提问:谁、什么、哪里(疑问词)
é que 瞬间变身本地人!关键工具:Quem, O que, Onde。
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Portuguese, you simply place the interrogative word at the start of the sentence and add a question mark at the end.
- Use 'Quem' for people: 'Quem é você?' (Who are you?)
- Use 'O que' for things: 'O que é isto?' (What is this?)
- Use 'Onde' for places: 'Onde você mora?' (Where do you live?)
Overview
How This Grammar Works
Quem: Who? Refers exclusively to people. It is invariant in gender and number. Example:Quem é você?(Who are you?)O que/Que: What? Used for inanimate objects, concepts, or actions.O queis generally used when 'what' is the object or subject of a verb, whileQueoften precedes a noun. Example:O que você quer?(What do you want?) andQue livro você está lendo?(What book are you reading?)Onde: Where? Indicates a static location. It is invariant. Example:Onde fica o banheiro?(Where is the bathroom?)Quando: When? Refers to time. It is invariant. Example:Quando é a sua aula?(When is your class?)Como: How? or What? Asks about manner, method, or quality. It is invariant. Example:Como você está?(How are you?)Por que(orPor quê): Why? Inquires about reasons.Por queis used at the beginning or in the middle of a question, whilePor quêis used at the end. Example:Por que você está aqui?(Why are you here?)Qual(pluralQuais): Which? or What? Used when there is a choice or selection from a defined or implied set. It agrees in number. Example:Qual é o seu nome?(What is your name? - implying 'which one' among all possible names) orQuais são os seus livros favoritos?(Which are your favorite books?)Quanto(andQuanta,Quantos,Quantas): How much? or How many? Asks about quantity. This interrogative inflects for gender and number to agree with the noun it modifies. Example:Quanto tempo você tem?(How much time do you have?) orQuantas pessoas vêm?(How many people are coming?)
Word Order Rules
- 1Standard/Formal Structure:
Interrogative Word + Verb + Subject. This mirrors a more traditional or formal linguistic structure, prevalent in European Portuguese and formal Brazilian Portuguese. The verb often appears immediately after the interrogative, followed by the subject. Example:Onde mora o seu irmão?(Where does your brother live?). This structure maintains a clear separation, making it unambiguous.
- 1Casual/Common Structure:
Interrogative Word + Subject + Verb. This is exceptionally common in informal Brazilian Portuguese and increasingly present in spoken European Portuguese. The subject is placed between the interrogative word and the verb, resembling a declarative sentence with an interrogative prefix. Example:Onde o seu irmão mora?(Where your brother lives?). Both structures are grammatically correct, with the latter often sounding more natural in everyday conversation.
é que Construction:é que (literally 'is it that') after an interrogative word. This construction does not alter the question's meaning but serves to emphasize the interrogative and can make the question sound more natural and rhythmic to native speakers. It is particularly prevalent in European Portuguese, where it is often considered mandatory in certain contexts, and also widely used in Brazilian Portuguese.- Structure:
Interrogative Word + é que + Subject + Verb(orVerb + Subject) - Example (BP):
Onde é que você trabalha?(Where is it that you work? / Where do you work?) - Example (EP):
Quem é que te ligou?(Who is it that called you? / Who called you?)
é que can sometimes sound abrupt or overly formal, depending on the context and region.- Example:
Você vai para onde?!(You're going *where*?!) - Implies shock or a demand for clarification.
Formation Pattern
Quem for a person, Onde for a place, O que for a thing/action).
Where | Onde | Where |
is (from ser) | é | is |
the book (o livro) | o livro | the book |
Onde é o livro? | Where is the book? |
Quando chega o trem? (When arrives the train? / When does the train arrive?)
Quando o trem chega? (When the train arrives? / When does the train arrive?)
é que:
é que construction can be seamlessly integrated into this pattern to enhance naturalness. It typically slots in directly after the interrogative word.
What | O que | What |
é que | é que | (literal: is it that) |
you want (você quer) | você quer | you want |
O que é que você quer? | What is it that you want? |
When To Use It
Quem):- Use
Quemto identify individuals or groups of people. It never changes form. Quem está na porta?(Who is at the door?)Quem são essas pessoas?(Who are those people?)Quem te disse isso?(Who told you that?)
O que / Que):- Use
O quewhen asking about a general concept, an action, or when 'what' acts as the subject or object of a verb without a noun immediately following. For example,O que é isso?(What is this?) - asking for identification of an unknown item.O que você faz?(What do you do?). - Use
Quedirectly before a noun to inquire about the type or specific instance of that noun. For example,Que tipo de música você gosta?(What type of music do you like?).Que cor você prefere?(What color do you prefer?).
Onde / Aonde):- Use
Ondefor static locations, inquiring about where something is situated. It answers the questionat what place?For instance,Onde está a chave?(Where is the key?).Onde você mora?(Where do you live?) - Use
Aonde(orOndewith a verb of movement) for dynamic locations, inquiring about where something is going. It answers the questionto what place?Theainaondeacts as a preposition indicating direction. For example,Aonde você vai?(Where are you going?) - In informal Brazilian Portuguese,
Ondeis very often used for both static and dynamic locations, makingAondeless common in everyday speech. However, in formal contexts and European Portuguese, the distinction is maintained.
Quando):- Use
Quandoto ask about specific times, dates, or periods. It is straightforward and invariant. Quando começa o filme?(When does the movie start?)Quando você viaja?(When are you traveling?)
Como):- Use
Comoto inquire about how something is done, its state, or its quality. Como se faz isso?(How is this done?)Como está o tempo?(How is the weather?)
Por que / Por quê):- Use
Por que(two words) at the beginning or in the middle of a question. It means 'for what reason?'. Por que você riu?(Why did you laugh?)- Use
Por quê(two words, with accent) at the end of a question. This accent is mandatory due to the word ending a phrase and carrying primary stress. Você não veio por quê?(You didn't come why? / Why didn't you come?)
Qual / Quais):- Use
Qual(singular) orQuais(plural) when there's an implied or explicit selection from a group of options. It asks for 'which one' or 'which ones'. Qual é o seu número de telefone?(Which is your phone number?)Quais sapatos você prefere?(Which shoes do you prefer?)
Quanto / Quanta / Quantos / Quantas):- This interrogative must agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to. It directly precedes the noun.
Quanto dinheiro você tem?(How much money do you have?) -dinheirois masculine singular.Quanta água você bebe?(How much water do you drink?) -águais feminine singular.Quantos anos você tem?(How many years do you have? / How old are you?) -anosis masculine plural.Quantas cadeiras precisamos?(How many chairs do we need?) -cadeirasis feminine plural.
- A critical distinction from English is the placement of prepositions. In Portuguese, prepositions always precede the interrogative word they govern. This avoids ending sentences with prepositions, which is grammatically incorrect in Portuguese.
Quem você está falando com? | Com quem você está falando? |O que você está procurando por? | Pelo que você está procurando? (or O que você procura?) |Onde você é de? | De onde você é? |para quem (for whom/to whom), em que (in what), de que (of what)).Common Mistakes
- 1Ending Questions with Prepositions: This is a pervasive error for English speakers. Portuguese syntax dictates that prepositions must precede the interrogative word. Saying
Quem você está com?is grammatically incorrect and jarring to native speakers. The correct form isCom quem você está?(With whom are you?). This rule is absolute and applies uniformly.
- 1Confusing
QualandQue:
Queprimarily means 'what' or 'which' when followed directly by a noun, asking for a general type or specific instance within a category. Example:Que livro você quer?(What/Which book do you want?)Qual(orQuaisfor plural) means 'which' or 'what' when there's an inherent selection from a set, even if unspecified. It often precedes a form ofser(to be) or stands alone. Example:Qual é a sua cor favorita?(What/Which is your favorite color?).Qualimplies choosing one from many colors. A common mistake is askingQue é o seu nome?(What is your name?), which sounds like asking for the *definition* of a name. The correct usage isQual é o seu nome?(Which is your name? - implying choice from all possible names).
- 1Forgetting Pluralization of
Qual: When inquiring about multiple items or concepts where selection is involved,Qualmust be pluralized toQuais. A common error is usingQual são seus filmes favoritos?instead ofQuais são seus filmes favoritos?(Which are your favorite movies?).
- 1Misusing
Por quevs.Porquevs.Por quêvs.Porquê: This is a frequent source of confusion, especially in written Portuguese.
Por que(separate, no accent): Used at the beginning or in the middle of an interrogative sentence. Example:Por que você não veio?(Why did you not come?)Porque(together, no accent): Used for answers or explanations, meaning 'because'. Example:Não vim porque estava doente.(I didn't come because I was sick.)Por quê(separate, with accent): Used whenpor quecomes at the end of a question, immediately before punctuation, or when it is followed by a pause. Example:Você não falou por quê?(You didn't speak why?)O porquê(together, with accent, preceded by article): Functions as a noun meaning 'the reason' or 'the motive'. Example:Eu quero saber o porquê.(I want to know the reason.)
- 1Incorrect Agreement with
Quanto:Quanto(how much/many) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Failure to do so is a clear grammatical error. For example, sayingQuanto pessoas?is incorrect becausepessoas(people) is feminine plural. The correct form isQuantas pessoas?(How many people?). This error highlights a lack of attention to nominal agreement, a fundamental aspect of Portuguese grammar.
- 1Confusing
O queandQue(again): While related to point 2, this specific error pertains to their use with or without a following noun.
O quetypically stands alone or precedes a verb when the 'what' is the subject or object of that verb. Example:O que aconteceu?(What happened?)Queis generally a determiner, always preceding a noun. Example:Que dia é hoje?(What day is today?)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Onde vs. Aonde:Onde: Indicates static location (where something *is*). It answers the questionin what place?. The implied verb is one of state or being, likeestar(to be) ormorar(to live).Onde você está?(Where are you [located]?)Onde fica a estação?(Where is the station [situated]?)Aonde: Indicates destination or motion to a place (where something is *going*). It answers the questionto what place?. It is formed from the prepositiona(to) andonde. The implied verb is one of movement, such asir(to go) orviajar(to travel).Aonde você vai?(Where are you going [to]?)Aonde eles viajaram?(Where did they travel [to]?)
Onde for both static and dynamic locations, potentially omitting Aonde entirely in casual speech. Learners aiming for broader comprehension and production should understand both uses, but be aware of regional tendencies.Qual vs. O que (further clarification):O que(orQuebefore a noun): Seeks a general definition, explanation, or unspecified information. It implies a broad inquiry. UseO quewhen the response could be almost anything, without a pre-defined set of options.O que você faz no seu tempo livre?(What do you do in your free time?) - open-ended.O que é gramática?(What is grammar?) - asking for a definition.Qual(orQuais): Seeks a specific choice or selection from a group of known or implied options. It implies a narrower inquiry where the answer is one among several possibilities.Qual é o seu livro favorito?(Which is your favorite book?) - implying a choice from all books you've read.Qual destas camisas você prefere?(Which of these shirts do you prefer?) - explicit choice.
O que) or *which specific item* (Qual). When asking for names, phone numbers, or addresses, Qual is almost always preferred because these are considered selections from a vast, yet finite, set of possibilities (Qual é o seu nome? - *which* specific name is yours?).Real Conversations
Understanding how interrogatives function in theoretical grammar is foundational; observing their application in authentic dialogue solidifies comprehension. These examples demonstrate the natural, fluid use of question words in contemporary Portuguese conversations, reflecting both formal and informal registers.
Scenario 1: Casual Meeting (Brazilian Portuguese, informal)
João: Oi! Tudo bem? (Hi! All good?)
Maria: Tudo ótimo! E você, João? (All great! And you, João?)
João: Bem também. O que você vai fazer hoje à noite? (Good too. What are you going to do tonight?)
Maria: Ah, não sei ainda. Por que? (Oh, I don't know yet. Why?)
João: É que tem uma festa na casa do Pedro. Você quer ir? (It's just that there's a party at Pedro's house. Do you want to go?)
Maria: Legal! Onde é a casa dele? (Cool! Where is his house?)
João: É na rua Augusta, perto do parque. Com quem você quer ir? (It's on Augusta street, near the park. With whom do you want to go?)
Maria: Acho que vou com a Ana. Que horas começa a festa? (I think I'll go with Ana. What time does the party start?)
João: Às nove. Quantas pessoas você acha que vão? (At nine. How many people do you think are going?)
Scenario 2: Professional Inquiry (European Portuguese, slightly formal)
Cliente: Bom dia. Gostaria de falar com o gerente, por favor. (Good morning. I'd like to speak with the manager, please.)
Recepcionista: Bom dia. Qual é o seu nome? (Good morning. What is your name?)
Cliente: O meu nome é Sofia Costa. (My name is Sofia Costa.)
Recepcionista: E sobre o que é que gostaria de falar? (And about what would you like to speak?)
Cliente: É sobre uma encomenda que fiz na semana passada. (It's about an order I placed last week.)
Recepcionista: Qual é o número da encomenda, por favor? (What is the order number, please?)
Cliente: É o número 23456. (It's number 23456.)
Recepcionista: Quando é que fez a encomenda? (When did you place the order?)
Cliente: Foi na terça-feira passada. (It was last Tuesday.)
Scenario 3: Travel Plans (Mixed usage)
Amigo 1: Estou a planear uma viagem. Para onde achas que devo ir? (I'm planning a trip. Where do you think I should go?)
Amigo 2: Hum, para onde queres ir? Praia ou cidade? (Hmm, where do you want to go? Beach or city?)
Amigo 1: Acho que praia. Mas onde há praias bonitas e baratas? (I think beach. But where are there beautiful and cheap beaches?)
Amigo 2: No Nordeste do Brasil há muitas. Qual estado preferes? (In the Northeast of Brazil there are many. Which state do you prefer?)
Amigo 1: Não sei. Quanto custa uma passagem para lá? (I don't know. How much does a ticket there cost?)
Amigo 2: Depende da altura do ano. Por que não pesquisamos juntos? (It depends on the time of year. Why don't we search together?)
Quick FAQ
- Do I always have to put the interrogative word at the beginning of the sentence?
- Is word order flexible in Portuguese questions?
Onde você trabalha? and Onde trabalha você? are both common, with the former often preferred in Brazil for its more casual tone.- What is the purpose of
é quein questions?
é que construction (Interrogative + é que + ...) is an idiomatic feature that emphasizes the interrogative word and often makes the question sound more natural and rhythmic to native speakers. It does not change the core meaning but softens the directness. It is more prevalent in European Portuguese but also commonly used in Brazil.- When should I use
O queversusQue?
O que when 'what' is the subject or object of a verb and not directly followed by a noun, or when asking for a general definition or action. Use Que directly before a noun when asking about a specific type or instance of that noun (Que livro?, Que cor?).- What is the difference between
OndeandAonde?
Onde asks about a static location (where something *is* or *is located*). Aonde asks about a destination or movement *to* a place (where something *is going*). In informal Brazilian Portuguese, Onde often substitutes Aonde.- How does
Quantochange?
Quanto must agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to. Thus, it can be quanto (masculine singular), quanta (feminine singular), quantos (masculine plural), or quantas (feminine plural). For example, Quantos livros? (How many books?) and Quantas horas? (How many hours?).- Can I end a sentence with a preposition in a question?
Who are you with?it must be
Com quem você está? (With whom are you?).- When do I use
Por queversusPor quê?
Por que (two words, no accent) at the beginning or in the middle of a question. Use Por quê (two words, with circumflex accent) when the question word comes at the very end of a sentence or phrase, immediately before punctuation, or when followed by a pause. The accent indicates stress on the final syllable.3. Basic Interrogative Structure
| Interrogative | Verb | Subject | Question Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Quem
|
é
|
você
|
?
|
|
O que
|
faz
|
ele
|
?
|
|
Onde
|
mora
|
a Maria
|
?
|
Common Contractions
| Preposition | Interrogative | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
De
|
onde
|
Donde
|
|
Para
|
onde
|
Para onde (no contraction)
|
Meanings
Interrogative words are used to request specific information about people, objects, or locations.
Identification
Asking for the identity of a person or object.
“Quem é ele?”
“O que é isso?”
Location
Asking for the physical position of a subject.
“Onde você está?”
“Onde fica o banheiro?”
Reference Table
| 葡萄牙语 | 意思 | 例子 | 什么时候用 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
`Quem`
|
谁
|
`Quem é ela?`
|
询问人的时候
|
|
`O que`
|
什么
|
`O que você faz?`
|
询问事物或动作
|
|
`Onde`
|
在哪里
|
`Onde fica o bar?`
|
询问地点
|
|
`Quando`
|
什么时候
|
`Quando é o show?`
|
询问时间或日期
|
|
`Como`
|
怎么样
|
`Como você está?`
|
询问状态或方式
|
|
`Por que`
|
为什么
|
`Por que você ri?`
|
询问原因
|
|
`Qual`
|
哪一个
|
`Qual é o melhor?`
|
在几个选项中做选择
|
|
`Quanto(a)`
|
多少
|
`Quanto custa?`
|
询问价格或数量
|
正式程度
Onde o senhor se encontra? (Asking location)
Onde você está? (Asking location)
Onde você tá? (Asking location)
Cadê você? (Asking location)
疑问词分类 (Os Interrogativos)
人
- Quem 谁
地点
- Onde 哪里
- Aonde 去哪里
时间
- Quando 什么时候
O Que vs. Qual
如何选择 'Onde' vs 'Aonde'
是否涉及移动或去向?
是在问固定的位置吗?
Quanto 的性数一致
阳性
- • Quanto dinheiro?
- • Quantos carros?
阴性
- • Quanta água?
- • Quantas amigas?
按水平分级的例句
Quem é você?
Who are you?
O que é isto?
What is this?
Onde você mora?
Where do you live?
Quem fala?
Who is speaking?
Onde fica a estação?
Where is the station?
O que você faz no fim de semana?
What do you do on the weekend?
Quem é o seu professor?
Who is your teacher?
Onde estão as chaves?
Where are the keys?
De onde você vem?
Where do you come from?
O que você acha desta ideia?
What do you think of this idea?
Quem foi que disse isso?
Who was it that said that?
Para onde vamos viajar?
Where are we going to travel to?
Eu não sei o que fazer.
I don't know what to do.
Onde quer que você vá, eu vou.
Wherever you go, I go.
Quem quer que seja, não abra.
Whoever it is, don't open it.
O que quer que aconteça, estarei aqui.
Whatever happens, I will be here.
Quem me dera saber a resposta.
If only I knew the answer.
O que é que se há de fazer?
What can one do?
Onde a vida nos levará?
Where will life take us?
Quem haverá de negar a verdade?
Who will deny the truth?
Quem é quem nesta história?
Who is who in this story?
O que é o que é?
What is what?
Onde quer que se encontre, a paz é necessária.
Wherever one finds oneself, peace is necessary.
Quem sou eu para julgar?
Who am I to judge?
容易混淆
Both translate to 'what' in many contexts.
Both relate to location.
Both can mean 'who' or 'that'.
常见错误
Do você mora?
Onde você mora?
Quem é isto?
O que é isto?
Onde você?
Onde você está?
O que é seu nome?
Qual é o seu nome?
Onde você vai?
Para onde você vai?
Quem você gosta?
De quem você gosta?
O que você mora?
Onde você mora?
Onde você é?
De onde você é?
Quem você falou?
Com quem você falou?
O que você precisa?
De que você precisa?
Onde que você vai?
Para onde você vai?
Quem ele é?
Quem é ele?
O que você se refere?
A que você se refere?
句型
___ é você?
___ você mora?
___ você faz?
___ você vai?
Real World Usage
Cadê você?
Onde fica o hotel?
O que você pode oferecer?
O que tem no prato?
Quem vem comigo?
Quem sabe a resposta?
地道口头禅 'É que'
é que,你的葡语听起来会更有节奏感,瞬间像个老外!比如:Onde é que você mora?
介词小地雷
de 或 com 丢在句子最后。一定要放在疑问词前面:Com quem você fala?
巴西 vs 葡萄牙
Onde você mora?,葡萄牙人更爱说 Onde é que moras?。别担心,两边都听得懂!Smart Tips
Use 'Cadê' for a more natural, native-sounding question in Brazil.
Always use 'Qual' instead of 'O que'.
Use 'Para onde' or 'Aonde' instead of just 'Onde'.
Always use 'Quem' for people.
发音
Quem
The 'qu' is pronounced like 'k'.
O que
The 'e' at the end is often reduced to an 'i' sound in Brazil.
Rising
Onde você mora? ↑
Standard question intonation.
记住它
记忆技巧
Q-O-O: Quem (People), O que (Things), Onde (Places).
视觉联想
Imagine a person (Quem) holding a box (O que) standing in a park (Onde).
Rhyme
Quem é o quê, onde está você?
Story
Maria asks 'Quem' is at the door. She sees a package and asks 'O que' it is. She wonders 'Onde' the delivery person went.
Word Web
挑战
Write 3 questions about your room right now using Quem, O que, and Onde.
文化笔记
The word 'Cadê' is a very common, informal way to ask 'Where is...'. It is a contraction of 'que é de'.
In Portugal, 'Onde' is used more strictly with verbs of location like 'estar' or 'ficar'.
Portuguese speakers often use 'O que é que' to add emphasis to a question.
These words derive from Latin interrogatives like 'quis' (who), 'quid' (what), and 'unde' (where).
对话开场白
Quem é o seu melhor amigo?
O que você gosta de comer?
Onde você quer viajar?
Quem você admira?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Onde,接着是动词 é,最后是主语 a festa。Quem 用于询问人(教授)。de (来自) 必须放在疑问词 onde 之前。Score: /3
练习题
8 exercises___ é o seu nome?
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Do você está?
você / mora / onde / ?
Who is he?
Onde você mora?
___ é esse objeto?
___ fala?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises___ custa este café?
Arrange these words:
Translate to Portuguese:
___ é la sua cor favorita?
Quanto pessoas vêm?
Match the pairs:
___ você está comendo?
Arrange these words:
Select the best option:
Translate to Portuguese:
Score: /10
常见问题 (8)
Not necessarily. In Portuguese, you can keep the subject-verb order.
Yes, it is written as two words.
Only if you treat them as people (like pets).
It is a very common, informal way to ask 'where is'.
Always use 'Qual'.
Yes, 'Aonde' implies movement.
Yes, but it is less common than using an interrogative.
Just add 'não' before the verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Quién, Qué, Dónde
Portuguese lacks the inverted question mark.
Qui, Quoi, Où
French requires more complex structures for standard questions.
Wer, Was, Wo
German verb placement is strictly regulated.
Dare, Nani, Doko
Japanese marks questions at the end, not the beginning.
Man, Ma, Ayna
Arabic has a different script and grammatical logic.
Shéi, Shénme, Nǎlǐ
Chinese does not require word order changes for questions.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Continue With
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'Se' 被动语态 (Vendem-se casas)
Overview 你有没有在里斯本或圣保罗的路过商店橱窗时,看到写着 `Vende-se` 或 `Aluga-se` 的牌子?你刚刚遇到了“综合被动语态 (...
非人称 Se(正式用法)
Overview The impersonal `se` stands as a cornerstone of advanced Portuguese grammar, crucial for expressing actions or s...