表达年龄:我“有”多少岁 (Ter + Anos)
ter。
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Portuguese, you don't 'be' an age, you 'have' years.
- Use the verb 'ter' (to have) instead of 'ser' (to be). Example: 'Eu tenho 20 anos.'
- Always include the word 'anos' (years) at the end. Example: 'Ela tem 30 anos.'
- The verb 'ter' must match the subject. Example: 'Nós temos 15 anos.'
Overview
to be (e.g., I *am* 30 years old), Portuguese exclusively employs the verb
ter (to have). This is not merely a stylistic choice but a core grammatical principle where age is perceived as a possession rather than an inherent state of being.ter + [number] + anos is the only idiomatic way to convey age for individuals, animals, and even inanimate objects. Mastering this concept early will significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension, aligning your linguistic intuition with that of native speakers.Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | Translation | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------- | :---------- | :------------------------ | :------------------------ | :----------------------------------------- | ||
eu |
tenho |
Eu tenho 25 anos. |
I am 25 years old. | |||
tu |
tens |
Tu tens 30 anos. |
You (informal singular) are 30 years old. | Predominant in European Portuguese, some parts of Brazil. | ||
você |
tem |
Você tem 20 anos. |
You (formal/informal singular) are 20 years old. | Standard in Brazilian Portuguese, often replaces tu in EP. |
||
ele/ela |
tem |
Ele tem 40 anos. |
He/she is 40 years old. | |||
nós |
temos |
Nós temos 18 anos. |
We are 18 years old. | |||
vocês |
têm |
Vocês têm 22 anos. |
You all are 22 years old. | Note the circumflex accent for plural. | ||
eles/elas |
têm |
Eles têm 50 anos. |
They are 50 years old. | Note the circumflex accent for plural. |
How This Grammar Works
ter, a numerical value, and the noun anos (years). This structure consistently applies regardless of the subject's gender or plurality. The pattern is rigid and allows for very little deviation in formal or semi-formal contexts.Eu tenho [number] anos. If discussing someone else's age, the appropriate conjugated form of ter is used: Ela tem 35 anos (She is 35 years old). This construction treats years as countable units that one possesses, aligning with the literal meaning of ter as to have. The absence of to be verbs (ser or estar) in this context is non-negotiable; their usage for age constitutes a fundamental grammatical error.year-unit to your collection. This perspective helps in internalizing the ter construction.Formation Pattern
ter: This depends on the subject pronoun or noun. For example, for «I,» use tenho; for he/she/it/you (singular),use
tem; for they/you (plural), use têm.
Eu tenho...
Minha irmã tem...
Meus pais têm...
oito instead of 8), but for age, numerals are commonly accepted even in moderate formality.
...vinte e cinco... (twenty-five)
...quarenta... (forty)
...sete... (seven)
anos: This word, meaning years, is almost always necessary to complete the expression. Omitting it can lead to ambiguity or sound incomplete in most contexts.
...anos.
Meu irmão tem dezesseis anos (My brother is sixteen years old). The structure remains consistent: Subject + ter + Number + anos.
When To Use It
ter + [number] + anos construction is universally applied in Portuguese whenever you refer to the age of any subject capable of having an age. This includes people, animals, and even inanimate objects or abstract entities like organizations and countries. Its application is broad and non-negotiable.- For people: This is the most common use. You will use it daily to state your own age or inquire about others'.
Minha avó tem noventa e dois anos.(My grandmother is ninety-two years old.)Quantos anos tem o seu filho?(How old is your son? / How many years does your son have?)
- For animals: Pets, wild animals, or even the age of an animal in a story use the same structure.
Meu cachorro tem três anos.(My dog is three years old.)O elefante tem quarenta anos.(The elephant is forty years old.)
- For inanimate objects or abstract entities: Buildings, companies, traditions, or countries also
haveyears in Portuguese, denoting their age or duration. Esta casa tem duzentos anos.(This house is two hundred years old.)A empresa tem dez anos de existência.(The company is ten years old / has ten years of existence.)O Brasil tem mais de quinhentos anos.(Brazil is more than five hundred years old.)
years.When Not To Use It
ter for age is understanding when not to use alternative verbs. For A1 learners, the temptation to translate directly from English to be is strong, leading to the incorrect use of ser or estar. In Portuguese, these verbs are strictly *forbidden* when expressing age.- Avoid
ser: The verbserdescribes permanent characteristics, identity, or essence. SayingEu sou 25 anosliterally translates toI am the essence of 25 years.
This is conceptually absurd to a native speaker and will be understood as a fundamental error, not merely an awkward phrasing. You *are* a student (Eu sou estudante), but you *have* years (Eu tenho anos).
- Avoid
estar: The verbestardescribes temporary states, conditions, or locations. SayingEu estou 25 anoswould imply a temporary state of being 25 years old, as if you might stop being 25 at any moment not because a birthday passes, but because your *state* changes. This is equally incorrect and nonsensical in the context of age. You *are* tired (Eu estou cansado), but you *have* years (Eu tenho anos).
ser might appear in a discussion about age is in a question like Qual é a sua idade? (What is your age?), where idade (age) is a noun, and ser links it to a characteristic. However, the *answer* to this question will always revert to ter: Minha idade é [number], eu tenho [number] anos.Common Mistakes
- 1Using
serorestarinstead ofter: This is by far the most common and significant error. As explained,Eu sou 25 anosorEu estou 25 anosare fundamentally incorrect. The conceptual gap between English (being age) and Portuguese (having age) is the primary driver of this mistake. Always default toter.
- Incorrect:
Minha mãe é quarenta anos. - Correct:
Minha mãe tem quarenta anos.(My mother is forty years old.)
- 1Omitting
anos: While in very informal contexts or when context is overwhelmingly clear (e.g., responding to a bouncer asking for ID), you might hearEu tenho 18, it is generally considered incomplete and potentially ambiguous. For A1 learners, always includeanosto ensure clarity and correctness.
- Ambiguous/Informal:
Ele tem vinte. - Clear/Correct:
Ele tem vinte anos.(He is twenty years old.)
- 1Confusing
temandtêm: The presence or absence of the circumflex accent distinguishes singular (você/ele/ela tem) from plural (vocês/eles/elas têm). This is a common spelling error even among native speakers in casual online communication, but it is a grammatical mistake in formal writing.
- Incorrect:
Meus amigos tem trinta anos. - Correct:
Meus amigos têm trinta anos.(My friends are thirty years old.)
- 1Direct translation of
old: You should not translateolddirectly with adjectives likevelhooridosowhen expressing numerical age.Eu sou velhomeansI am old,but not in the context of specific years. The phraseter X anosinherently conveys the concept of being X years of age.
- 1Politeness in asking age: While grammatically correct to ask
Quantos anos você tem?, it can sometimes be perceived as direct or impolite, similar to English. A more polite alternative, especially for adults you don't know well, isQual é a sua idade?(What is your age?). This question usesserbecause it's asking about the nounidade(age), but the answer still usester.
- Direct:
Quantos anos a professora tem? - Polite:
Qual é a idade da professora?
Memory Trick
To consistently remember to use ter for age, consider the concept of collecting or possessing something tangible. Imagine each year of your life as a small, valuable trophy or a piece of currency. Every birthday, you *receive* another one. Therefore, you don't *are* the trophy; you *have* it.
- Think of your years as possessions. You *have* a car, you *have* a dog, and you *have* years.
- Visualize a dragon hoarding its gold. The dragon *has* gold. Similarly, you *have* your years.
- Relate it to other ter expressions for temporary states or feelings, which are also treated as possessions (covered in
Contrast With Similar Patterns). This creates a consistent mental model: if it's a temporary state or something you can accumulate, you probably *have* it in Portuguese.
This mental image reinforces the possessive nature of the verb ter and helps disassociate age from the verb ser (to be), which implies a permanent, unchanging identity. The more you connect age to the idea of a measurable, accumulable quantity rather than an intrinsic quality, the more natural the ter + anos construction will become.
Real Conversations
Understanding how this grammar rule functions in authentic dialogue is crucial for practical application. Here are common conversational exchanges you might encounter in Portuguese-speaking environments, demonstrating various contexts and levels of formality.
1. Basic Introduction (Formal/Neutral):
- Speaker A: Olá, sou Ana. Quantos anos você tem? (Hello, I'm Ana. How old are you?)
- Speaker B: Prazer, Ana. Eu tenho vinte e três anos. (Nice to meet you, Ana. I am twenty-three years old.)
2. Informal Chat (Brazilian Portuguese):
- Speaker A: E a Maria, quantos anos ela tem agora? (And Maria, how old is she now?)
- Speaker B: Ah, a Maria? Ela tem trinta anos. Fez aniversário mês passado. (Oh, Maria? She is thirty years old. Her birthday was last month.)
3. Discussing a group (European Portuguese):
- Speaker A: Os vossos filhos já são grandes? Quantos anos eles têm? (Are your children already grown? How old are they?)
- Speaker B: Sim, o mais velho tem quinze e as gémeas têm doze anos. (Yes, the eldest is fifteen and the twins are twelve years old.)
4. Very Informal/Texting (Brazilian Portuguese):
- Friend A: Aniver da Joana! Quantos anos ela faz? (Joana's birthday! How old is she turning?)
- Friend B: Ela faz 28. Juro que pensei que ela tinha 25! (She's turning 28. I swear I thought she was 25!)
- *Note the slight difference here: fazer X anos means
to turn X years old,but the statement of current age still uses
ter (tinha is past tense of ter).*
These examples illustrate that while the core structure remains ter + [number] + anos, the context (formal vs. informal, singular vs. plural) dictates the conjugation of ter and the use of pronouns. In very casual written communication, especially texting, you may see anos omitted, or simply the number provided, but for speaking or more formal writing, the complete structure is expected.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
ter to express age is not an isolated grammatical peculiarity but part of a broader linguistic pattern in Portuguese where various states or conditions, which in English are typically expressed with to be, are instead treated as possessions. Understanding this larger framework strengthens your grasp of Portuguese logic.I am hungry, I am thirsty, I am cold, or I am afraid. In Portuguese, these are all expressed with ter, implying that you *have* these sensations or states:Eu tenho fome | I have hunger | I am hungry |Eu tenho sede | I have thirst | I am thirsty |Eu tenho frio | I have cold | I am cold |\Eu tenho calor | I have heat | I am hot |\Eu tenho sono | I have sleep | I am sleepy |\Eu tenho medo | I have fear | I am afraid |\Eu tenho sorte | I have luck | I am lucky |\Eu tenho pressa | I have hurry | I am in a hurry |\Eu tenho razão | I have reason | I am right |\ser implies) nor *temporary attributes* (like estar implies) but rather *transient possessions* one experiences. Age fits perfectly into this paradigm as a quantifiable collection of years you possess. Recognizing this broader pattern helps to internalize the ter for age rule as logical rather than arbitrary, fostering a deeper understanding of Portuguese grammar.Progressive Practice
To solidify your understanding and fluent application of ter for expressing age, engage in a series of progressively more challenging practice activities. Move beyond passive recognition to active production.
Listen and Identify: Actively listen to native speakers (podcasts, videos, conversations) and specifically identify instances of ter + anos. Note the conjugation and context.
- Example: Hear Meu avô tem oitenta anos. (My grandfather is eighty years old.)
Self-Correction Drills: Practice mentally converting English age statements into Portuguese. Explicitly pause and correct yourself if you instinctively use ser or estar.
- Think: My sister is 20. -> Mentally correct: Minha irmã tem vinte anos.
Personal Statements: Start by consistently stating your own age and the ages of immediate family members, friends, and pets. This builds confidence with familiar subjects.
- Eu tenho trinta e um anos.
- Minha gata tem cinco anos.
Inquiring About Others: Practice asking politely about the ages of people you meet (when appropriate) or discussing the ages of public figures, historical events, or even inanimate objects.
- Quantos anos tem o presidente do Brasil? (How old is the president of Brazil?)
- Qual é a idade do Coliseu? (What is the age of the Colosseum?)
Written Practice: Write short paragraphs describing people or things, including their age. Pay close attention to the correct tem vs. têm distinction.
-
*Minha amiga, Sofia, tem vinte e sete anos. Ela é professora e seus alunos têm entre sete e nove anos.*(My friend, Sofia, is twenty-seven years old. She is a teacher and her students are between seven and nine years old.)
By engaging in these varied practice methods, you move from simply knowing the rule to internalizing it, making its application intuitive and automatic in real-time communication.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Do I always have to say
anos? - A: In most formal and semi-formal contexts, yes,
anosis necessary for clarity and grammatical completeness. In extremely casual speech or texting, if the context is absolutely unambiguous (e.g., replying to a direct age query), it might be omitted, but this is not recommended for learners.
- Q: What if someone is not yet a year old?
- A: For ages under one year, you use
meses(months). The structure remains the same:O bebê tem seis meses.(The baby is six months old.)
- Q: How do I ask someone's age politely?
- A: While
Quantos anos você tem?is grammatically correct,Qual é a sua idade?(What is your age?) is generally considered a more polite and softer way to ask, especially for adults you don't know well. The answer, however, will always useter.
- Q: Is there a difference between Brazilian and European Portuguese here?
- A: The fundamental grammatical rule of
ter + [number] + anosis identical in both variants. The main difference lies in pronoun usage: European Portuguese more frequently usestu tens, while Brazilian Portuguese almost exclusively usesvocê tem(even in informal contexts wheretumight be used in EP).
- Q: Why does
têmhave a circumflex accent? - A: The circumflex accent on
têmserves to visually distinguish the third-person plural form (they/you all) from the third-person singular formtem(he/she/you singular) in writing. This orthographic rule prevents ambiguity in written communication.
- Q: Can
terbe used for the age of inanimate objects or concepts? - A: Absolutely. The rule applies broadly. You can say
A catedral tem quinhentos anos(The cathedral is five hundred years old) orNossa amizade tem dez anos(Our friendship is ten years old).
- Q: Is it rude to ask age in Portuguese-speaking cultures?
- A: This depends on the context and relationship, similar to English. It's generally fine to ask friends or peers. Exercise caution with older individuals or in very formal settings where such questions might be seen as intrusive. Starting with
Qual é a sua idade?is often a safer approach.
Conjugation of 'Ter' (Present Tense)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
tenho
|
I have
|
|
Você/Ele/Ela
|
tem
|
You/He/She has
|
|
Nós
|
temos
|
We have
|
|
Vocês/Eles/Elas
|
têm
|
They have
|
Meanings
The construction used to express biological age in Portuguese, utilizing the verb 'ter' (to have).
Biological Age
Stating how many years a person or thing has existed.
“Eu tenho 20 anos.”
“O meu irmão tem 10 anos.”
Reference Table
| 人称代词 | 动词 (Ter) | 例子 | 中文意思 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
tenho
|
Eu tenho 20 anos.
|
我20岁。
|
|
Tu
|
tens
|
Tu tens 25 anos.
|
你25岁(葡萄牙常用)。
|
|
Você
|
tem
|
Você tem 30 anos.
|
你30岁(巴西/正式)。
|
|
Ele/Ela
|
tem
|
Ela tem 18 anos.
|
她18岁。
|
|
Nós
|
temos
|
Nós temos 40 anos.
|
我们40岁。
|
|
Vocês
|
têm
|
Vocês têm 50 anos.
|
你们50岁。
|
|
Eles/Elas
|
têm
|
Eles têm 60 anos.
|
他们60岁。
|
正式程度
Qual é a sua idade? (Meeting someone)
Quantos anos você tem? (Meeting someone)
Quantos anos você tem? (Meeting someone)
Quantos anos? (Meeting someone)
用 Ter 表达年龄
单数
- Eu tenho 我有
- Você tem 你有
复数
- Nós temos 我们有
- Eles têm 他们有
英语 vs 葡萄牙语思维
该用哪个 'Tem'?
主语是单数吗(他、她、你)?
主语是复数吗(他们、你们)?
常用年龄短语
询问
- • Quantos anos você tem?
- • Qual é a sua idade?
告知
- • Eu tenho 20 anos
- • Tenho 25
- • Ela tem 18 anos
按水平分级的例句
Eu tenho 20 anos.
I am 20 years old.
Ela tem 5 anos.
She is 5 years old.
Quantos anos você tem?
How old are you?
Nós temos 30 anos.
We are 30 years old.
O meu carro tem 10 anos.
My car is 10 years old.
Eles têm 40 anos de casados.
They have been married for 40 years.
Você tem quantos anos?
How old are you?
Não tenho 20 anos ainda.
I am not 20 years old yet.
A empresa tem 50 anos de história.
The company has 50 years of history.
Eles têm 18 anos e já trabalham.
They are 18 years old and already work.
Quantos anos tem este monumento?
How old is this monument?
Eu tenho 25 anos, e você?
I am 25, and you?
Embora tenha 80 anos, ele corre todos os dias.
Although he is 80, he runs every day.
Dizem que o edifício tem mais de 100 anos.
They say the building is over 100 years old.
Ela tem a idade que eu tinha há dez anos.
She is the age I was ten years ago.
Não importa quantos anos você tem.
It doesn't matter how old you are.
O projeto tem 5 anos de execução.
The project has 5 years of execution.
Tendo 30 anos de carreira, ele sabe tudo.
Having 30 years of career, he knows everything.
Quantos anos tem a civilização maia?
How old is the Mayan civilization?
Eles têm 20 anos de amizade.
They have 20 years of friendship.
A instituição, que tem 200 anos, foi reformada.
The institution, which is 200 years old, was renovated.
Por mais que tenha 90 anos, sua mente é ágil.
Even though he is 90, his mind is agile.
Quantos anos tem o universo, segundo a ciência?
How old is the universe, according to science?
Eles têm 50 anos de casados, uma marca rara.
They have been married for 50 years, a rare milestone.
容易混淆
Learners often use 'ser' because English uses 'to be'.
Learners forget the accent for plural subjects.
Learners try to use 'idade' with the verb 'ter'.
常见错误
Eu sou 20 anos.
Eu tenho 20 anos.
Eu tenho 20.
Eu tenho 20 anos.
Eu tem 20 anos.
Eu tenho 20 anos.
Quantos anos você é?
Quantos anos você tem?
Eles tem 20 anos.
Eles têm 20 anos.
Nós tem 20 anos.
Nós temos 20 anos.
Qual é a sua idade? Eu sou 20.
Qual é a sua idade? Eu tenho 20 anos.
O prédio tem 50.
O prédio tem 50 anos.
Eles têm 20 anos de idade.
Eles têm 20 anos.
Ela tem 20 anos de idade.
Ela tem 20 anos.
Tendo 20 anos, ele é jovem.
Com 20 anos, ele é jovem.
A idade dele é 20 anos.
Ele tem 20 anos.
Ele possui 20 anos.
Ele tem 20 anos.
句型
Eu tenho ___ anos.
Meu irmão tem ___ anos.
Quantos anos ___ você tem?
Eles têm ___ anos de casados.
Real World Usage
Tenho 25 anos.
Tenho 30 anos de experiência.
Quantos anos o paciente tem?
Tenho 28 anos.
O aluno tem 7 anos.
Tenho mais de 18 anos.
小心“我是”陷阱
省略主语更地道
其他的“拥有”
Smart Tips
Always add 'anos' at the end.
Use the plural 'têm' with the circumflex accent.
Use 'Qual é a sua idade?'
Use 'ter' just like you do for people.
发音
Nasalization
The 'ão' in 'anos' is nasal. Practice by humming through your nose.
Question intonation
Quantos anos você tem? ↗
Rising pitch at the end for questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of your age as a treasure you 'have' in your pocket.
视觉联想
Imagine holding a birthday cake with candles. You aren't the cake; you possess the years represented by the candles.
Rhyme
To say how old you are today, use 'ter' and not 'ser', okay?
Story
Maria is at a party. She meets a boy. She asks, 'Quantos anos você tem?' He smiles and says, 'Eu tenho 25 anos.' They become friends.
Word Web
挑战
Write down the ages of 5 family members using the 'ter' structure.
文化笔记
In Brazil, 'você' is the standard pronoun. 'Tu' is used in some regions but 'tem' remains the same.
In Portugal, 'tu' is very common among friends and uses 'tens'.
In formal settings, asking 'Qual é a sua idade?' is preferred over 'Quantos anos você tem?'.
Comes from Latin 'habere', meaning to have or hold.
对话开场白
Quantos anos você tem?
Quantos anos tem o seu melhor amigo?
Qual é a idade da sua mãe?
Você acha que a idade importa?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Eu ___ 28 anos.
选择语法正确的句子:
Find and fix the mistake:
Nós somos vinte anos.
Score: /3
练习题
8 exercisesEu ___ 20 anos.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eles tem 20 anos.
anos / 20 / tenho / Eu
She is 10 years old.
Nós ___ 20 anos.
A: Quantos anos você tem? B: ___ 25 anos.
Match: Eu, Eles, Nós
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesQuantos ___ você tem?
Eles tem 15 anos.
anos / tem / vinte / ele
我18岁。
选择正确的提问格式:
匹配各项
Minhas irmãs ___ 12 anos.
você / anos / tem / quantos / ?
Eu tenho 30 ano.
我父亲50岁。
Tu ___ dezoito anos.
Score: /11
常见问题 (8)
It is common in casual speech, but 'Eu tenho 20 anos' is always correct.
It marks the plural form to distinguish it from the singular 'tem'.
Yes, for biological age, 'ter' is the only correct verb.
You can say 'Eu tenho muitos anos' (I have many years), but that is rare.
Yes, buildings, cars, and projects all use 'ter'.
No, never use 'ser' for age.
Use 'Qual é a sua idade?'
Yes, it becomes 'tive' or 'tinha', but that is a different lesson.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tener X años
Pronunciation of 'años' vs 'anos'.
Avoir X ans
French uses 'ans' instead of 'anos'.
X Jahre alt sein
German uses 'to be' + 'old', while Portuguese uses 'to have' + 'years'.
X 歳です (X-sai desu)
Japanese does not use a verb like 'have' for age.
عمره X سنة (Umruhu X sana)
Arabic uses a noun-based structure.
我 X 岁 (Wǒ X suì)
Chinese does not use a verb for age.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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