Olá! Welcome to Lesson 6 of Brazilian Portuguese. Today we are going to be learning about the verb ter (to have) and possessive adjectives. Later on, we'll learn some vocabulary relating to family and friends which just happens to be this lesson's topic.
The verb "ter"
The verb "ter" (to have) is one of the most important and common verbs in Portuguese (along with ser which you've already learnt). Like many essential verbs, ter is irregular.
This table shows ter in the present tense.
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| I have | Eu tenho |
| You have | Você tem |
| He has | Ele tem |
| She has | Ela tem |
| We have | Nos temos |
| They have | Eles têm |
The uses of this verb are pretty simple to figure out but I'm including a couple of examples anyway.
Eu tenho um cão = I have a dog
Você tem um carro? = Do you have a car?
The verb can also be used to say that you have to do something. You do this by taking the verb, then adding the word "que" and finally a verb infinitive.
Eu tenho que fazer meu trabalho = I have to do my work
Você tem que comer os legumes = You have to eat the vegetables
Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives are very simple, and are used to show who something belongs to.
| Subject | Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My | meu | minha | meus | minhas |
| Your | teu | tua | teus | tuas |
| His / her | seu | sua | seus | suas |
| Our | nosso | nossa | nossos | nossas |
| Their | dele | dela | deles | delas |
Meu gato = My cat
Tua caneta = Your pen
Nossas filhas = Our daughters
Family and friends
Family and friends is today's theme. I've added some useful vocabulary as well as a related exercise to help practice a few grammar concepts you've learnt so far. Don't worry, it's not as hard as it sounds.
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Parents | pais |
| Mother | mãe |
| Father | pai |
| Husband | marido |
| Wife | esposa |
| Son | filho |
| Daughter | filha |
| Children | filhos |
| Brother | irmão |
| Sister | irmã |
| Grandfather | avô |
| Grandmother | avó |
| Grandson | neto |
| Granddaughter | netas |
| Uncle | tio |
| Aunt | tia |
| Friend | amigo |
| Boyfriend | namorado |
| Girlfriend | namorada |
Activity
Read the piece of writing and the statements. Decide if they are true or false.
Meu nome é Silvio e eu vivo in Portugal com a minha familia. Minha mãe é chamado Monica e ela trabalha num banco. Ela é baixo e morena. Meu pai é chamado Antonio, tem 50 anos e ele trabalha para uma empresa de Inglês, assim ele fala inglês. Eu vivo com minha irmã tamben. Ela é louro e baixo. Sua nome é Maria e ela não tem um emprego
É chamado = Is called
Uma empresa = A company
Assim = So
Um emprego = A job
1. Silvio lives with his family
2. He lives with his grandparents
3. His mother has brown hair
4. His father is 40 years old
5. His father is English
6. His sister doesn't live with him
7. His sister is unemployed
The answers are shown in the next lesson
Translate the following sentences.
1. Eu tenho uma filha
2. Você tem os irmãos?
3. I don't have a grandson
4. Does he have a wife?