Portuguese grammar · Elementary (A2)
The imperative
How to tell someone to do something in Portuguese: the standard forms (fale, vá, faça), the everyday spoken forms (fala, vai), negatives and pronouns.
Standard forms for você and o senhor
The “imperative” is the verb form for instructions, directions and requests. To make the standard form for , and , take the form of the present, drop the -o and swap the vowel: -ar verbs take -e, -er and -ir verbs take -a. For , add -m.
Irregular forms carry over: → , → , → . Some verbs change their spelling to keep the same sound: → , → , → .
| Infinitive | present | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (speak) | |||
| (turn) | |||
| (eat) | |||
| (open) | |||
| (follow, go on) | |||
| (go down, get off) | |||
| (do, make) | |||
| (come) | |||
| (say) | |||
| (put) |
Irregular verbs
A few verbs don't follow the rule. You'll meet these forms again in the present subjunctive, which has the same forms.
| Infinitive | ||
|---|---|---|
| (go) | ||
| (be) | ||
| (be) | ||
| (give) | ||
| (know) | ||
| (want) |
- Vá até a praça e vire à direita.Go as far as the square and turn right.
- Seja bem-vindo.Welcome. · to a woman:
- Entrem, por favor.Come in, please. · to several people
The everyday spoken form
In Brazil, especially between friends and family, people often give instructions with the form of the present: , , , , , , , , , . Strictly speaking this is the imperative, but Brazilians use it with . It sounds friendly and natural.
With strangers, customers and older people, and on signs and in writing, the standard form (, , ) is more polite. For there is only the standard form: , .
- Vem aqui um minuto.Come here a minute.
- Pega o metrô até a Sé.Take the metro to Sé.
- Fala mais devagar, por favor.Speak more slowly, please.
- Olha, é ali.Look, it's over there.
Negative commands
To tell someone not to do something, put before the standard form: (Don't forget), (Don't speak loudly). In relaxed speech many Brazilians use the spoken form here too: , (Don't be like that). In writing and with people you call or , use the standard form.
- Não esqueça o guarda-chuva.Don't forget the umbrella.
- Não se preocupe.Don't worry.
- Não coma muito sal.Don't eat too much salt.
- Não fica assim, vai dar tudo certo.Don't be upset, everything will be fine. · informal
Pronouns and softer requests
In Brazilian speech an object pronoun goes before the command: (Call me), (Give me a minute). In writing and in Portugal it goes after, with a hyphen: , .
A bare command can sound abrupt. Brazilians soften it with , with a question () or with + infinitive, which gives permission kindly: (Come in), (Have a seat).
- Me liga à noite.Call me tonight.
- Pode entrar, a porta está aberta.Come in, the door's open.
- Sente-se, por favor.Please sit down. · formal