergunto o preço do livro. I ask the price of the book. Eu pergunto o preço do livro. I ask the price of the book.
Tu perguntas Tu perguntas muito na aula. You ask a lot in class. Tu perguntas muito na aula. You ask a lot in class.
Você pergunta Você pergunta ao atendente. You ask the attendant. Você pergunta ao atendente. You ask the attendant.
Ele/Ela pergunta Ele pergunta o caminho. He asks the way. Ele pergunta o caminho. He asks the way.
Nós perguntamos Nós perguntamos aos nossos amigos. We ask our friends. Nós perguntamos aos nossos amigos. We ask our friends.
Vocês perguntam Vocês perguntam a hora sempre. You all always ask the time. Vocês perguntam a hora sempre. You all always ask the time.
Eles/Elas perguntam Eles perguntam por que estão aqui. They ask why they are here. Eles perguntam por que estão aqui. They ask why they are here.

How This Grammar Works

Perguntar functions as a transitive verb, meaning it typically takes one or more objects. Its usage varies depending on whether you are specifying what is being asked, whom you are asking, or both. Understanding these syntactic constructions is crucial for precise and natural communication.
  1. 1Perguntar + Direct Object (the question or information itself):
When the object of perguntar is the question, topic, or specific piece of information being sought, it functions as a direct object. This construction is common for concise queries.
  • Eu pergunto o nome. (I ask the name.) Here, o nome is the direct object—the information you seek.
  • Ele pergunta a senha. (He asks the password.) The password is the specific data requested.
  • Nós perguntamos a verdade. (We ask the truth.) A verdade is the information inquired about.
  1. 1Perguntar + Indirect Object (the person being asked) with a:
To specify who is being asked, that person is typically introduced by the preposition a. This makes the person an indirect object, signifying the recipient of the inquiry. The preposition a will contract with definite articles (o, a, os, as) to form ao, à, aos, às respectively.
Omitting this preposition when referring to a person receiving the question is a common error and changes the grammatical meaning or renders the sentence ungrammatical.
  • Eu pergunto ao João. (I ask João.) Ao João indicates the person receiving the question. (a + o = ao).
  • Ela pergunta à Maria. (She asks Maria.) (a + a = à).
  • Nós perguntamos aos pais. (We ask the parents.) (a + os = aos).
  1. 1Perguntar + Indirect Object + Direct Object:
You can combine both structures when you specify whom you are asking and what you are asking about. The typical order places the indirect object (the person, introduced by a) before the direct object (the information).
  • Eu pergunto ao vendedor o preço. (I ask the seller the price.) Ao vendedor is the indirect object, o preço is the direct object.
  • Ela pergunta à professora sobre a lição. (She asks the teacher about the lesson.) À professora is the indirect object, while sobre a lição indicates the topic of the question.
  1. 1Perguntar with Indirect Questions:
Perguntar is frequently used to introduce indirect questions, which report someone else's question without using their exact words. These constructions typically begin with the conjunction se (if/whether) or a question word (e.g., onde - where, quem - who, quando - when, como - how, por que - why) followed by a subordinate clause.
  • Ele pergunta se você vai vir. (He asks if you are coming.) Se introduces the indirect question.
  • Eu pergunto onde fica o banheiro. (I ask where the bathroom is.) Onde introduces the indirect question about location.
  • Nós perguntamos quando começa o filme. (We ask when the movie starts.) Quando indicates the time being inquired about.
A subtle difference in word order can exist between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) in these structures. In BP, the subject often precedes the verb after the question word (e.g., onde você está), while in EP, the verb can sometimes precede the subject (e.g., onde está você). Both are widely understood.
  1. 1Perguntar por / Perguntar sobre (to ask about):
These phrasal constructions modify the meaning of perguntar by specifying the nuance of the inquiry.
  • Perguntar por (por + noun/pronoun): This construction often means to ask for someone or something, implying an inquiry about their whereabouts, well-being, or a desire to speak with them. It can also mean to ask for a specific, often missing or expected, item. The preposition por contracts with definite articles (o, a, os, as) to form pelo, pela, pelos, pelas.
  • Ela pergunta pela sua mãe. (She asks for your mother – implying she wants to know where your mother is or how she is doing.)
  • O gerente pergunta pelo relatório. (The manager asks for the report – implying the report is due or missing.)
  • Perguntar sobre (sobre + topic): This construction means to ask about a general topic, subject, or issue. It indicates a broader inquiry into a particular theme.
  • Ele pergunta sobre o novo projeto. (He asks about the new project.) This is an inquiry into the details or status of the project.
  • Nós perguntamos sobre a cultura local. (We ask about the local culture.) This implies a desire for information regarding the culture.
The distinction is important: por for specific people/things and their status/location; sobre for general topics of discussion.
  1. 1Perguntar-se (to ask oneself / to wonder):
The reflexive form perguntar-se is used to express internal questioning, self-inquiry, or wondering. The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) precedes the conjugated verb (in BP) or can follow it (in EP).
  • Eu me pergunto por que ele fez isso. (I wonder/ask myself why he did that.) (BP)
  • Ela pergunta-se se está no caminho certo. (She asks herself if she's on the right path.) (EP, also valid in BP with object pronoun before verb).

Formation Pattern

1
The verb perguntar is a regular first-conjugation verb, meaning it follows a consistent and predictable pattern for its conjugations. This regularity simplifies learning significantly for A1 students.
2
To conjugate perguntar in the present indicative, you simply:
3
Identify the infinitive form: perguntar.
4
Remove the -ar ending to find the stem: pergunt-.
5
Add the appropriate ending corresponding to the subject pronoun:
6
| Pronoun | Stem | Ending | Conjugated Form |
7
|:--------------|:----------|:-------|:----------------|
8
| Eu | pergunt-| -o | pergunto |
9
| Tu | pergunt-| -as | perguntas |
10
| Você | pergunt-| -a | pergunta |
11
| Ele/Ela | pergunt-| -a | pergunta |
12
| Nós | pergunt-| -amos| perguntamos |
13
| Vocês | pergunt-| -am | perguntam |
14
| Eles/Elas | pergunt-| -am | perguntam |
15
This pattern, removing -ar and adding the characteristic endings, applies universally to all regular -ar verbs in the present indicative tense. Once you have learned this pattern for perguntar, you can confidently apply it to hundreds of other Portuguese verbs like falar (to speak), estudar (to study), and trabalhar (to work).

When To Use It

Use perguntar exclusively when your primary objective is to obtain information in the form of a question or inquiry. The expected outcome is a verbal or written answer that conveys knowledge or facts.
  • Seeking facts or data: You use perguntar when you need to know specific information. Eu pergunto a idade dela. (I ask her age.) Here, you expect a numerical answer.
  • Requesting knowledge or clarification: When an explanation or understanding is required. O aluno pergunta a resposta. (The student asks the answer.) This seeks cognitive input.
  • Inquiring about status, condition, or well-being (with por): Ela pergunta pela saúde dos pais. (She asks about her parents' health.) This inquires into their current state.
  • Introducing an indirect question: When reporting someone else's inquiry or posing a question about a hypothetical. Perguntei se ele vinha. (I asked if he was coming.)
  • Asking for directions or location: Pergunto o caminho para a estação. (I ask the way to the station.) You expect navigational information.
  • Polling opinions or seeking views: Perguntamos o que eles acham. (We ask what they think.) This gathers subjective information.
Perguntar signals a purely cognitive exchange, where the anticipated response is an explanation, a piece of data, or an affirmation/negation.

When Not To Use It

Crucially, do not use perguntar when you are requesting an object, a service, an action, or when placing an order. This is the domain of the verb pedir.
  • Do not use for requesting objects or items: If you want something physical, perguntar is incorrect. Instead of Eu pergunto um copo de água (incorrect - "I ask a glass of water"), you must use Eu peço um copo de água. (I ask for a glass of water / I order a glass of water.)
  • Do not use for requesting actions or favors: When you want someone to perform an action for you, use pedir. Instead of Perguntei para ele me ajudar (incorrect - "I asked for him to help me"), use Pedi para ele me ajudar. (I asked him to help me / I requested his help.)
  • Do not use for ordering food or drinks in a restaurant: This is a very common scenario where pedir is required. Instead of Eu pergunto um café (incorrect - "I ask a coffee"), use Eu peço um café. (I order a coffee.)
  • Do not use when you want to make a question (as an alternative): While grammatically correct to say Eu pergunto, native speakers often use fazer uma pergunta for the act of posing a question, especially to introduce it. Eu tenho uma pergunta. (I have a question.) The core distinction lies in the expected response: information versus a physical item, a service, or an action being performed.

Common Mistakes

Portuguese learners, especially at the A1 level, frequently encounter specific pitfalls when using perguntar. Awareness of these common errors will significantly improve your accuracy.
  • Confusing perguntar and pedir: This is the most prevalent and fundamental mistake. Remember the core difference: perguntar is for questions/information, pedir is for requests/objects/actions.
  • Incorrect: Eu pergunto um favor. (Literally "I ask a favor" as if it were information.)
  • Correct: Eu peço um favor. (I ask for a favor.)
  • Incorrect: Ela perguntou ajuda. (Literally "She asked help.")
  • Correct: Ela pediu ajuda. (She asked for help.)
  • Omitting the preposition a for the indirect object: Forgetting to use ao, à, aos, or às when referring to the person being asked. This makes the sentence ungrammatical or changes its meaning.
  • Incorrect: Eu pergunto o professor. (This implies "I ask the professor as if he were the information.")
  • Correct: Eu pergunto ao professor. (I ask the professor.)
  • Confusing perguntar por and perguntar sobre: These phrasal verbs have distinct applications.
  • Perguntar por is primarily for inquiring about the whereabouts, well-being, or presence of people, or for specific missing items. Example: Pergunto pelo João. (I ask for João / I ask about João's well-being.)
  • Perguntar sobre is for inquiring about a general topic or subject. Example: Pergunto sobre o assunto. (I ask about the subject.)
  • Incorrect word order in indirect questions (EP vs. BP nuance): While often understood, being aware of regional preferences helps.
  • Brazilian Portuguese (BP) typically places the subject before the verb in indirect questions: Eu pergunto onde ele está. (I ask where he is.)
  • European Portuguese (EP) often places the verb directly after the question word, before the subject: Eu pergunto onde está ele. (I ask where he is.)
Both are acceptable, but consistent exposure helps you adapt to regional norms.

Memory Trick

To effectively distinguish perguntar from pedir, focus on the type of response you anticipate. Think of perguntar as having the invisible

Present Indicative of 'Perguntar'

Pronoun Conjugation
Eu
pergunto
Tu
perguntas
Você/Ele/Ela
pergunta
Nós
perguntamos
Vós
perguntais
Vocês/Eles/Elas
perguntam

Meanings

The verb 'perguntar' is used to express the act of posing a question or seeking information from someone.

1

Seeking information

To inquire about something.

“Eu pergunto o preço.”

“Você pergunta o nome dele?”

2

Requesting permission/action

To ask for something (though 'pedir' is often used for requests).

“Eu pergunto se posso sair.”

“Ela pergunta se pode entrar.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking Questions: The Verb 'Perguntar'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Eu pergunto.
Negative
Subject + não + Verb
Eu não pergunto.
Question
Verb + Subject?
Perguntas tu?
To a person
Verb + a/para + Person
Pergunto ao João.
Indirect
Verb + se + Clause
Pergunto se ele vem.
Reflexive
Verb + se
Ele pergunta-se.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Poderia perguntar-lhe as horas?

Poderia perguntar-lhe as horas? (Asking for time)

Neutral
Você pode me dizer as horas?

Você pode me dizer as horas? (Asking for time)

Informal
Que horas são?

Que horas são? (Asking for time)

Slang
Qual a boa?

Qual a boa? (Asking for time)

The Perguntar Network

Perguntar

Usage

  • Dúvidas Doubts
  • Direções Directions

Prepositions

  • a to
  • para for/to

Perguntar vs Pedir

Perguntar
Informação Information
Pedir
Objetos Objects
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Examples by Level

1

Eu pergunto o nome.

I ask the name.

2

Você pergunta a hora?

Do you ask the time?

3

Nós perguntamos tudo.

We ask everything.

4

Eles perguntam o preço.

They ask the price.

1

Posso perguntar uma coisa?

Can I ask one thing?

2

Ela pergunta para o professor.

She asks the teacher.

3

Não pergunto nada.

I don't ask anything.

4

Eles perguntam se é longe.

They ask if it is far.

1

Eu pergunto-lhe se ele vem.

I ask him if he is coming.

2

Você deveria perguntar ao guia.

You should ask the guide.

3

Perguntamos se podíamos entrar.

We asked if we could enter.

4

Ela nunca pergunta a ninguém.

She never asks anyone.

1

Ele perguntou-me o que eu pensava.

He asked me what I thought.

2

Não me perguntes o que aconteceu.

Don't ask me what happened.

3

Perguntam-se por que ele saiu.

They wonder why he left.

4

É importante perguntar as coisas certas.

It is important to ask the right things.

1

Indago-me se devo perguntar.

I wonder if I should ask.

2

Perguntou-se se a decisão era correta.

He asked himself if the decision was correct.

3

Não se pergunta isso em público.

One does not ask that in public.

4

Perguntaram-me sobre as minhas intenções.

They asked me about my intentions.

1

Perguntando-se sobre o futuro, ele refletiu.

Asking himself about the future, he reflected.

2

Quem pergunta, não erra.

He who asks, does not err.

3

Perguntam-se se haverá solução.

They wonder if there will be a solution.

4

Não me venhas perguntar nada.

Don't come asking me anything.

Easily Confused

Asking Questions: The Verb 'Perguntar' vs Perguntar vs Pedir

Both translate to 'ask' in English.

Asking Questions: The Verb 'Perguntar' vs Perguntar a vs Perguntar para

Both are used for the person being asked.

Asking Questions: The Verb 'Perguntar' vs Perguntar se vs Perguntar que

Both are used for indirect questions.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu pergunto um café.

✓

Eu peço um café.

Use 'pedir' for objects.
✗

Eu pergunto o professor.

✓

Eu pergunto ao professor.

Need preposition 'a'.
✗

Eu pergunto-te.

✓

Eu pergunto-te (or) Eu te pergunto.

Placement of pronouns.
✗

Eu perguntar.

✓

Eu pergunto.

Conjugation error.
✗

Ele pergunta me.

✓

Ele pergunta-me.

Hyphenation rules.
✗

Eu pergunto se ele vai?

✓

Eu pergunto se ele vai.

No question mark in indirect questions.
✗

Perguntar para ele.

✓

Perguntar-lhe.

Formal pronoun usage.
✗

Eu pergunto que horas são.

✓

Eu pergunto que horas são.

Correct, but watch for 'a' usage.
✗

Ele perguntou-me se eu queria ir.

✓

Ele perguntou-me se eu queria ir.

Correct, but watch for tense agreement.
✗

Perguntar de algo.

✓

Perguntar sobre algo.

Preposition 'sobre'.
✗

Indagar-se se é possível.

✓

Indaga-se se é possível.

Reflexive usage.
✗

Perguntar-se a si mesmo.

✓

Perguntar-se.

Redundancy.
✗

Não se perguntar nada.

✓

Não se pergunta nada.

Passive voice.

Sentence Patterns

Posso perguntar ___?

Eu pergunto ___ para o professor.

Você perguntou se ___?

Não se pergunta ___ em público.

Real World Usage

Classroom constant

Posso perguntar uma dúvida?

Travel very common

Onde posso perguntar sobre o trem?

Job Interview common

Posso perguntar sobre os benefícios?

Social Media common

Alguém pode me perguntar algo?

Food Delivery occasional

Posso perguntar se o prato tem glúten?

Texting very common

Posso te perguntar uma coisa?

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💡

The 'Se' Trick

When asking a yes/no question indirectly, always use 'se'. It means 'if' or 'whether'.
⚠️

Don't mix up Pedir

If you want an object, use 'pedir'. If you want information, use 'perguntar'.
🎯

Prepositions matter

Use 'a' or 'para' to indicate the person. It makes your Portuguese sound much more natural.
💬

Regional variations

In Brazil, 'para' is the go-to. In Portugal, 'a' is the standard.

Smart Tips

Always use 'perguntar' + 'a/para'.

Eu pergunto o João. → Eu pergunto ao João.

Switch to 'pedir'.

Eu pergunto um café. → Eu peço um café.

Use 'se' after 'perguntar'.

Eu pergunto ele vem? → Eu pergunto se ele vem.

Use 'Posso perguntar...?' for a polite opening.

Onde é o banheiro? → Posso perguntar onde é o banheiro?

Pronunciation

per-GUN-tar

Stress

The stress is on the penultimate syllable: per-GUN-tar.

Rising intonation

Você pergunta? ↑

Indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Perguntar starts with 'Per' like 'Per-son' asking a question.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant question mark (?) wearing a hat, walking up to someone and tapping them on the shoulder to ask for the time.

Rhyme

Se você quer saber, tem que perguntar, para a resposta encontrar.

Story

Maria was lost in the city. She decided to 'perguntar' the way to the station. She walked up to a local and asked, 'Posso perguntar onde fica a estação?'. The local smiled and pointed the way.

Word Web

perguntaperguntandoperguntadoperguntamosperguntamperguntou

Challenge

Ask 3 people in your house or office a question in Portuguese today using 'Posso perguntar...?'

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'para' is very common after 'perguntar'.

In Portugal, 'a' is preferred in formal writing.

Usage is similar to Portugal, with a preference for 'a'.

From Latin 'percontari', meaning to investigate or inquire.

Conversation Starters

“

Posso perguntar uma coisa?

“

Você pergunta muito nas aulas?

“

O que você perguntaria a um famoso?

“

Você acha que perguntar é sinal de inteligência?

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre algo que você perguntou hoje.
Se você pudesse perguntar algo a qualquer pessoa, quem seria?
Descreva uma situação onde você teve medo de perguntar algo.
Reflita sobre a importância de perguntar no ambiente de trabalho.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate the verb.

Eu ___ (perguntar) o nome dele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pergunto
Eu takes the -o ending.
Choose the correct verb. Multiple Choice

Eu ___ um café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: peço
Use 'pedir' for objects.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu pergunto o professor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: d
Both 'a' and 'para' are correct.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I ask if she is happy.

Answer starts with: a...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'se' for indirect questions.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ o caminho.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: perguntam
Eles takes the -am ending.
Complete the sentence.

Posso ___ uma coisa?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: perguntar
After 'posso' use the infinitive.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele perguntou-me que aconteceu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'o que' for specific information.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate the verb.

Eu ___ (perguntar) o nome dele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pergunto
Eu takes the -o ending.
Choose the correct verb. Multiple Choice

Eu ___ um café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: peço
Use 'pedir' for objects.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu pergunto o professor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: d
Both 'a' and 'para' are correct.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

se / perguntar / ele / posso / vem / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I ask if she is happy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'se' for indirect questions.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ o caminho.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: perguntam
Eles takes the -am ending.
Complete the sentence.

Posso ___ uma coisa?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: perguntar
After 'posso' use the infinitive.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele perguntou-me que aconteceu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Use 'o que' for specific information.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form. Fill in the Blank

Você ___ muito no WhatsApp.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pergunta
Reorder the words to make a sentence. Sentence Reorder

pergunto / Eu / o / nome / dela

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu pergunto o nome dela
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

They ask for the way.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles perguntam o caminho.
Choose the correct reflexive form. Multiple Choice

I wonder if it's raining.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu me pergunto se está chovendo.
Correct the verb ending. Error Correction

Tu pergunta demais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu perguntas demais.
Match the pronoun to the conjugation. Match Pairs

Match correctly:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu:pergunto, Nós:perguntamos, Vocês:perguntam
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Ela ___ se o restaurante está aberto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pergunta
Fix the verb for 'We'. Error Correction

Nós pergunto se você está bem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós perguntamos se você está bem.
Translate 'I ask a question'. Translation

I ask a question.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu faço uma pergunta.
Social Media Context. Multiple Choice

How do you ask a question in a TikTok comment?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou perguntar no vídeo.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, it is a perfectly regular -ar verb in the present tense.

No, use 'pedir' for requests.

It's mostly regional. 'Para' is very common in Brazil, 'a' is more formal/Portugal.

Use 'se'. Example: 'Pergunto se ele vem'.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

It is 'perguntei' (I asked).

Yes, 'perguntar-se' means 'to wonder'.

They are synonyms, but 'indagar' is more formal.

Scaffolded Practice

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2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Preguntar

Spanish uses 'pedir' for requests, just like Portuguese.

French moderate

Demander

Portuguese distinguishes between 'perguntar' and 'pedir'.

German moderate

Fragen

German uses 'bitten' for requests.

Japanese low

Kiku (聞く)

Japanese relies heavily on context and politeness levels.

Arabic moderate

Sa'ala (سأل)

Arabic has specific roots for different types of requests.

Chinese moderate

Wèn (问)

Chinese does not conjugate verbs, making it simpler in form.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
How to Ask for Things & Order Food (Pedir)

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