Portuguese Grammar Hub

Understand Portuguese Grammar Faster

Browse the grammar system by level and category, then open clear explanations with practical examples.

401 Total Rules
81 Chapters
6 CEFR level
Understand Portuguese Grammar Faster

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Active filters: CEFR level: B1
B1 Pronouns

Pronoun Placement with Gerunds (fazendo-o vs te fazendo)

In casual Brazilian Portuguese, put the pronoun between the auxiliary and the gerund (`estou te vendo`), but in formal writing, attach it to the end with a hyphen (`vendo-te`).

  • Gerunds end in `-ndo` (walking, eating).
  • BP prefers pronoun BEFORE gerund (te amando).
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)

Use `lhe` and `lhes` to replace indirect objects (to someone), making your Portuguese sound more fluent and sophisticated.

  • Lhe and lhes replace to him, to her, or to them.
  • Lhe is singular; lhes is plural for both genders.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Future & Conditional Verified

Portuguese Conditional: Regular -er Verbs (I would eat...)

Simply add the suffix `-ia` to any regular `-er` infinitive to create a polite or hypothetical 'would' statement.

  • Used for 'would' scenarios like hypotheses, polite...
  • Formed by adding endings (-ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos,...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Future & Conditional Verified

Portuguese Conditional: Would (-ir verbs)

The Portuguese Conditional for -ir verbs is simply the infinitive plus the standard -ia endings.

  • Keep the full infinitive verb (ending in -ir) inta...
  • Add -ia, -ia, -íamos, -iam to the end.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Future & Conditional

Polite Requests & Suggestions (Gostaria, Poderia)

The Conditional tense transforms direct commands into polite requests, making your Portuguese sound more sophisticated and respectful.

  • Use the Conditional tense for polite requests and...
  • Form it by adding -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -iam to...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Preposition Por: Expressing Cause, Exchange & Path

Use 'por' (and its contractions pelo/pela) to describe the process, cause, route, or exchange, rather than the final destination.

  • Used for cause, means, exchange, and movement thro...
  • Contracts with articles: por + o = pelo, por + a =...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Portuguese Preposition 'Por': Expressing Cause & Reason

Use `por` to explain the 'why' behind things, looking back at the cause, reason, or original motivation.

  • Use `por` to show the cause, reason, or motivation...
  • It often translates to 'because of', 'for', 'due t...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Portuguese Prepositions: Through and Along (Por)

Use 'por' (contracted as 'pelo/pela') for any movement that traverses a space or follows a specific path.

  • Use 'por' to describe moving through a space or al...
  • Always contract 'por' with articles: pelo, pela, p...
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Portuguese Preposition 'Por': Means, Methods, and Agents

Master `por` to explain how things happen (means) and who makes them happen (agent) using essential contractions.

  • Use `por` for the means or medium (email, phone, i...
  • Use `por` for the agent in passive voice (done 'by...
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Portuguese 'Por': Swapping & Buying (In Exchange For)

Use `por` for the 'why' (reason/exchange) and `para` for the 'where to' (goal/destination).

  • Use `por` for prices, money, and any physical or c...
  • Contract `por` with articles: `pelo`, `pela`, `pel...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Portuguese Opinions: To Me, To You (Para mim, Para você)

Use `para mim` to frame your personal perspective politely and naturally in everyday Portuguese conversations.

  • Use `para` + pronoun to express personal opinions...
  • Never say `para eu` for opinions; always use the p...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Por for Time (Duration & Approximation)

Por describes the passage of time (duration) or vague periods, while Para sets a deadline.

  • Use 'por' for time duration (for X hours)
  • Use 'pelo/pela' for parts of the day
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Por vs. Para: Doing Favors & Swapping

Use 'por' when swapping money, trading favors, or acting on someone's behalf; use 'para' for destinations and recipients.

  • Use 'por' for exchanges and swaps.
  • Means 'on behalf of' or 'instead of'.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Prepositions & Connectors

Comparison Standard with 'Para'

Use `para` to judge something relative to the norms of its category, just like saying "good *for* a beginner."

  • Use 'para' to set a comparison standard.
  • Means 'considering it is a...' or 'for a...'.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns Verified

How to say "I worry" (Preocupar-se)

Don't just 'worry'—'worry yourself' with (com) the problem.

  • It is a reflexive verb (needs me/te/se/nos).
  • Always use 'com' for 'about'.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

Meeting Up: Encontrar-se vs Encontrar

Use 'encontrar-se com' to arrange meetups, contrasting with plain 'encontrar' which means finding lost objects.

  • Reflexive form implies social meeting
  • Requires 'com' when naming the person
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

Saying Goodbye (Despedir-se)

Use 'despedir-se de' to say goodbye; forget the 'se' and you're firing someone!

  • Reflexive verb 'despedir-se' means to say goodbye...
  • Always use reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Present Tense

Getting Married in Portuguese (Casar-se)

Always use a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'com' when talking about someone getting married in Portuguese.

  • Use `casar-se` to mean 'to get married' (reflexive...
  • Always use the preposition `com` when mentioning a...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

Getting Closer: Aproximar-se

Use 'aproximar-se de' when the subject moves closer to a target, physically or figuratively.

  • Reflexive verb: requires me/te/se/nos.
  • Almost always followed by 'de'.
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

Graduating (Formar-se)

Always "form yourself" (reflexive) IN a subject (preposition 'em') to say you graduated.

  • It is a reflexive verb: always use me/te/se/nos.
  • Use the preposition 'em' before the subject.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B1 Pronouns

Reflexive Verbs: The Mirror Effect (me, te, se)

Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same, or for changes in emotional state.

  • Reflexive actions reflect back on the subject.
  • Pronouns must match the subject (me, te, se, nos).
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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Frequently Asked Questions About Portuguese Grammar

SubLearn covers 401 Portuguese grammar rules organized across 6 CEFR proficiency levels (from A1 to C2), spanning 81 structured chapters. Each rule includes clear explanations, real-world examples, and interactive practice exercises.

Our Portuguese grammar curriculum covers CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Each level is designed to match your current proficiency — beginners start with basic sentence patterns at A1, while advanced learners tackle nuanced structures at C1-C2.

Yes! All Portuguese grammar rules, explanations, and examples are completely free to access. You can browse the full curriculum, read detailed explanations, and practice with exercises at no cost.

Grammar is organized into 81 thematic chapters following the CEFR framework. Each chapter groups related rules together — for example, verb tenses, sentence structure, or particles — so you can learn related concepts in a logical sequence.

Yes! Create a free account to track which grammar rules you've studied, see your progress across all CEFR levels, and pick up exactly where you left off. Your learning progress syncs across devices.