C1 Advanced Syntax 16 min read Easy

Existential 'Ter': Using 'Tem' instead of 'Há'

In modern spoken Portuguese, 'ter' completely replaces 'haver' for existentials and allows locations to become the topic of sentences.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In modern Brazilian Portuguese, 'ter' replaces 'haver' for existential meaning, though 'haver' remains the standard in formal European Portuguese.

  • Use 'tem' for existence: 'Tem muita gente aqui' (There are many people here).
  • Avoid 'haver' in casual speech: It sounds overly formal or literary in Brazil.
  • Keep 'haver' for formal writing: Use it in academic or legal documents to maintain prestige.
Tem + [Noun Phrase] = There is/are [Noun Phrase]

Overview

The verb ter (to have) occupies a unique and central position in modern Brazilian Portuguese (BP), extending far beyond its literal meaning of possession. At the C1 level, understanding this semantic and syntactic shift is paramount. Specifically, ter has largely supplanted haver (there to be, to exist) in colloquial and informal written BP to express existence, availability, or the presence of something.

This phenomenon, often termed the transposition of ter or existential ter, reflects a broader linguistic evolution towards more analytical and topic-prominent sentence structures.

While traditional grammar reserves haver for impersonal existential statements (e.g., Há um livro na mesa - There is a book on the table), contemporary BP overwhelmingly employs ter in this function (e.g., Tem um livro na mesa). This is not a mere substitution; it profoundly influences sentence construction, often making locations or contexts the perceived subject of the sentence, thereby streamlining expression and enhancing directness. Mastering this usage allows for a more natural and idiomatic command of spoken and informal written Portuguese.

In European Portuguese (EP), the distinction remains more pronounced: haver is generally retained for formal contexts and written communication, while ter may appear in very casual speech. However, in Brazil, ter as an existential verb has achieved near-universal acceptance across most registers, making its correct application indispensable for advanced learners. This includes everything from everyday conversation to social media, emails, and even less formal journalistic writing.

Ignoring this pervasive pattern risks sounding archaic or unnatural to native Brazilian speakers.

How This Grammar Works

The existential ter operates primarily in two capacities, both diverging significantly from the traditional use of haver. First, and most straightforwardly, ter directly replaces haver to signify existence or presence. This is an impersonal construction, meaning ter in this context does not refer to a concrete subject that "has" something.
Instead, it functions similarly to the English "there is/are."
For instance, instead of the grammatically prescriptive Há muitas pessoas na festa (There are many people at the party), a Brazilian Portuguese speaker will almost invariably say Tem muitas pessoas na festa. Despite pessoas being plural, the verb ter remains in the third-person singular form, tem. This singularity is a hallmark of its impersonal existential function, signaling that it lacks a grammatical subject that would trigger number agreement.
This usage permeates all tenses: Tinha um problema (There was a problem), Teve uma solução (There was a solution), Vai ter uma reunião (There will be a meeting).
The second, more advanced, and perhaps more defining aspect of existential ter in BP is its role in creating topic-comment structures. This involves fronting a location or a contextual element to become the effective "topic" of the sentence, with ter linking it to the "comment" about what exists or occurs within that topic. This construct reflects a tendency in BP to foreground information that provides context or setting, making the communication highly efficient and direct.
Consider the sentence Na rua há muitos carros (On the street there are many cars). In this traditional construction, carros is the subject of há. With existential ter and a topic-comment structure, this transforms into A rua tem muitos carros.
Here, A rua (The street) is positioned as the sentence's topic. Ter acts as a connector, implying "The street has [existing] many cars." This isn't literal possession, but rather a statement about what is present within the domain of "the street." This transformation allows for a fluid expression where the point of focus – the street itself – becomes grammatically prominent, reflecting a speaker's natural attention. This construction avoids the use of prepositions that would typically precede locations, streamlining the sentence and making it sound profoundly native.
| Function | Traditional (haver) | Modern BP (ter) | Implication |
| :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------ |
| Simple Existence | Há um erro. | Tem um erro. | Impersonal presence |
| Topic-Comment | Na casa há três quartos. | A casa tem três quartos. | Location as focal point, "having" contents |
| Elapsed Time | Há dez anos não o vejo. | Tem dez anos que não o vejo. | Duration of an event |
The impersonal nature of ter in these constructions is key. It acts as an operator, indicating existence without assigning an agent. This makes it distinct from its personal, possessive counterpart (Eu tenho um carro - I have a car).
Understanding this fundamental difference is crucial for avoiding common errors, particularly concerning agreement.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the transposition of ter involves understanding its consistent formation patterns across different contexts and tenses. The core principle revolves around the impersonal nature of existential ter, dictating its unchanging singular form.
2
1. Simple Existential Tem (Replacing Há)
3
To replace haver with ter for simple existence, follow these steps:
4
Identify the traditional haver construction (e.g., Há problemas).
5
Substitute haver with the third-person singular form of ter (e.g., Tem problemas).
6
Crucially, ter always remains singular (tem, tinha, teve, vai ter, etc.), regardless of the number of the noun it introduces. This is because, in this function, ter is grammatically impersonal, lacking a true subject that would trigger number agreement.
7
| Tense / Mood | Haver (Existential) | Ter (Existential) | Example |
8
| :---------------- | :-------------------- | :----------------------- | :---------------------------------------- |
9
| Present | Há | Tem | Tem muita gente aqui. (There are many people here.) |
10
| Imperfect | Havia | Tinha | Tinha um barulho estranho. (There was a strange noise.) |
11
| Perfect | Houve | Teve | Teve um acidente na estrada. (There was an accident on the road.) |
12
| Future (Simple) | Haverá | Vai ter / Terá | Vai ter festa amanhã. (There will be a party tomorrow.) |
13
| Conditional | Haveria | Teria | Teria mais espaço. (There would be more space.) |
14
| Subjunctive | Que haja | Que tenha | É importante que tenha paz. (It's important that there is peace.) |
15
Note: While terá and teria are grammatically possible, vai ter and ia ter are significantly more common in spoken BP for future and conditional existential meanings.
16
2. Topic-Comment Structure with Ter
17
This pattern elevates a location or context to the sentence's grammatical topic, creating a more direct and often more idiomatic expression.
18
Initial State: A sentence describing existence in a location using a prepositional phrase and haver (e.g., Na geladeira há cerveja).
19
Step 1: Identify Location and Remove Preposition: Take the prepositional phrase (Na geladeira) and extract the noun, dropping the preposition (A geladeira).
20
Step 2: Front the Topic: Move the extracted noun to the beginning of the sentence to serve as the new topic (A geladeira...).
21
Step 3: Add Impersonal Ter: Insert the appropriate singular form of ter immediately after the topic (A geladeira tem...).
22
Step 4: Add the Object: Place the noun that signifies what exists or is present (A geladeira tem cerveja).
23
Transformation Example:
24
No meu trabalho há muitas reuniões. (At my job there are many meetings.)
25
Location: No meu trabalho -> Noun: O meu trabalho (removing No).
26
Topic: O meu trabalho
27
Impersonal Ter: O meu trabalho tem
28
Object: O meu trabalho tem muitas reuniões.
29
This structural shift not only rephrases the sentence but fundamentally changes its emphasis, placing the "work" (topic) at the forefront, rather than the "meetings." This approach is particularly common when discussing features or contents of a place, object, or situation.

When To Use It

The existential ter is a ubiquitous feature of modern Brazilian Portuguese, making its application widespread across various communicative contexts. Understanding when to employ ter versus when to opt for more formal alternatives is a hallmark of C1 proficiency.
1. Everyday Spoken Language:
This is the domain where existential ter reigns supreme. Almost any informal conversation, from discussing daily errands to planning social events, will feature tem prominently.
  • Asking about availability: Tem pão na padaria? (Is there bread at the bakery?)
  • Describing a scene: Nesse filme tem umas cenas bem engraçadas. (In this movie, there are some really funny scenes.)
  • Expressing duration: Tem anos que não o vejo. (It's been years since I last saw him.)
  • Making informal observations: Tem muito trânsito hoje. (There's a lot of traffic today.)
2. Informal Written Communication:
Text messages, WhatsApp chats, social media captions, personal emails, and less formal blog posts are all appropriate venues for existential ter. It lends a natural, conversational tone to written communication.
  • Social Media: Que delícia! Tem comida boa aqui no evento. (How delicious! There's good food here at the event.)
  • Texting: Tem como me encontrar mais tarde? (Is it possible to meet me later?)
  • Casual Email: Tem um anexo com os detalhes da reunião. (There's an attachment with the meeting details.)
3. Topic-Comment Structures:
Use this structure when you want to highlight the container, location, or context as the primary focus of your statement. It implies that the location "contains" or "is characterized by" what follows.
  • Describing features of an object: Meu celular tem pouco espaço de armazenamento. (My phone has little storage space.)
  • Characterizing a place: Essa cidade tem muitas praias bonitas. (This city has many beautiful beaches.)
  • Talking about an organization: A empresa tem vários projetos novos. (The company has several new projects.)
4. Time Expressions (Interchangeable with Fazer):
For expressions of elapsed time, ter (always singular tem) is a common and natural alternative to the verb fazer.
  • Tem dez anos que moro aqui. (It's been ten years that I live here.)
  • Tem muito tempo que não nos vemos. (It's been a long time since we saw each other.)
Both Tem dez anos... and Faz dez anos... are perfectly acceptable and widely used in BP, with tem often feeling slightly more casual.
When to Avoid Existential Ter:
While pervasive, there are specific contexts where the traditional haver or existir are still preferred or mandated:
  • Highly Formal Academic Writing: In dissertations, research papers, or legal documents, haver is still the prescriptive choice for existential statements. Há uma correlação estatística significativa.
  • Formal Speeches or Presentations: Public addresses often lean towards more formal grammar, where haver or existir may be employed for a more elevated tone.
  • Journalistic Headings/Very Formal News: While internal news articles may use ter, formal headlines often retain há for conciseness and tradition.
  • Specific Idiomatic Expressions with Haver: Some fixed expressions still predominantly use haver, though these are becoming rarer.
For the C1 learner, the key is not just knowing how to use ter, but when its use is stylistically appropriate. Erring on the side of ter in most everyday Brazilian contexts will make your speech sound more authentic and natural.

Common Mistakes

Despite its widespread use, existential ter is a frequent source of errors for learners, particularly due to its impersonal nature contrasting with the verb's usual function of possession. Awareness of these pitfalls is crucial for C1 mastery.
1. The Plural Trap: *Têm for Existential Tem
This is arguably the most common and glaring error. Because ter usually agrees with its subject (e.g., Eles têm carros - They have cars), learners instinctively try to make existential ter agree with the following noun. However, when ter expresses existence, it is impersonal and functions without a grammatical subject that requires number agreement.
  • Incorrect: *Têm duas pessoas aqui. (Attempting to pluralize ter for duas pessoas.)
  • Correct: Tem duas pessoas aqui. (Always singular tem.)
The circumflex accent (^) on têm specifically denotes the third-person plural of ter when it is a personal verb (e.g., Meus pais têm paciência - My parents have patience). Using têm for existential ter is a clear indicator of a non-native speaker.
Comparison of Personal vs. Impersonal Ter:
| Feature | Personal Ter (Possession) | Impersonal Ter (Existence) |
| :------------ | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------ |
| Meaning | To have, to own | There is / are, to exist |
| Subject | Explicit, agrees in number | Implicit, no grammatical subject |
| Conjugation | Eu tenho, Tu tens, Ele/Ela tem, Nós temos, Eles/Elas têm | Always singular: Tem, Tinha, Teve, Vai ter |
| Example | Eles têm muitos amigos. | Tem muitos amigos na festa. |
2. Retaining Prepositions in Topic-Comment Structures
When transforming a traditional haver sentence into a topic-comment structure with ter, learners sometimes fail to drop the preposition associated with the original location.
  • Initial (traditional): Nesta rua há muitos carros. (On this street there are many cars.)
  • Incorrect (retained preposition): *Nesta rua tem muitos carros.
  • Correct (preposition removed, topic fronted): Essa rua tem muitos carros.
The essence of the topic-comment structure is to make the location (e.g., Essa rua) the topic, effectively treating it as if it "possesses" or "contains" the elements being described. The preposition disrupts this direct relationship.
3. Overusing Ter in Highly Formal Contexts
While ter is prevalent, a C1 learner must also recognize its limits. In academic theses, legal documents, or very formal official correspondence, haver maintains its prescriptive dominance. Using tem in these contexts, while grammatically understandable, will sound inappropriately informal and may detract from the gravitas of the communication.
  • Formal Expectation: Há evidências crescentes de uma mudança climática.
  • Less Appropriate in Formal Context: Tem evidências crescentes de uma mudança climática.
4. Confusing Existir with Impersonal Ter / Haver
The verb existir (to exist) also conveys existence but is a personal verb, meaning it always agrees in number with its subject. This contrasts sharply with the impersonal ter and haver.
  • Correct Existir: Existem muitas razões. (Many reasons exist.)
  • Correct Impersonal Tem: Tem muitas razões. (There are many reasons.)
  • Correct Impersonal Há: Há muitas razões. (There are many reasons.)
Mistaking existir for an impersonal verb will lead to agreement errors. Always remember that existir behaves like any other regular verb, taking a subject and agreeing with it.
By consciously avoiding these common errors, you will significantly elevate your Portuguese to a level that mirrors native usage.

Real Conversations

To truly grasp the ubiquity and natural feel of existential ter, observing its use in authentic communication is essential. It appears seamlessly in varied contexts, from quick texts to more elaborate social media posts.

1. Casual Chat / Texting:

A

A

E aí, vai rolar a festa hoje? (So, is the party happening today?)
B

B

Uhm, não sei. Tem umas pessoas meio desanimadas. (Uhm, I don't know. There are some people a bit unenthusiastic.)

2. Describing a Situation / Place:

Cheguei na praia, mas o mar tá agitado. Tem muita onda e bandeira vermelha. (I arrived at the beach, but the sea is rough. There are many waves and a red flag.)

3. Social Media Post / Online Review (Topic-Comment):

Esse restaurante tem uma comida maravilhosa e o atendimento é impecável! (This restaurant has wonderful food and the service is impeccable!)

Here, Esse restaurante is the topic, implicitly containing comida maravilhosa.*

4. Discussing a Problem / Observation:

No trabalho, tem um projeto novo que tá dando muito trabalho. (At work, there's a new project that's causing a lot of work.)

5. Asking about Availability / Possibility:

Tem como a gente se encontrar amanhã de manhã? (Is it possible for us to meet tomorrow morning?)

6. Expressing Elapsed Time:

Tem muito tempo que a gente não se vê, né? Precisamos marcar algo! (It's been a long time since we've seen each other, right? We need to arrange something!)

These examples illustrate how naturally tem integrates into spontaneous Brazilian Portuguese, making expressions concise and conversational. It is rarely jarring or out of place, provided the context is not overtly formal or academic.

Quick FAQ

  • Can I use existential ter in Portugal?
In European Portuguese, ter is primarily a verb of possession. While you might hear tem used existentially in very informal, often younger speech, haver (há, havia, houve) remains the standard and preferred form for existential statements in most registers, especially in writing and formal contexts. Using ter existentially in EP might sound casual or even incorrect, whereas in BP, it is the norm.
  • Does ter ever take the plural (têm) in these existential structures?
Never. When ter functions impersonally to mean "there is/are," it always remains in the third-person singular (tem, tinha, teve, vai ter). The circumflex accent (têm) is reserved exclusively for the third-person plural of ter when it denotes possession (e.g., Meus irmãos têm dois cachorros - My siblings have two dogs). Confusing these two usages is a common and noticeable error.
  • How does this work in the past tense?
The principle remains the same. Use the third-person singular past forms of ter:
  • Imperfect: Tinha (for ongoing or habitual past existence): Tinha muitas árvores na minha rua antiga. (There used to be many trees on my old street.) This is equivalent to Havia.
  • Perfect: Teve (for a specific, completed past existence or event): Ontem teve uma reunião importante. (Yesterday there was an important meeting.) This is equivalent to Houve.
  • What about the future tense?
Again, ter stays singular. The most common way to express future existence in BP is with vai ter (future periphrastic):
  • Amanhã vai ter sol. (Tomorrow there will be sun.)
  • No próximo ano vai ter eleição. (Next year there will be an election.)
The simple future terá is also grammatically correct but less common in spoken BP for existential meaning (Terá novas oportunidades). This parallels haverá.
  • Is it grammatically incorrect to use haver in Brazil?
No, it is not grammatically incorrect. However, using haver (há, havia, houve) in everyday Brazilian conversation or informal writing often sounds overly formal, archaic, or even pedantic. It's generally reserved for very formal academic writing, legal texts, or certain journalistic headlines.
A C1 learner should understand this stylistic distinction: haver is prescriptive but ter is descriptive of current usage.
  • How do I translate "it's been X days" or "X years ago"?
Both ter and fazer are commonly used for expressions of elapsed time, always in the third-person singular:
  • Tem dez anos que não nos vemos. / Faz dez anos que não nos vemos. (It's been ten years since we've seen each other.)
  • Tem muito tempo que ele se mudou. / Faz muito tempo que ele se mudou. (It's been a long time since he moved.)
Tem is often slightly more casual than faz, but both are perfectly natural and interchangeable in most contexts in BP.
  • What exactly is a topic in the topic-comment structure with ter?
In this context, the topic is the element, often a location or a contextual noun, that the sentence foregrounds as its main point of discussion. It's what the speaker wants to talk about, with ter introducing information regarding that topic. For example, in Minha rua tem muitos carros, Minha rua (my street) is the topic.
The sentence is primarily about the street and then comments that many cars exist within it. This shifts focus from the mere existence of cars to the characteristic of the street itself.

Existential 'Ter' Usage

Form Usage Example
Affirmative
Presence
Tem um livro.
Negative
Absence
Não tem livro.
Interrogative
Inquiry
Tem um livro?
Past (Informal)
Past Presence
Tinha um livro.
Future (Informal)
Future Presence
Vai ter um livro.

Meanings

The verb 'ter' is used existentially to indicate the presence or occurrence of something, effectively replacing the impersonal 'haver'.

1

Existential Presence

Indicating that something exists or is present in a location.

“Tem café na cozinha.”

“Tem alguém batendo na porta.”

2

Temporal Occurrence

Indicating the passage of time (often replaced by 'fazer' or 'ter').

“Tem dois anos que não o vejo.”

“Tem muito tempo que não chove.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Existential 'Ter': Using 'Tem' instead of 'Há'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Tem + [Noun]
Tem café.
Negative
Não tem + [Noun]
Não tem café.
Question
Tem + [Noun] + ?
Tem café?
Past
Tinha + [Noun]
Tinha café.
Future
Vai ter + [Noun]
Vai ter café.
Plural
Tem + [Plural Noun]
Tem muitos cafés.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Há um problema.

Há um problema. (Reporting an issue)

Neutral
Tem um problema.

Tem um problema. (Reporting an issue)

Informal
Tem um problema aí.

Tem um problema aí. (Reporting an issue)

Slang
Tem um B.O. aí.

Tem um B.O. aí. (Reporting an issue)

Existential Verbs in Portuguese

Existence

Informal (Brazil)

  • Tem There is/are

Formal/Literary

  • Haver There is/are

Formal Agreement

  • Existir To exist
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Examples by Level

1

Tem uma mesa aqui.

There is a table here.

2

Tem um carro lá.

There is a car there.

3

Tem água na geladeira?

Is there water in the fridge?

4

Não tem café.

There is no coffee.

1

Tem muitos alunos na sala.

There are many students in the room.

2

Tem alguém na porta?

Is there someone at the door?

3

Não tem ninguém aqui.

There is no one here.

4

Tem uma festa hoje.

There is a party today.

1

Tem muito tempo que não nos vemos.

It's been a long time since we saw each other.

2

Tem várias opções no cardápio.

There are several options on the menu.

3

Tem dias que eu só quero dormir.

There are days when I just want to sleep.

4

Tem como você me ajudar?

Is there a way for you to help me?

1

Tem uma série de fatores a considerar.

There is a series of factors to consider.

2

Não tem por que se preocupar tanto.

There is no reason to worry so much.

3

Tem algo que eu preciso te contar.

There is something I need to tell you.

4

Tem muita gente que pensa assim.

There are many people who think like that.

1

Tem uma certa ironia nessa situação.

There is a certain irony in this situation.

2

Tem vezes que a vida nos surpreende.

There are times when life surprises us.

3

Não tem como negar o fato.

There is no way to deny the fact.

4

Tem muito em jogo nesta decisão.

There is a lot at stake in this decision.

1

Tem uma sutileza na sua fala que me intriga.

There is a subtlety in your speech that intrigues me.

2

Tem uma lacuna no seu argumento.

There is a gap in your argument.

3

Não tem precedentes na história recente.

There is no precedent in recent history.

4

Tem uma urgência implícita no pedido.

There is an implicit urgency in the request.

Easily Confused

Existential 'Ter': Using 'Tem' instead of 'Há' vs Ter vs Haver

Learners mix them because both mean 'there is'.

Existential 'Ter': Using 'Tem' instead of 'Há' vs Ter vs Existir

Both indicate existence, but 'existir' agrees with the subject.

Existential 'Ter': Using 'Tem' instead of 'Há' vs Ter vs Fazer (Time)

Both can express time duration.

Common Mistakes

✗

Têm muitos livros.

✓

Tem muitos livros.

Existential 'tem' is impersonal and shouldn't be pluralized.
✗

Há um livro.

✓

Tem um livro.

Using 'haver' in casual speech sounds unnatural.
✗

Tem um livro aqui.

✓

Tem um livro aqui.

This is actually correct, but often confused with 'ter' as possession.
✗

Tem livros.

✓

Tem livros.

Correct, but learners often add 'existem'.
✗

Têm pessoas lá.

✓

Tem pessoas lá.

Again, pluralization error.
✗

Haver muitas pessoas.

✓

Tem muitas pessoas.

Haver is not used like this.
✗

Tem que ter pessoas.

✓

Tem pessoas.

Redundancy.
✗

Existem que ter opções.

✓

Tem que ter opções.

Mixing existential verbs.
✗

Houve muitas festas.

✓

Tinha muitas festas.

Using formal past tense in casual speech.
✗

Temem muitas pessoas.

✓

Tem muitas pessoas.

Misspelling 'tem' as 'temem' (they fear).
✗

Haveria de ter opções.

✓

Deveria ter opções.

Overusing formal structures.
✗

Tem-se muitas opções.

✓

Tem muitas opções.

Mixing impersonal 'se' with 'tem'.
✗

Temem-se muitas coisas.

✓

Tem muitas coisas.

Confusing 'tem' with 'temer'.
✗

Têm-se que considerar.

✓

Tem que se considerar.

Syntactic error.

Sentence Patterns

Tem ___ aqui.

Não tem ___ na geladeira.

Tem como ___?

Tem ___ que eu não entendo.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Tem alguém em casa?

Ordering food very common

Tem opção vegetariana?

Job interview occasional

Tem alguma dúvida?

Social media very common

Tem muita coisa legal aqui!

Travel common

Tem ônibus para o centro?

Email common

Tem um anexo no e-mail.

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💡

Keep it singular

Never pluralize 'tem' when it means 'there is'. It is always 'tem', even for 100 items.
⚠️

Avoid 'haver' in texts

Using 'haver' in a WhatsApp message will make you sound like a robot.
🎯

Use 'tem' for time

In speech, 'tem' is great for duration: 'Tem anos que não viajo'.
💬

Regional differences

If you are in Portugal, 'haver' is much more common than in Brazil.

Smart Tips

Always use 'tem' instead of 'haver' in daily speech.

Há muitas pessoas aqui. → Tem muita gente aqui.

Switch back to 'haver' or 'existir' to maintain high register.

Tem muitos fatores a considerar. → Existem muitos fatores a considerar.

Use 'tem' for duration in casual conversation.

Faz muito tempo que não nos vemos. → Tem muito tempo que não nos vemos.

Don't be tempted to pluralize 'tem'.

Têm muitos livros. → Tem muitos livros.

Pronunciation

/tẽ/

Nasalization

The 'em' in 'tem' is nasalized.

Rising for questions

Tem café? ↗

Inquiry

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ter' as 'T-here' (There is).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'T' standing in a room, pointing at everything that exists.

Rhyme

Se quer dizer que algo está lá, use 'tem' e não vai errar.

Story

Maria walks into a cafe. She asks 'Tem café?'. The waiter says 'Tem'. She is happy because she found what she needed.

Word Web

TemTinhaNão temTem alguémTem algoVai ter

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, describe everything you see in your room using 'Tem...'.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'tem' is the absolute standard for existence. Using 'haver' in a bar would sound like you are reading a book.

In Portugal, 'haver' is still very common for existence. 'Tem' is used, but 'haver' is preferred in many contexts.

Similar to Brazil, 'tem' is widely used in daily speech.

Derived from Latin 'tenere' (to hold).

Conversation Starters

“

Tem algum restaurante bom por aqui?

“

Tem muita gente no seu trabalho?

“

Tem como você me explicar isso?

“

Tem algum motivo para você estar tão feliz?

Journal Prompts

Describe your room using 'tem'.
What are the problems in your city?
Write about a time you felt lucky.
Discuss the challenges of learning a language.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ um gato na rua.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem
Existential 'tem' is invariant.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem muitos problemas.
Impersonal 'tem' is preferred.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Têm pessoas aqui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem pessoas aqui.
Pluralization is incorrect.
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: Tem muita gente aqui.
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

There is a book.

Answer starts with: Tem...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem um livro.
Standard existential form.
Choose the formal version. Multiple Choice

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Há um problema.
Haver is the formal existential verb.
Fill in the blank.

___ dois anos que não viajo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem
Informal duration usage.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Haver muitas opções no cardápio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem muitas opções no cardápio.
Casual speech prefers 'tem'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ um gato na rua.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem
Existential 'tem' is invariant.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem muitos problemas.
Impersonal 'tem' is preferred.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Têm pessoas aqui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem pessoas aqui.
Pluralization is incorrect.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

aqui / tem / gente / muita

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem muita gente aqui.
Standard word order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

There is a book.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem um livro.
Standard existential form.
Choose the formal version. Multiple Choice

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Há um problema.
Haver is the formal existential verb.
Fill in the blank.

___ dois anos que não viajo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem
Informal duration usage.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Haver muitas opções no cardápio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem muitas opções no cardápio.
Casual speech prefers 'tem'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Fill in the blank with the past tense. Fill in the Blank

Ontem à noite _____ uma chuva muito forte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: teve
Correct the hyper-corrected mistake. Error Correction

Eu acho que amanhã vão ter muitas pessoas na festa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu acho que amanhã vai ter muitas pessoas na festa.
Build a natural Topic-Comment sentence. Sentence Reorder

Rearrange the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esse celular tem um bom espaço.
Translate this common question naturally. Translation

Is there WiFi here?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem WiFi aqui?
Which of these uses 'ter' to express elapsed time? Multiple Choice

Select the sentence where 'ter' replaces 'fazer' or 'haver' for time:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tem duas semanas que não chove.
Match the formal 'Haver' sentence with its informal 'Ter' equivalent. Match Pairs

Find the matching transposition:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Havia muitas dúvidas -> Tinha muitas dúvidas
Fill in the blank for the negative sentence. Fill in the Blank

Se não _____ comida, a gente pede um iFood.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tiver
Fix the agreement error. Error Correction

Nesse prédio têm três elevadores.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nesse prédio tem três elevadores.
Reorder to make a question about the past. Sentence Reorder

Make the sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Teve briga na reunião ontem?
Translate to natural Brazilian Portuguese. Translation

There are no tickets left for the movie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não tem mais ingresso pro filme.
Identify the CORRECT pluralization. Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly uses 'existem' instead of 'tem'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Existem muitas pessoas boas no mundo.
Complete the Topic-Comment sentence. Fill in the Blank

Esse sofá _____ um tecido muito macio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tem

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, 'têm' is the plural form of 'ter' (to have). Existential 'tem' is always singular.

No, it is neutral/informal. Use 'haver' for formal writing.

'Existir' is a formal verb that agrees with the subject. Use it when you want to be precise.

Yes, in Brazil it is acceptable, but 'existem' or 'há' might sound more professional.

It is a natural evolution of the language toward simpler, more flexible structures.

Yes, but less frequently than in Brazil. 'Haver' is still the standard there.

Usually 'tinha'.

No, it is invariant.

Scaffolded Practice

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2

3

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4

4

Mastery Progress

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Improving

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Hay

Spanish 'hay' is the only existential verb; Portuguese has 'tem' and 'haver'.

French partial

Il y a

French uses a fixed phrase, while Portuguese uses a single verb.

German partial

Es gibt

German uses 'geben' (to give) for existence.

Japanese low

iru/aru

Portuguese 'tem' is used for both living and non-living things.

Arabic partial

yūjad

Arabic is more passive in its existential construction.

Chinese high

yǒu

Chinese 'yǒu' is the only way to express existence, just like 'tem' in Brazilian speech.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Passive Voice in Compound Tenses (Ter + Sido)
Next
Advanced Portuguese Comparisons: The More, The Better (Comparativos Avançados)

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