C2 Prepositions & Connectors 16 min read Hard

Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal)

Mastering verbal government allows you to convey precise meanings and navigate formal Portuguese with native-level sophistication.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Verb regimen defines which specific preposition must follow a verb to connect it to its object.

  • Verbs like 'assistir' (to watch) require 'a': 'Assisto ao filme'.
  • Verbs like 'visar' (to aim) require 'a': 'Viso ao sucesso'.
  • Verbs like 'agradecer' require a direct object for things and indirect for people: 'Agradeço a você'.
Subject + Verb + [Specific Preposition] + Object

Overview

Portuguese Regência Verbal defines the precise relationship between a verb and its complements. Unlike English, where prepositions are often more flexible, Portuguese verbs frequently demand specific prepositions to connect with their objects, and a change in this preposition can entirely alter the verb's meaning or its grammatical role. At a C2 mastery level, understanding Regência Verbal is not merely about avoiding grammatical errors; it is about achieving precision in meaning, eliminating ambiguity, and communicating with the clarity and authority expected in professional and academic contexts.

It reveals the verb's inherent valency—its capacity to govern a certain number and type of arguments.

This intricate system reflects the historical evolution of Portuguese from Latin, where case endings rather than prepositions marked grammatical relationships. As these case endings diminished, prepositions increasingly assumed the role of marking the syntactic and semantic functions of verb complements. Mastering this allows you to navigate the subtle distinctions that differentiate expert communication from merely fluent conversation.

It's the linguistic cornerstone for expressing nuanced ideas accurately.

How This Grammar Works

Regência Verbal functions on the principle of a governing term (Termo Regente) and a governed term (Termo Regido). The verb acts as the Termo Regente, dictating the grammatical structure of its complements, the Termo Regido. This dependency determines whether a verb requires a preposition and, if so, which specific one.
The core mechanism lies in the verb's transitivity, which classifies verbs based on how they interact with their objects.
Verbs are categorized as follows:
  • Verbos Intransitivos: These verbs do not require a complement to convey a complete meaning. They are self-sufficient. For example, Ele morreu (He died) or A criança nasceu (The child was born). While they can be followed by adverbs or adverbial phrases, these are adjuncts, not required complements.
  • Verbos Transitivos Diretos (VTD): These verbs connect directly to their object without the need for a preposition. The object is a objeto direto. For example, Eu compro livros (I buy books) or Ela comeu a maçã (She ate the apple). The action passes directly from the verb to the object.
  • Verbos Transitivos Indiretos (VTI): These verbs require a preposition to link them to their object, known as an objeto indireto. The preposition is an integral part of the verb's regência. For example, Nós precisamos de ajuda (We need help) where de is obligatory, or Tu gostas de música clássica (You like classical music) requiring de.
  • Verbos Transitivos Diretos e Indiretos (VTDI): Also known as bitransitive verbs, these require both a direct object and an indirect object, each with its specific regência. For example, Eu dei um presente à minha mãe (I gave a present to my mother) where um presente is the direct object and à minha mãe (requiring a) is the indirect object. Another instance is Informei o problema ao gerente (I informed the manager of the problem), with o problema as the direct object and ao gerente as the indirect.
  • Verbos de Ligação: These verbs connect a subject to a characteristic or state, called a predicativo do sujeito, without expressing an action. They do not take objects and, therefore, do not involve regência verbal in the traditional sense. Common examples include ser, estar, parecer, ficar, permanecer. For instance, Ele está cansado (He is tired).
Crucially, many Portuguese verbs exhibit polysemy, meaning they possess multiple meanings. The regência verbal often shifts with these different meanings. Consider the verb assistir:
| Significado do Verbo Assistir | Regência | Exemplo (com Crase se aplicável) |
| :------------------------------ | :------- | :-------------------------------- |
| Ver (to watch/attend) | VTI (a) | Assisti ao filme na TV. |
| Auxiliar (to help/assist) | VTD | O médico assistiu o paciente. |
This highlights that Regência Verbal is not merely about rote memorization but about understanding the verb's semantic nuance in a given context. The preposition (a in the first example) is a mandatory component for conveying the intended meaning of "to watch" or "to attend." Without it, the verb defaults to "to help" in formal usage.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering Regência Verbal involves a systematic approach to analyzing the verb's properties and its intended context. This isn't about arbitrary choices but about applying precise rules derived from the verb's lexical demands. Each step builds on the preceding one, leading to the grammatically correct and semantically accurate construction.
2
Identify the Verb's Core Meaning: Before determining regência, ascertain the exact meaning the verb conveys in the sentence. As noted, many verbs are polysemic, and each distinct meaning may carry a different regência. For example, agradar can mean "to please" (VTD: Ela agrada a todos.) or "to caress" (VTD: Ele agrada o gato.). Context is paramount.
3
Determine the Verb's Transitivity: Once the meaning is clear, classify the verb's transitivity. Does it require a direct object, an indirect object, or both? This establishes the fundamental need for a preposition.
4
Visar (to aim/sign): Visei o passaporte. (VTD, to sign/stamp)
5
Visar (to aspire to): Visei ao cargo de gerente. (VTI with a, to aspire to)
6
Select the Required Preposition: For VTI or VTDI verbs, identify the specific preposition mandated by the verb. This is often the most challenging aspect, as some verbs consistently pair with certain prepositions. Below is a table of common VTI verbs and their typical prepositions:
7
| Verbo (VTI) | Preposição Principal | Exemplo |
8
| :------------- | :------------------- | :--------------------------------------- |
9
| Agradar | a | Você agrada aos seus pais. |
10
| Aspirar | a | Todos aspiram ao sucesso. |
11
| Obedecer | a | É preciso obedecer às leis. |
12
| Precisar | de | Eu preciso de mais tempo. |
13
| Gostar | de | Nós gostamos de viajar. |
14
| Concordar | com / em | Concordo com a sua ideia. / Concordei em ir. |
15
| Acreditar | em | Acredito em você. |
16
| Pagar | a | Paguei a ele. (referindo-se à pessoa) |
17
Consider Pronominal Usage: Some verbs have different regências when used pronominally (e.g., lembrar-se, esquecer-se). The reflexive pronoun often triggers an indirect object with a specific preposition.
18
Lembrar (não pronominal): VTD - Eu lembrei o nome. (I remembered the name)
19
Lembrar-se (pronominal): VTI (de) - Eu lembrei-me do nome. (I remembered the name)
20
This distinction is critical for formal accuracy. The presence of the reflexive pronoun se (-me, -te, -se, -nos, -vos) alters the verb's transitivity and its required preposition.
21
Apply Crase Rules: Crase (represented by the grave accent à or às) is a mandatory contraction when two conditions are met: a verb requires the preposition a, AND the following feminine noun is preceded by the definite article a (or as). This is a direct consequence of Regência Verbal intersecting with article usage.
22
Ir (VTI com a) + a praia (artigo a) = Vou à praia.
23
Referir-se (VTI com a) + a situação (artigo a) = Referi-me à situação.
24
No crase occurs if the verb does not demand a, if the noun is masculine, or if it is a proper noun or verb that does not take an article.
25
Verify Object Agreement: Ensure that pronouns used as complements agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace. When a verb takes an indirect object pronoun (lhe, lhes), it typically replaces an a/para + person complement.
26
Eu obedeço ao chefe. -> Eu obedeço-lhe. (I obey him/her) (obedecer a)
27
By following this structured approach, you move beyond guesswork, applying the inherent syntactic rules of Portuguese to construct precise and grammatically unimpeachable sentences.

When To Use It

For a C2 learner, precise Regência Verbal is not merely a formality; it is a strategic tool for effective, high-level communication. It dictates the perceived competence and clarity of your Portuguese in various registers.
  • Formal and Academic Contexts: In academic papers, theses, official reports, legal documents, or formal speeches, adherence to prescriptive regência rules is non-negotiable. Errors in this domain can undermine your credibility, suggesting a lack of mastery over the language's formal structure. For example, writing Isso implica em consequências (incorrect) instead of Isso implica consequências (correct, VTD) in a formal document is a significant grammatical flaw that impacts your professional image.
  • Professional Communication: In professional emails, business proposals, client presentations, or job interviews, using correct regência conveys professionalism and attention to detail. It signals respect for the language and its established norms, crucial in environments where clarity and precision are paramount. Consider a business email where you need to responder ao cliente (respond to the client) rather than responder o cliente, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the verb responder as VTI when referring to a person.
  • Standardized Language Proficiency Exams: Tests like CELPE-Bras heavily penalize regência errors. Achieving a C2 level requires demonstrating consistent accuracy in complex grammatical structures, including the precise use of prepositions. This is often a differentiator between advanced and truly expert proficiency.
  • Avoiding Ambiguity and Nuance: Correct regência eliminates potential misunderstandings, especially with verbs that shift meaning based on their preposition. Eu prefiro café ao chá explicitly states a preference, whereas Eu prefiro café do que chá, while colloquially understood, is grammatically imprecise and potentially ambiguous in its implication of comparison rather than direct preference.
  • Literary Analysis and Creation: For those engaging with literature or aiming to produce sophisticated written content, regência is a stylistic as well as grammatical concern. Authors leverage its precision to convey exact meanings and subtle subtexts. A strong grasp allows for deeper appreciation and more accurate interpretation of complex texts.
  • Perception of Fluency and Authority: While native speakers may take liberties with regência in informal contexts, consistent and accurate usage by a non-native speaker signifies profound linguistic assimilation. It elevates your speech and writing beyond merely functional communication to a level that commands attention and respect, allowing you to articulate complex ideas with confidence and authority. Knowing when and how to apply these rules demonstrates an acute awareness of linguistic register, a hallmark of C2 proficiency.

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners and native speakers frequently stumble over Regência Verbal due to its complexities and the divergence between formal prescriptive rules and informal colloquial usage. Recognizing these common pitfalls is vital for C2 mastery.
  • Preferir: This is perhaps the most notorious regência error. The verb preferir (to prefer) is transitivo direto e indireto, always requiring the direct object and the indirect object linked by the preposition a. It inherently implies comparison, making do que or mais que redundant and incorrect in formal usage.
  • Incorrect: Eu prefiro futebol do que basquete.
  • Correct: Eu prefiro futebol a basquete.
  • Correct: Eu prefiro futebol ao basquete. (with article)
  • Ir and Chegar: These verbs of movement consistently demand the preposition a (or para) to indicate destination in formal Portuguese, not em.
  • Incorrect (BP colloquial): Vou no banco. / Cheguei em casa.
  • Correct (Formal/EP): Vou ao banco. / Cheguei a casa.
The preposition em (no, na) denotes location within rather than movement to a place. Thus, Vou no banco literally means "I will go inside the bank (and be physically on its surface)," which is rarely the intended meaning.
  • Lembrar and Esquecer: These verbs (to remember, to forget) exhibit different regências depending on whether they are used pronominally.
  • Não pronominal (VTD): Eu lembrei o seu aniversário. (I remembered your birthday.) / Eu esqueci a chave. (I forgot the key.)
  • Pronominal (VTI com de): Eu lembrei-me do seu aniversário. (I remembered your birthday.) / Eu esqueci-me da chave. (I forgot the key.)
Mixing these forms, such as Eu esqueci-me a chave, is a common error that marks a non-native speaker.
  • Implicar: When implicar means "to entail" or "to imply," it is transitivo direto and takes no preposition. However, implicar com means "to pick on" or "to bother."
  • Incorrect: A sua atitude implica em sérias consequências.
  • Correct: A sua atitude implica sérias consequências.
  • Correct: Ele implica com os colegas. (He picks on his colleagues.)
  • Pagar and Perdoar: When these verbs refer to something paid or forgiven (a debt, a sin), they are VTD. When they refer to the person being paid or forgiven, they are VTI with a.
  • Eu paguei a conta. (VTD, the thing paid)
  • Eu paguei ao cobrador. (VTI, the person paid)
  • Eu perdoei o erro. (VTD, the thing forgiven)
  • Eu perdoei ao meu irmão. (VTI, the person forgiven)
  • Aspirar and Visar (revisited): The dual meanings of these verbs are a frequent source of regência errors.
  • Aspirar o pó (VTD, to vacuum)
  • Aspirar ao sucesso (VTI with a, to aspire to)
  • Visar o documento (VTD, to stamp/sign)
  • Visar ao cargo (VTI with a, to aim for/at)
  • Crase Omission: Frequently, learners (and even native speakers in informal contexts) omit the crase where it is grammatically required by regência verbal when a verb requires the preposition a and the subsequent noun is feminine and takes the definite article a.
  • Incorrect: Fomos a cidade vizinha.
  • Correct: Fomos à cidade vizinha. (ir a + a cidade)
These common mistakes highlight the necessity of not only knowing the prescriptive rule but also understanding the underlying logic and context that determine correct usage. Errors often stem from generalization, interference from other languages (including informal Portuguese itself), or a failure to distinguish between polysemic verb meanings.

Real Conversations

Regência Verbal manifests differently across various communicative registers and geographical variations, particularly between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP). For a C2 learner, understanding these real-world applications and deviations is as crucial as mastering the formal rules.

- Formal Written and Spoken Contexts: In professional emails, academic essays, official reports, or formal presentations, adherence to prescriptive regência is expected and maintained. Here, Regência Verbal serves as a marker of education and linguistic care. An example from a work email: "Solicitamos que os dados sejam enviados até amanhã." (We request that the data be sent by tomorrow.) Solicitar is VTD here. Contrast this with "Prezamos pela excelência em nossos serviços." (We strive for excellence in our services.), where prezar takes por when referring to valuing something.

- Informal Digital Communication (BP): In Brazilian Portuguese texting, social media, and casual conversation, there's a strong tendency to relax or simplify regência. Prepositions are frequently omitted or generalized, particularly a for indirect objects, which is often replaced by em or dropped entirely. This descriptive reality contrasts sharply with prescriptive norms.

- Text/Social Media (BP): Assisti o filme ontem, muito bom! (Instead of formal Assisti ao filme).

- Text/Social Media (BP): Fui no shopping com a galera. (Instead of formal Fui ao shopping).

- Text/Social Media (BP): Lembrei o que você falou. (Instead of formal Lembrei-me do que você falou).

While these constructions are ubiquitous and fully understood in informal BP, they would be considered incorrect in formal contexts. A C2 learner must be aware of this code-switching capability – understanding the formal rule and recognizing when natives choose to deviate in casual speech.

- European Portuguese (EP) Trends: European Portuguese generally exhibits greater adherence to traditional regência rules across more registers, including some informal ones. While some simplification can occur, the a preposition for indirect objects and crase tend to be preserved more consistently than in BP. For example, Assisti ao filme is common even in casual EP speech.

- Cultural Insight: This difference in regência relaxation often reflects broader linguistic tendencies: BP often generalizes prepositions (e.g., em for destination) and favors VTD constructions over VTI (e.g., obedecer o instead of obedecer ao), whereas EP tends to preserve more archaic or traditionally correct forms.

- Impact on Listener Perception: While informal deviations in regência might not impede comprehension among native speakers familiar with such patterns, they often mark a non-native speaker. In situations where conveying authority, precision, or high education is necessary, consistent adherence to formal regência builds trust and credibility. For instance, in a debate or a high-stakes meeting, saying "Eu concordo com a sua visão" will sound more articulate and polished than "Eu concordo a sua visão" (a common error).

Therefore, a C2 learner doesn't just memorize rules; they develop an intuitive sense for when to apply the prescriptive regência and when to recognize and comprehend the colloquial deviations without adopting them themselves in formal discourse. This nuanced understanding is a hallmark of true linguistic mastery.

Quick FAQ

  • Is Regência Verbal solely about prepositions? Primarily, yes, but it also encompasses the verb's inherent transitivity (direct, indirect, or both) and how these relationships manifest, including pronominal forms and crase.
  • How can I determine the correct preposition for a verb? The most reliable methods are extensive exposure to standard Portuguese (reading, listening), consulting comprehensive grammar resources that list verb regências, and using high-quality dictionaries that provide examples with prepositions. Memorization of common patterns and understanding the verb's specific meaning in context are key.
  • Do all verbs have a strict regência? Yes, every verb has an inherent way it connects to its arguments, even if it's intransitive (requiring no object). However, the focus of Regência Verbal typically falls on transitive verbs, especially those that exhibit polysemy or require specific prepositions.
  • What is the main difference in Regência Verbal between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP)? BP, particularly in informal speech, tends to generalize prepositions (e.g., using em for destination instead of a), omit prepositions more frequently (e.g., assistir o filme), and sometimes simplify VTI verbs into VTD forms. EP generally maintains traditional regência rules more consistently across different registers.
  • Why is crase so intricate with Regência Verbal? Crase is the result of a mandatory grammatical contraction. It only occurs when a verb's regência demands the preposition a, AND the following noun is feminine and requires the definite article a. If either condition is absent, crase does not happen. Its trickiness lies in correctly identifying both conditions simultaneously.
  • Can Regência Verbal evolve over time? Absolutely. Language is dynamic. What was once considered strictly prescriptive might become acceptable in formal contexts over generations, or new patterns might emerge from colloquial use. This evolution is why prescriptive grammars sometimes lag behind descriptive linguistic realities, and why C2 learners must be aware of both.
  • Is it always de for pronominal verbs? No, while de is very common for pronominal verbs like lembrar-se de or esquecer-se de, other prepositions are also possible. For instance, referir-se a (to refer to) or preocupar-se com (to worry about). The specific preposition depends on the verb.
  • How does Regência Verbal connect to broader linguistic principles? It is fundamentally linked to verb valency and argument structure. Verbs inherently determine how many and what types of arguments (subject, object, indirect object) they take. Prepositions are the lexical means in Portuguese to mark these arguments and clarify their semantic roles. Understanding regência provides insight into the deeper syntactic and semantic structures of the language.

Common Verb Regimen Patterns

Verb Preposition Example
Gostar
de
Gosto de música
Precisar
de
Preciso de tempo
Assistir
a
Assisto ao jogo
Visar
a
Viso ao objetivo
Aspirar
a
Aspiro ao cargo
Morar
em
Moro em Lisboa

Contractions

Preposition Article Contraction
de
o
do
em
a
na
a
o
ao

Meanings

Verb regimen refers to the syntactic relationship where a verb demands a specific preposition to link to its complement.

1

Direct vs Indirect

Distinguishing between transitive verbs (no preposition) and intransitive/indirect verbs (preposition required).

“Eu vi o carro.”

“Eu gostei do carro.”

2

Semantic Shift

Changing the preposition changes the meaning of the verb.

“Assistir a (to watch).”

“Assistir (to assist/help).”

3

Regional Variation

Differences in preposition usage between European and Brazilian Portuguese.

“Vou à praia (PT/BR).”

“Cheguei na escola (BR colloquial).”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
V + Prep + Obj
Eu gosto de você.
Negative
Não + V + Prep + Obj
Eu não gosto de você.
Interrogative
V + Prep + Obj?
Gosta de você?
Direct
V + Obj
Eu vi o filme.
Indirect
V + Prep + Obj
Eu assisti ao filme.
Contraction
Prep + Art
Vou ao cinema.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Assisti ao filme.

Assisti ao filme. (Entertainment)

Neutral
Assisti ao filme.

Assisti ao filme. (Entertainment)

Informal
Assisti o filme.

Assisti o filme. (Entertainment)

Slang
Vi o filme.

Vi o filme. (Entertainment)

Verb-Preposition Connections

Verb

Prepositions

  • de of/from
  • a to
  • em in/on
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Examples by Level

1

Eu gosto de café.

I like coffee.

1

Eu preciso de ajuda.

I need help.

1

Eu assisti ao filme.

I watched the movie.

1

Ele visa ao sucesso.

He aims for success.

1

O projeto implica em riscos.

The project implies risks.

1

Ele aspira ao cargo de diretor.

He aspires to the director position.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal) vs Assistir (to watch) vs Assistir (to help)

Same verb, different regimen.

Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal) vs Chegar a vs Chegar em

Regional variation.

Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal) vs Esquecer vs Esquecer de

Pronominal usage.

Common Mistakes

✗

Gosto café

✓

Gosto de café

Missing preposition.
✗

Preciso ajuda

✓

Preciso de ajuda

Missing preposition.
✗

Moro o Brasil

✓

Moro no Brasil

Wrong preposition.
✗

Vou a casa

✓

Vou à casa

Missing crase.
✗

Assisti o filme

✓

Assisti ao filme

Direct vs Indirect.
✗

Cheguei na escola

✓

Cheguei à escola

Regionalism vs Standard.
✗

Esqueci do livro

✓

Esqueci o livro

Transitive usage.
✗

Visar o sucesso

✓

Visar ao sucesso

Indirect verb.
✗

Aspiro o cargo

✓

Aspiro ao cargo

Indirect verb.
✗

Implicar em problemas

✓

Implicar problemas

Direct object.
✗

Preferir mais X que Y

✓

Preferir X a Y

Redundant 'mais'.
✗

Simpatizar com ele

✓

Simpatizar com ele

Correct, but often confused with direct.
✗

Visar o lucro

✓

Visar ao lucro

Formal standard.
✗

Assistir o paciente

✓

Assistir ao paciente

Meaning shift.

Sentence Patterns

Eu gosto de ___.

Eu assisti ao ___.

Eu viso ao ___.

Eu preciso de ___.

Real World Usage

Job Interview very common

Eu viso ao crescimento da empresa.

Texting constant

Gosta de sair?

Social Media very common

Assisti ao show!

Travel common

Cheguei ao hotel.

Food Delivery common

Preciso de talheres.

Academic Writing very common

Este dado implica em mudanças.

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💡

Memorize Pairs

Don't learn verbs alone. Learn 'gostar de' as one unit.
⚠️

Watch for Regionalisms

Brazil and Portugal differ on 'chegar' and 'assistir'.
🎯

Use Context

Read formal news to see correct regimen in action.
💬

Listen to Natives

Notice how they contract prepositions.

Smart Tips

Always write the preposition next to the verb in your vocabulary list.

Gostar → Gostar de

Check if your verb is transitive or indirect.

Visar o objetivo → Visar ao objetivo

If you are unsure, use a simpler verb.

Aspiro ao cargo → Quero o cargo

Highlight the preposition after every verb.

Assisti o filme → Assisti ao filme

Pronunciation

a

Crase

The 'à' is pronounced as a single 'a'.

Question

Gosta de café? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the verb and preposition as a married couple; they are never seen apart.

Visual Association

Imagine a verb holding hands with its preposition. If you try to separate them, the sentence falls over.

Rhyme

If the verb is 'gostar', 'de' you must add, or the sentence will be very sad.

Story

Maria loved coffee. She always said 'Gosto de café'. One day she forgot the 'de'. The coffee cup vanished because the verb didn't have its partner.

Word Web

gostar deprecisar deassistir avisar amorar emchegar a

Challenge

Write 5 sentences using different verbs and check their prepositions.

Cultural Notes

Colloquial Brazilian Portuguese often uses 'em' instead of 'a' for movement.

Derived from Latin verb-preposition structures.

Conversation Starters

“

De que você gosta?

“

A que você aspira?

“

Você assistiu ao último filme?

“

Você precisa de ajuda?

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre seus objetivos.
Escreva sobre seu dia.
Escreva sobre seus gostos.
Escreva sobre um filme.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct preposition.

Eu gosto ___ café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Gostar requires 'de'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Assisti ao filme
Assistir (watch) requires 'a'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Preciso ajuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Preciso de ajuda
Precisar requires 'de'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ao / viso / sucesso / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu viso ao sucesso
Standard order.
Match verb to preposition. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de, a, em
Correct pairs.
Conjugate and add preposition. Conjugation Drill

Eu (precisar) de ajuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Preciso
First person singular.
Is this true? True False Rule

Verbs never take prepositions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Many verbs require them.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que você quer? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quero água
Querer is direct.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct preposition.

Eu gosto ___ café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Gostar requires 'de'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Assisti ao filme
Assistir (watch) requires 'a'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Preciso ajuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Preciso de ajuda
Precisar requires 'de'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ao / viso / sucesso / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu viso ao sucesso
Standard order.
Match verb to preposition. Match Pairs

Gostar, Assistir, Morar

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de, a, em
Correct pairs.
Conjugate and add preposition. Conjugation Drill

Eu (precisar) de ajuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Preciso
First person singular.
Is this true? True False Rule

Verbs never take prepositions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Many verbs require them.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que você quer? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quero água
Querer is direct.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

O aluno não se lembrou ___ data da prova.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: da
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

Identify the formal sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esqueci o meu celular.
Reorder the words to form a correct formal sentence. Sentence Reorder

prefiro / eu / a / ler / filmes / ver

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu prefiro ler a ver filmes.
Translate to formal Portuguese Translation

I aim for a better life.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aspiro a uma vida melhor.
Match the verb with its formal complement Match Pairs

Match the items:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Assistir + ao filme
Correct the regimen Error Correction

A que filme você assistiu?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A que filme você assistiu?
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

O projeto visa ___ integração de todos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à
Choose the right one Multiple Choice

Which verb is used correctly?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Custou ao aluno entender a matéria.
Translate to formal Portuguese Translation

He signed the checks.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele visou os cheques.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Implicar ___ erro não ajuda.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: com o

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

The preposition defines the relationship between the verb and the object.

No, only when it means 'to watch'.

You must memorize them as part of the verb.

Mostly, but there are regional differences.

It's the same concept applied to nouns.

No, it will sound incorrect.

There are many, but focus on the most common ones.

Because it requires native-like intuition.

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

Verbos de régimen

Minor prepositional differences.

French moderate

Verbes prépositionnels

Different verb collocations.

German partial

Präpositionalobjekt

Case system complexity.

Japanese low

Joshi

Word order is SOV.

Arabic low

Huruf al-jarr

Root-based system.

Chinese low

Jieci

No conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Formal Vocabulary: Sounding like an Expert (C2)
Next
Mastering the Personal Infinitive (Infinitivo Pessoal)

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