This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 noun 9 min read

intervir

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips intervir in 30 Seconds

Explanation intervir in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'intervir' might seem like a difficult word because of its length and irregular conjugation. However, you can think of it simply as 'to help' or 'to stop' something. Imagine two children playing too roughly; a parent needs to 'intervir' to keep them safe. At this stage, you don't need to worry about all the complex tenses. Just focus on the infinitive 'intervir' used after other verbs like 'precisar' (to need) or 'querer' (to want). For example, 'Eu preciso intervir' (I need to intervene). It is a good word to know for describing basic social interactions where someone steps in to help. You might hear it in very simple stories or classroom instructions where a teacher explains that they will step in if a task is too hard. Even though it's an A2 word, seeing it early helps you recognize the root 'vir' (to come), which is one of the most important verbs in Portuguese.

At the A2 level, you are expected to handle common social situations. 'Intervir' is very useful here for describing mediation. You might use it to talk about your job ('Eu intervenho em reuniões') or your family life. You should begin to notice that 'intervir' is used with the preposition 'em' (in). For example, 'intervir na conversa' (to intervene in the conversation). You should also learn the basic present tense forms, especially the first person 'eu intervenho' and the third person 'ele intervém'. This level is about moving from just recognizing the word to using it in simple, complete sentences. You can use it to explain why you did something: 'Eu tive que intervir porque eles estavam gritando' (I had to intervene because they were shouting). It shows you can describe actions that affect other people, which is a key skill at the A2 level. You are starting to build the foundation for more complex grammatical structures that come later.

By B1, you should be comfortable using 'intervir' in a variety of tenses, including the past (Pretérito Perfeito) and the future. This is the level where the irregular forms like 'interveio' (he intervened) and 'intervieram' (they intervened) become critical. A B1 learner should be able to tell a story about a past event where they or someone else stepped in to solve a problem. You will also encounter 'intervir' in more formal texts, such as news articles or workplace emails. You should understand the difference between 'intervir' (usually positive/neutral) and 'interferir' (usually negative). At this level, you can also start using the noun 'intervenção' (intervention) to describe situations more abstractly. For example, 'A intervenção do governo foi necessária'. Your ability to use 'intervir' correctly in the past tense is a major indicator of your progress toward intermediate fluency, as it proves you have mastered the difficult 'vir' verb family.

At the B2 level, you should use 'intervir' with precision in professional and academic contexts. You will use it to discuss social issues, politics, and complex problem-solving. You should be able to use the subjunctive moods accurately: 'É importante que o governo intervenha' (It is important that the government intervenes). You will also use it in more abstract ways, such as 'intervir no destino' (to intervene in fate) or 'intervir em processos químicos'. At B2, you are expected to understand the nuances of register—knowing that 'intervir' is more appropriate for a report than the colloquial 'meter-se'. You should also be familiar with collocations like 'intervir a favor de' (to intervene in favor of) or 'pedir para intervir' (to ask to intervene). Your vocabulary should be rich enough to discuss the consequences of an intervention, using 'intervir' as a starting point for deeper analysis of cause and effect in society or business.

At the C1 level, 'intervir' is used with complete spontaneity and grammatical perfection. You will use it in high-level debates and complex writing. You should be able to handle the most difficult conjugations, such as the future subjunctive ('se ele intervier') and the pluperfect ('ele tinha intervindo'). You will recognize the word in literary contexts where it might describe the intervention of gods, nature, or historical forces. You can also use it to describe subtle psychological or social dynamics, such as 'intervir no discurso' (to intervene in the discourse). At this level, you should also be aware of the historical and legal connotations of the word, such as 'intervenção federal' in the Brazilian constitution. You can compare and contrast 'intervir' with highly specific synonyms like 'interceder' (to intercede) or 'arbitrar' (to arbitrate), choosing the exact word needed for the context. Your use of 'intervir' reflects a deep understanding of Portuguese syntax and the subtle power dynamics inherent in the language.

For a C2 learner, 'intervir' is a tool for masterful communication. You use it to navigate the most sophisticated linguistic environments, from legal briefs to philosophical treatises. You understand the word's etymological journey from Latin 'intervenire' and how that history informs its modern usage across the Lusophone world. You can detect the slightest irony or sarcasm when someone uses 'intervir' to describe meddling. You are comfortable using it in the passive voice or in complex participial constructions ('Tendo o Estado intervindo...'). At this level, you don't just use the word; you play with it, using it to structure complex arguments about sovereignty, ethics, and human agency. You can discuss the 'interventividade' (interventional nature) of a policy or the 'caráter interventivo' of a work of art. Your mastery of 'intervir' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker, allowing you to participate in the highest levels of professional and intellectual life in any Portuguese-speaking country.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

intervir in 30 Seconds

Intervir means to intervene or get involved in a situation to influence its outcome.
It is an irregular verb that follows the conjugation pattern of 'vir' (to come).
Commonly used in professional, medical, and political contexts to describe mediation or action.
Requires the preposition 'em' when referring to the situation being entered (e.g., intervir na briga).

The Portuguese verb intervir is a powerful and versatile word that translates primarily to 'to intervene,' 'to step in,' or 'to take part' in a situation, usually to influence the outcome or prevent something from getting worse. While it sounds similar to the English 'intervene,' its usage in Portuguese spans across casual daily interactions, professional mediation, and high-level political or medical contexts. Understanding intervir is essential for any learner moving beyond basic descriptions into the realm of actions and consequences.

Everyday Conflict: In daily life, you use this word when you see two friends arguing and you decide to stop the fight. It implies an active choice to move from being a bystander to a participant. For example, 'Precisei intervir na discussão' (I needed to intervene in the discussion).
Professional Mediation: In a business or legal setting, intervir refers to a formal process where a third party steps in to resolve a deadlock. It is the verb of choice for mediators, HR managers, and legal representatives who provide 'intervenção' (intervention).
Medical Context: Doctors often use this verb when referring to surgical procedures or emergency treatments. To 'intervir cirurgicamente' means to perform surgery. It conveys the idea of the medical professional physically entering the body's natural state to correct a pathology.

O professor teve que intervir antes que a briga começasse.

Translation: The teacher had to intervene before the fight started.

One of the most important aspects of using intervir correctly is its conjugation. Since it is derived from the verb vir (to come), it follows the same irregular patterns. Many native speakers make mistakes here, saying 'interviu' instead of the correct past tense 'interveio'. Mastering this distinction immediately elevates your Portuguese to a more sophisticated level.

O governo decidiu intervir na economia para controlar a inflação.

Translation: The government decided to intervene in the economy to control inflation.

Political Influence: In geopolitics, when one country involves itself in the affairs of another, the term used is 'intervir'. It can have a neutral or negative connotation depending on the perspective of the speaker regarding sovereignty.

Ninguém quis intervir na conversa particular do casal.

Translation: No one wanted to intervene in the couple's private conversation.

Ultimately, intervir is about agency. It is a word used when someone moves from a state of observation to a state of action. Whether it is a referee on a football pitch, a parent with a crying child, or a central bank adjusting interest rates, the act of 'intervir' changes the flow of events.

Using intervir correctly requires attention to both the preposition that follows it and the tense of the verb. Because it is an irregular verb, the way it looks changes significantly across different times and moods. Let's explore how to structure sentences for maximum clarity and impact.

Prepositional Patterns: The most common preposition used with 'intervir' is em (in). You intervene in a situation. For example: 'Eles intervieram no (em + o) processo.' If you are intervening on behalf of someone, you use por or a favor de.

É necessário intervir na briga antes que alguém se machuque.

Translation: It is necessary to intervene in the fight before someone gets hurt.

In the present tense, the verb is highly irregular. 'Eu intervenho' (I intervene) sounds very different from the infinitive. This is a common stumbling block for A2 and B1 students. You might use this when stating a general habit or a current action in a professional report.

Eu sempre intervenho quando vejo uma injustiça.

Translation: I always intervene when I see an injustice.

The past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) is where most mistakes happen. Because it follows 'vir', the third person singular is 'interveio' (not 'interviu'). 'Eles' becomes 'intervieram'. Using these forms correctly is a sign of a high-level speaker.

A polícia interveio rapidamente para dispersar a multidão.

Translation: The police intervened quickly to disperse the crowd.

The Future Subjunctive: In conditional sentences, you will often see 'se eu intervier' (if I intervene). This is used for hypothetical future situations. 'Se você intervier agora, poderá salvar o projeto.'

Se o diretor intervier, o problema será resolvido.

Translation: If the director intervenes, the problem will be solved.

When writing, consider the register. In formal essays, 'intervir' is preferred over 'meter-se' (to get into/meddle). It provides a more objective and authoritative tone to your Portuguese writing.

You will encounter intervir in a variety of real-world settings, from the evening news to the hospital waiting room. It is a 'high-frequency' word in formal and semi-formal Portuguese, making it a staple of media and professional discourse.

Journalism and News: Broadcasters use 'intervir' constantly when discussing government actions. You'll hear phrases like 'O Banco Central interveio no mercado de câmbio' (The Central Bank intervened in the foreign exchange market) or 'A ONU planeja intervir na região' (The UN plans to intervene in the region).
Educational Environments: In schools, teachers and pedagogues talk about 'intervir pedagogicamente'. This means taking specific actions to help a student who is struggling with a particular subject. It is seen as a proactive and positive step in the learning process.

O juiz decidiu intervir para garantir a ordem no tribunal.

Translation: The judge decided to intervene to ensure order in the courtroom.

In television dramas (telenovelas), characters often use 'intervir' when discussing family disputes or romantic entanglements. However, in this context, it might be used to sound more serious or dramatic. A character might say, 'Não se atreva a intervir na minha vida!' (Don't you dare intervene/meddle in my life!).

Foi preciso intervir na negociação para fechar o contrato.

Translation: It was necessary to intervene in the negotiation to close the contract.

Sports Commentary: During a football (soccer) match, commentators frequently use the word when the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) steps in. 'O VAR teve que intervir no lance do pênalti' (The VAR had to intervene in the penalty incident).

O médico disse que não precisaria intervir com cirurgia.

Translation: The doctor said he wouldn't need to intervene with surgery.

Whether you are listening to a podcast about history or watching a debate on TV, 'intervir' will appear whenever there is a discussion about action, mediation, or the exercise of power. It is a word that signals a turning point in a narrative or a process.

The verb intervir is notorious for being misused, even by native Portuguese speakers. Most of these errors stem from its irregular conjugation and its similarity to other verbs. By learning these common pitfalls, you can avoid sounding like a beginner.

The 'Interviu' Trap: The single most common mistake is saying 'interviu' for the past tense (he/she intervened). This happens because people mistakenly think 'intervir' follows the pattern of regular '-ir' verbs like 'partir' (partiu). However, 'intervir' follows 'vir'. The correct form is interveio. Never say 'ele interviu'.
Misusing Prepositions: Learners often try to use 'intervir' without a preposition or with the wrong one. You must intervene in something (intervir em). Saying 'intervir a situação' is incorrect; it should be 'intervir na situação'.

Errado: O governo interviu na crise.
Certo: O governo interveio na crise.

Common conjugation error correction.

Another mistake involves the plural past tense. People often say 'interveram' instead of the correct intervieram. Again, remember that 'vir' becomes 'vieram' (they came), so 'intervir' becomes 'intervieram'.

Eles intervieram no momento certo para ajudar.

Correct plural past tense usage.

Confusion with 'Interver': There is no verb 'interver' in standard Portuguese, but learners sometimes create it by mixing 'intervir' and 'ver' (to see). This leads to incorrect forms in the subjunctive. Always stick to the 'vir' (to come) root for your conjugations.

Se eu interviesse, as coisas seriam diferentes.

Correct imperfect subjunctive: 'interviesse' (from 'viesse').

Finally, watch out for the accentuation in the present tense. 'Ele intervém' (singular) has an acute accent, while 'Eles intervêm' (plural) has a circumflex accent. This distinction is vital for written Portuguese.

While intervir is an excellent word, Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on the nuance you want to convey. Knowing when to use 'intervir' versus 'interferir' or 'mediar' will make your speech more precise and natural.

Intervir vs. Interferir: Intervir usually implies a purposeful, often helpful or necessary action. Interferir often implies meddling or causing a disturbance. You 'intervir' to stop a fight, but noise 'interfere' with your sleep.
Intervir vs. Mediar: Mediar is more specific to conflict resolution where you act as a neutral middleman. Intervir is broader and can involve taking a side or exercising authority directly.
Intervir vs. Meter-se: Meter-se is the informal, colloquial way to say 'to get involved' or 'to stick one's nose in'. Use 'Não se meta!' (Don't get involved!) with friends, but use 'intervir' in a professional email.

O mediador tentou intervir no conflito entre os sócios.

Context: Formal mediation.

In technical contexts, you might see atuar (to act/operate). For example, a medicine 'atua' (acts/intervenes) on a virus. However, 'intervir' remains the preferred term for human or institutional action in a complex situation.

Pare de interferir no meu trabalho!

Note the negative connotation of 'interferir'.

Choosing between these words depends on the level of formality and the intent of the action. If you want to sound professional and objective, 'intervir' is almost always your best bet.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

Because it literally means 'to come between', it perfectly describes the physical act of stepping between two things. It is a 'cousin' of the word 'avenue' and 'adventure', which also come from 'venire'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ĩ.tɛɾ.ˈviɾ/

US /ĩ.teʁ.ˈviχ/

Last syllable (vir).

Rhymes With

vir partir sorrir sentir abrir subir dormir pedir

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'in' like 'een' instead of a nasal vowel.
Pronouncing the 'v' like a 'b' (common in Northern Portugal/Galicia).
Adding an 'i' sound after the 'r' (interviri).
Failing to stress the final syllable.
Pronouncing 'ter' like 'tair' instead of 'tehr'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognate 'intervene'.

Writing 7/5

Difficult due to highly irregular conjugations (interveio, intervieram).

Speaking 6/5

Requires practice to get the nasal 'in' and the 'vir' stress correct.

Listening 4/5

Clear sound, but fast speech can blur the nasal vowel.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Vir Entre Ação Ajuda Situação

Learn Next

Intervenção Interferir Mediar Convir Provir

Advanced

Hermenêutica Soberania Jurisdição Arbitragem

Grammar to Know

Irregular Conjugation (Vir family)

Eu intervenho, ele intervém, eles intervêm.

Prepositional Verb

Intervir EM alguma coisa.

Accentuation of 'Intervir'

Ele intervém (singular) vs Eles intervêm (plural).

Future Subjunctive Formation

Se eu intervier (based on 'vier').

Past Participle

Tinha intervindo (regularly formed from -ir but often confused).

Examples by Level

Eu vou intervir agora.

I am going to intervene now.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Você pode intervir?

Can you intervene?

Question using 'poder' + infinitive.

O professor quer intervir na aula.

The teacher wants to intervene in the class.

Verb 'querer' followed by 'intervir'.

Não é bom intervir aqui.

It's not good to intervene here.

Impersonal 'é' + adjective + infinitive.

Eles precisam intervir no jogo.

They need to intervene in the game.

Plural subject with 'precisar'.

Por que você quer intervir?

Why do you want to intervene?

Interrogative 'Por que'.

Nós vamos intervir na briga.

We are going to intervene in the fight.

First person plural future.

Ela sabe intervir bem.

She knows how to intervene well.

'Saber' used to express skill.

Eu intervenho se for necessário.

I intervene if it is necessary.

Present tense 'intervenho' (irregular).

Ele sempre intervém nas discussões.

He always intervenes in the discussions.

Third person singular 'intervém' with acute accent.

Nós intervimos para ajudar o amigo.

We intervened to help the friend.

Past tense 'intervimos' (same as present in some dialects).

Vocês intervêm muito no trabalho?

Do you (plural) intervene much at work?

Second person plural/Third person plural 'intervêm'.

O diretor vai intervir na decisão.

The director will intervene in the decision.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

É difícil intervir nessa situação.

It's difficult to intervene in this situation.

Infinitive after 'é difícil'.

Eles nunca intervêm sem motivo.

They never intervene without a reason.

Negative sentence with 'nunca'.

Ela interveio na reunião ontem.

She intervened in the meeting yesterday.

Past tense 'interveio' (irregular).

A polícia interveio antes do acidente.

The police intervened before the accident.

Pretérito Perfeito 'interveio'.

Se você intervir, tudo vai melhorar.

If you intervene, everything will improve.

Future Subjunctive 'intervier' (often used as 'intervir' in speech).

Eles intervieram no debate político.

They intervened in the political debate.

Pretérito Perfeito plural 'intervieram'.

Eu teria intervindo se soubesse a verdade.

I would have intervened if I knew the truth.

Conditional compound with past participle 'intervindo'.

O governo está intervindo na economia.

The government is intervening in the economy.

Present Continuous with 'intervindo'.

Espero que o juiz intervenha logo.

I hope the judge intervenes soon.

Present Subjunctive 'intervenha'.

Ninguém ousou intervir no conflito.

No one dared to intervene in the conflict.

'Ousar' + infinitive.

Ela intervinha sempre que podia.

She used to intervene whenever she could.

Imperfect tense 'intervinha'.

O Banco Central interveio para estabilizar o câmbio.

The Central Bank intervened to stabilize the exchange rate.

Formal past tense usage.

Duvido que eles intervenham nesta fase.

I doubt they will intervene at this stage.

Present Subjunctive after 'duvidar'.

Se o mediador não intervier, o acordo falhará.

If the mediator does not intervene, the agreement will fail.

Future Subjunctive 'intervier'.

Foi necessário intervir cirurgicamente no paciente.

It was necessary to intervene surgically on the patient.

Medical context usage.

O sindicato interveio a favor dos trabalhadores.

The union intervened in favor of the workers.

Phrase 'intervir a favor de'.

Não queremos que ninguém intervenha na nossa gestão.

We don't want anyone to intervene in our management.

Subjunctive after 'querer que'.

A ONU interveio na região por razões humanitárias.

The UN intervened in the region for humanitarian reasons.

Geopolitical context.

Eles haviam intervindo antes do prazo final.

They had intervened before the deadline.

Pluperfect compound 'haviam intervindo'.

A questão é saber se o Estado deve intervir na esfera privada.

The question is whether the State should intervene in the private sphere.

Philosophical/Legal debate context.

Caso a empresa intervier, os lucros podem cair.

In case the company intervenes, profits may fall.

Future Subjunctive after 'caso'.

O autor interveio no texto para dar mais clareza.

The author intervened in the text to provide more clarity.

Abstract usage in literature/editing.

Embora tenha intervindo, ele não resolveu o problema.

Although he intervened, he did not solve the problem.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

A natureza interveio de forma devastadora naquela noite.

Nature intervened in a devastating way that night.

Personification of nature.

É imperativo que a diplomacia intervenha imediatamente.

It is imperative that diplomacy intervenes immediately.

Subjunctive after 'é imperativo'.

O destino interveio e eles se encontraram novamente.

Fate intervened and they met again.

Metaphorical usage.

Sempre que interviermos, devemos ser imparciais.

Whenever we intervene, we must be impartial.

Future Subjunctive first person plural.

A hermenêutica permite-nos intervir no sentido original da obra.

Hermeneutics allows us to intervene in the original meaning of the work.

Highly academic/philosophical context.

O interventor federal interveio na segurança do estado.

The federal intervener intervened in the state's security.

Specific legal/constitutional terminology.

Tivesse o governo intervindo a tempo, a crise seria menor.

Had the government intervened in time, the crisis would be smaller.

Inverted conditional (literary style).

A arte contemporânea busca intervir no espaço urbano.

Contemporary art seeks to intervene in the urban space.

Artistic/Theoretical usage.

Não cabe ao tribunal intervir em questões de foro íntimo.

It is not for the court to intervene in matters of a private nature.

Legal formal register.

A providência divina teria intervindo no desenlace da batalha.

Divine providence would have intervened in the outcome of the battle.

Theological/Historical register.

O biólogo interveio no ecossistema para salvar a espécie.

The biologist intervened in the ecosystem to save the species.

Scientific context.

A volatilidade do mercado exige que intervejamos com cautela.

Market volatility requires us to intervene with caution.

First person plural present subjunctive.

Common Collocations

Intervir na economia

Intervir cirurgicamente

Intervir a favor de

Intervir na briga

Intervir no processo

Intervir diretamente

Intervir militarmente

Intervir pedagogicamente

Intervir no mercado

Intervir a tempo

Common Phrases

Ter que intervir

— To be forced or required to get involved.

Eu tive que intervir para que eles parassem.

Decidir intervir

— To make a choice to step in.

O conselho decidiu intervir na gestão.

Recusar-se a intervir

— To choose not to get involved.

Ela se recusou a intervir na disputa familiar.

Pedir para intervir

— To request that someone else steps in.

Os vizinhos pediram para a polícia intervir.

Tentar intervir

— To make an effort to get involved.

Eu tentei intervir, mas era tarde demais.

Poder intervir

— To have the authority or ability to step in.

Somente o presidente pode intervir neste caso.

Evitar intervir

— To try not to get involved.

Eu tento evitar intervir em assuntos privados.

Precisar intervir

— To need to get involved.

O médico precisou intervir imediatamente.

Saber intervir

— To know the right way or time to step in.

É preciso saber intervir com delicadeza.

Custar a intervir

— To be hesitant or take a long time to step in.

Ele custou a intervir na situação.

Often Confused With

intervir vs Interferir

Interferir is usually negative/meddling; Intervir is usually neutral/helpful.

intervir vs Interver

There is no such word. People mix 'intervir' and 'ver'.

intervir vs Inverter

Means to invert or flip, sounds similar but totally different meaning.

Idioms & Expressions

"Intervir com mão de ferro"

— To intervene in a very strict, harsh, or authoritarian way.

O novo gerente interveio com mão de ferro na empresa.

Formal/Idiomatic

"Intervir no último minuto"

— To step in just before it's too late.

O herói interveio no último minuto.

Neutral

"Intervir de corpo e alma"

— To get involved with total dedication and energy.

Ela interveio de corpo e alma no projeto social.

Informal

"Não intervir nem que a vaca tussa"

— To refuse to intervene under any circumstances (Brazilian idiom).

Eu não intervenho naquela briga nem que a vaca tussa.

Slang/Informal

"Intervir para apagar o fogo"

— To step in to calm a heated situation or crisis.

O RH interveio para apagar o fogo entre os funcionários.

Informal

"Intervir por baixo dos panos"

— To intervene secretly or indirectly.

Dizem que o político interveio por baixo dos panos.

Informal

"Intervir na hora H"

— To intervene at the critical moment.

Ele interveio na hora H e salvou o contrato.

Informal

"Intervir de cima para baixo"

— When authority intervenes in a hierarchical way.

A decisão de intervir veio de cima para baixo.

Business/Formal

"Intervir para inglês ver"

— To intervene just for show, without real effect (Brazilian idiom).

O governo interveio apenas para inglês ver.

Informal

"Intervir com luva de pelica"

— To intervene very diplomatically and gently.

Ele sabe intervir com luva de pelica em conflitos.

Formal/Idiomatic

Easily Confused

intervir vs Interferir

Similar sound and meaning.

Interferir implies an obstruction or unwanted involvement, whereas intervir implies a necessary or purposeful action.

O barulho interfere nos meus estudos. O mediador interveio no conflito.

intervir vs Interceder

Both involve a third party.

Interceder is specifically to plead or speak on behalf of someone else, often in a higher or spiritual context.

Ela intercedeu pelo filho junto ao rei.

intervir vs Mediar

Both involve getting between two parties.

Mediar is strictly about conflict resolution where the party is neutral. Intervir can be one-sided.

Ele foi chamado para mediar a paz.

intervir vs Arbitrar

Both involve making decisions in a dispute.

Arbitrar involves making a final, binding decision as an official judge or referee.

O juiz vai arbitrar o valor da indenização.

intervir vs Meter-se

Colloquial synonym.

Meter-se is informal and often carries a connotation of being nosy or inappropriate.

Não se meta na minha vida!

Sentence Patterns

Eu preciso intervir na [situação].

Eu preciso intervir na briga.

Ele interveio para [verbo].

Ele interveio para ajudar o irmão.

Eles intervieram no [substantivo].

Eles intervieram no debate.

É necessário que o governo intervenha.

É necessário que o governo intervenha na crise.

Se você intervier, [consequência].

Se você intervier, o problema será resolvido.

Tendo o diretor intervindo, [resultado].

Tendo o diretor intervindo, a greve acabou.

Caso ele intervisse, [condicional].

Caso ele intervisse, a situação estaria melhor.

Não cabe a ninguém intervir em [contexto].

Não cabe a ninguém intervir em decisões soberanas.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High in news, medium in daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

Ele interviu na briga. → Ele interveio na briga.
'Intervir' follows 'vir'. The past of 'vir' is 'veio', not 'viu' (which is the past of 'ver').
Eles interveram no processo. → Eles intervieram no processo.
The plural past follows 'vieram'. 'Intervieram' is the correct form.
Eu intervenho a situação. → Eu intervenho na situação.
The verb requires the preposition 'em' (in).
Espero que ele interva. → Espero que ele intervenha.
The present subjunctive follows 'venha'.
Se ele intervir amanhã... → Se ele intervier amanhã...
The future subjunctive follows 'vier'. While 'intervir' is common in casual speech, 'intervier' is the correct grammar.

Tips

The 'Vir' Rule

Always conjugate 'intervir' exactly like 'vir'. If you know 'veio', 'vieram', 'venha', then you know 'interveio', 'intervieram', 'intervenha'.

Political Usage

In Brazil, 'intervenção' is a heavy word. Use 'intervir' carefully when discussing politics as it implies a loss of local autonomy.

Positive vs Negative

Use 'intervir' when you want to sound like a problem-solver. Use 'interferir' when you want to complain about someone meddling.

Nasal 'In'

Don't say 'een-ter-veer'. The first syllable is a nasal 'i'. Practice by saying 'in' while holding your nose.

Accents Matter

In written Portuguese, the difference between 'intervém' (one person) and 'intervêm' (many people) is the only way to show the subject if the noun is omitted.

News Keywords

When you hear 'Banco Central' or 'Crise', listen for 'interveio'. It is the most common verb in these news reports.

Softening Interventions

To sound more polite, use 'pedir licença para intervir' (to ask permission to intervene).

Clinical Terms

If a doctor says they need to 'intervir', they are usually talking about a specific procedure or surgery.

Inter-Come

Think: 'I come (vir) between (inter)'. Inter-vir. It's a physical movement into a situation.

Meeting Language

Use 'Posso intervir?' to politely interrupt or add a point in a formal meeting.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Inter' (between) + 'Vir' (to come). To intervir is to 'come between'. If you know 'vir' (to come), you've already won half the battle!

Visual Association

Imagine a referee in a black and white shirt blowing a whistle and stepping between two angry football players. That is 'intervir'.

Word Web

Ação Ajuda Conflito Governo Médico Mediação Paz Mudança

Challenge

Try to conjugate 'intervir' in the past tense for 'I', 'He', and 'They' without looking at a chart. (Hint: I = intervim, He = interveio, They = intervieram).

Word Origin

From Latin 'intervenire', composed of 'inter' (between) and 'venire' (to come).

Original meaning: To come between, to occur, to happen.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'intervir' in personal matters; it can sound accusatory if someone feels you are overstepping boundaries. 'Interferir' is almost always seen as negative.

English speakers often use 'intervene' in formal contexts, but in Portuguese, 'intervir' is slightly more common in semi-formal speech than 'intervene' is in English.

Intervenção (2021) - A Brazilian film about the police and UPPs in Rio. The term 'Interventor' is historically linked to Getúlio Vargas in Brazil. Legal texts often cite the 'poder de intervir' of the State.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conflicts

Intervir na briga
Intervir na discussão
Parar o conflito
Mediar a situação

Politics

Intervenção estatal
Intervir na economia
Intervir militarmente
Decreto de intervenção

Medical

Intervir cirurgicamente
Intervir no tratamento
Intervenção médica
Procedimento invasivo

Workplace

Intervir na gestão
Intervir na reunião
RH precisa intervir
Mediação de conflitos

Education

Intervenção pedagógica
Intervir no aprendizado
Apoio do professor
Plano de intervenção

Conversation Starters

"Você acha que o governo deve intervir na economia?"

"Alguma vez você teve que intervir em uma briga de amigos?"

"Quando é o momento certo para um pai intervir na vida de um filho adulto?"

"Você prefere intervir ou ficar fora de discussões alheias?"

"Em que situações um médico deve intervir imediatamente?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma vez que você interveio em uma situação difícil e qual foi o resultado.

Reflita sobre a diferença entre intervir para ajudar e interferir sem permissão.

O que aconteceria se ninguém quisesse intervir em problemas sociais importantes?

Descreva uma situação no seu trabalho onde a gerência precisou intervir.

Como você se sente quando alguém tenta intervir nas suas decisões pessoais?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'interviu' is a common mistake. The correct past tense for 'he/she intervened' is 'interveio'. This is because 'intervir' follows the conjugation of the verb 'vir' (to come), and the past of 'vir' is 'veio'.

The most common preposition is 'em'. You intervene 'in' something. For example: 'intervir na (em+a) discussão' or 'intervir no (em+o) mercado'.

'Intervir' is generally seen as a proactive, often helpful or formal action to solve a problem. 'Interferir' usually means meddling or causing a disturbance in a process where you aren't wanted.

The correct form is 'Eu intervenho'. It is highly irregular, just like 'Eu venho' (I come).

It is neutral to formal. It is the standard word used in news, medicine, and law. In very informal speech, people might use 'meter-se' instead.

The correct form for 'they intervened' is 'intervieram'. It follows 'vieram' (they came).

Yes, 'intervir cirurgicamente' is a very common medical expression meaning to perform an operation.

The noun is 'intervenção' (intervention). For example: 'A intervenção foi um sucesso'.

In the present subjunctive, it is 'intervenha' (e.g., 'Espero que ele intervenha'). In the future subjunctive, it is 'intervier' (e.g., 'Se ele intervier').

Yes. In the third person singular, it is 'ele intervém' (acute accent). In the third person plural, it is 'eles intervêm' (circumflex accent).