Pronouns Flashcards
List the subject pronouns in Portuguese and their English translations.
- eu = I
- tu = you
- ele/ela/você, o/a senhor(a) = he, it/she, it/you (sing. formal)
- nós = we
- vós = you (pl. informal)
- eles/elas/vocês, os/as senhores(as) = they (m., f.)/you (pl. f.)
What are the direct object pronouns in Portuguese and their English translations?
- me = me
- te = you (sing. informal)
- o/a = him, it/her, it
- nos = us
- vos = you (pl.)
- os/as = them (m., f.)
The indirect object pronouns in Portuguese and their English translations are…
- me = me
- te = you (sing., inf.)
- lhe = him, it/her
- nos = us
- vos = you (pl. informal)
- lhes = them
List the prepositional pronouns in Portuguese.
- mim = me
- ti/si = you (sing. informal)
- ele/ela/você, o/a senhor(a) = him, it/her/you (sing., formal)
- nos = us
- vos = you (pl. informal)
- êles/elas/vocês, os/as senhores(as) = them (m., f.)/you (pl. formal)
What are the reflexive pronouns in Portuguese?
- me = myself
- te = yourself
- se = himself/herself/itself/themselves
- nos = ourselves
- vos = yourselves
Translate the following: “You [familiar, singular] are very kind.”
Tu és muito amável (Euro. Port.).
Você é muito amável (Braz. Port.).
tu = you (familiar, singular) (Euro. Port.) você = (familiar, singular) (Braz. Port.)
What is “you” (familiar, plural) in Portuguese?
- vos (Euro. Port.)
- vocês (Braz. Port.)
Translate the following: “You [formal, singular] are very kind.”
O senhor é muito amável (Braz. Port.).
Você é muito amável (Euro. Port.).
você = you (formal, singular) (Euro. Port.)
o senhor/a senhora = you (formal, singular) (Braz. Port.)
When addressing a stranger or superior in Portugal, you use…
o senhor/a senhora
In Portugal, the form of “you” less formal than “o senhor/a senhora” but slightly more formal than “tu” is…
você
In Brazil, formal “you” is…
o senhor/a senhora
What is the colloquial informal form of “you” in Brazilian Portuguese?
-você (singular)/vocês (plural)
Fill in the blank: “O senhor ____ falar inglês” (‘You, sir, can speak English’).
pode
Você, o/a senhor(a), vocês, and os/as senhores(as) always take the third person form of the verb, singular or plural.
Translate: “Today we are going to the city center.”
Hoje vamos ao centro da cidade.
Subject pronouns are usually omitted, because the verb conjugation indicates the subject.
List the cases in which the subject pronoun is used.
- for emphasis
- contrast
- on its own without the verb
- in comparisons
Should the subject pronoun be used here: “Eu o faço” (‘I do it!’)?
Yes: The subject pronoun is used for emphasis.
What’s “I speak and you listen,” in Portuguese?
Eu falo e você escuta.
The subject pronoun is used for contrast.
True or false: “It is raining in Portuguese” is “Ele está chovendo.”
False. It’s “Está chovendo”–when talking about the time and weather, the subject pronoun is omitted.
Translate “Who bought it? Me.”
Quem o comprou? Eu.
The subject pronoun is used on its own without the verb.
Fill in the blank: “Ela é mais jovem do que __” (‘She is younger than me’).
eu
The subject pronoun is used in comparisons.
Direct object pronouns replace…
the direct object noun in a sentence.
“Leemos livros” (We read books).
The direct object noun in this sentence is…
“livros,” because it receives the action of “leemos.”
“Leemos livros” (We read books).
Replace the direct object noun in this sentence with a direct object pronoun.
“Lemos-os” (Euro. Port.)/”Os lemos” (Braz. Port) (‘We read them).
“Livros” is plural and masculine, and since it represents inanimate objects, third person, the direct object pronoun “os” is used.
Translate “They love me.”
Eles me amam.
The direct object of a sentence can be a person.
What are the two cases in which direct object pronouns are used?
- to substitute nouns when the thing/person being discussed is clear, and to avoid repetition
- to replace the entire information or idea that’s already been presented
Translate “Mark reads a book. He reads it.”
Euro.: Mark lê o livro. Mark lê-lo.
Braz.: Mark lê o livro. Mark o lê.
Direct object pronouns are used to substitute nouns when the thing/person being discussed is clear, and to avoid repetition.
“Eu comprei um vestido novo. Eu o sei,” (‘I bought a new robe. I know (it)’).
In these sentences, how is the direct object pronoun being used?
to replace the entire information or idea that’s already been presented
Order the following words to form the sentence “She has seen me”:
- ela
- tem
- visto
- me
Ela me tem visto.
In the perfect tense, the direct object pronoun precedes have/be in the verb conjugation.
Translate “Read it.”
Leia-o.
The direct object pronoun is attached to the end of affirmative commands.
What’s “Do not read it” in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
European: Não lê-lo.
Brazilian: Não o lê.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is placed between the negative and the verb. In European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen.
In Portuguese, “I would like to see her,” is…
“Eu gostaria de vê-la”/”Eu la gostaria de vê.”
When a verb is followed by another verb in the infinitive, the direct object pronoun can be placed either before the first verb or attached to the end of the infinitive.
Fill in the blank: In Brazilian Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is usually placed _____ the verb.
before
In European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is usually placed…
following the verb and attached to it by a hyphen in certain cases.
When is the direct object pronoun attached to the end of a verb with a hyphen in European Portuguese?
- in affirmative sentences
- in affirmative commands
- in questions which aren’t introduced by an interrogative
Complete the phrase in European Portuguese: “Ela compra a casa. Ela _______,” (‘She buys the house. She buys it’).
compra-a
In affirmative sentences in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is attached to the end of a verb with a hyphen.
“Leia o livro” (‘Read the book’).
Rewrite the sentence in European Portuguese, with “livro” replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Leia-o.
State “Did you see her last week?” in European Portuguese.
Viste-a a semana pasada?
In questions not introduced by an interrogative in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun is attached to the end of a verb with a hyphen.
What’s “Did you see her last week?” in Brazilian Portuguese?
Você a viu a semana pasada?
Direct object pronouns usually aren’t attached to the verb with a hyphen in Brazilian Portuguese.
List the cases in which the direct object pronoun precedes the verb in European Portuguese.
- in negative sentences
- in questions introduced by an interrogative
- after conjunctions like “que” (that) or “como” (as)
- after certain adverbs
Translate “I have never met him before,” into European Portuguese.
Nunca o tenho encontrado antes.
In negative sentences in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun precedes the verb.
What are seven examples of negatives and their English translations found in negative sentences?
- não (do/does not)
- jamais (never)
- nunca (never)
- nem (neither)
- ninguém (no one)
- nenhum (none)
- nada (nothing)
True or False: In European Portuguese, “She did not see us yesterday,” is “Ela não viu-nos ontem.”?
False. The correct answer is, “Ela não nos viu ontem.”
In negative sentences in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun precedes the verb.
List four interrogatives and their English translations.
- quando? (when?)
- onde? (where?)
- quem? (who?)
- qual? (which?)
Which is “Where did you see them?” in European Portuguese?
A) Onde os viste?
B) Onde viste-os?
A) Onde os viste?
In questions introduced by an interrogative in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun precedes the verb.
Translate “Where did you see them?” into Brazilian Portuguese.
Onde você os viu?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the direct object pronoun usually precedes the verb.
What’s “I think that he visited her yesterday,” in European Portuguese?
Eu acho que ele a visitou ontem.
After conjunctions like “que” (that) and “como” (as) in European Portuguese, the direct object pronoun precedes the verb.
The direct object pronoun follows which adverbs? (List their English translations as well.)
- sempre (always)
- tudo (everything)
- ainda (still)
- talvez (maybe)
- também (as well)
- muito (many/much)
- pouco (little)
- bastante (enough)
Fill in the blank: Talvez _____ no cinema (Perhaps I will meet them in the cinema).
os encontro
The direct object pronoun follows certain adverbs in European Portuguese.
In European Portuguese, “Everything reminds us of our country” is…
*recordar = to remind of
Tudo nos recorda nosso país.
The direct object pronoun follows certain adverbs in European Portuguese.
State “She bought a car and I saw it,” in European Portuguese.
*comprou = bought vi = saw
Ela comprou um carro e eu vi-o.
If the verb ends in a vowel or oral dipthong, the pronoun is not changed.
What’s “She bought a car and I saw it,” in Brazilian Portuguese?
Ela comrou um carro e eu o vi.
“Vamos comprar a casa” (‘Let’s buy the house’).
Rewrite the sentence in Portuguese with “casa” replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Vamos compra-la.
If the verb ends in -r, -s, or -z, these endings are removed and the pronouns -o, -a, -os, -as become -lo, -la, -los, -las.
“We eat the cake. We eat it,” in Portuguese is “Comemos o bolo. Comemo-lo,” because…
if the verb ends in -r, -s, or -z, these endings are removed and the pronouns -o, -a, -os, -as become -lo, -la, -los, -las.
Translate “She is buying the apple. She is buying it.”
Ela compra a maçã. Ela compra-á.
If the verb ens in -ar or -az, the -a takes an acute accent to keep the open sound of the vowel.
What’s “very pleased to meet you [masculine formal]” in Portuguese?
muito prazer em conhecê-lo
If the verb ends in -er or -ez, the -e takes a circumflex accent to keep the closed sound of the vowel.
In Portuguese, “I want to put it [masculine] on the table,” is…
*quero = I want pôr = to put sobre = on
Quero pô-lo sobre a mesa.
Infinitives of compounds of pôr, repor, etc. do not have a circumflex accent on the -o, but it is added when the final -r of the infintive is dropped before taking a direct object prounoun.
Fill in the blank in European Portuguese: “Eles conhecem a rua. Eles _________,” (‘They know the street. They know it,’).
conhecem-na
In European Portuguese, if the verb ends in -m, -ão, -õe, or -ões, the pronouns -o, -a, -os, -as change into -no, -na, -nos, -nas.
“Eles são profissionais” (‘They are professionals’).
Rewrite the above sentence in European Portuguese with “profissionais” replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Eles são-no. (They are (so).)
If the verb ends in -m, -ão, -õe, or -ões, the pronouns -o, -a, -os, -as change into -no, -na, -nos, -nas.
“Eles são profissionais” (‘They are professionals’).
Rewrite the above sentence in Brazilian Portuguese with “profissionais” replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Eles os são. (They are (so).)
Ele escreveu uma carta para Sandra. (He wrote a letter to Sandra.)
Rewrite the above sentence using indirect object pronouns.
Ele lhe escreveu.* (He wrote to her.)
“Sandra” is the indirect object and so can be replaced with the indirect object pronoun “lhe.”
*(Ele escreveu uma carta para ela.)
Ele comprou um presente para mim. (He bought a gift for me.)
What’s “He bought me a gift” in Portuguese?
Ele me comprou um presente.
Indirect object pronouns follow the same word order rules as…
direct object pronouns.
What are 10 common verbs used with indirect object pronouns and their English translations?
- comprar algo a (lhe) = to buy something for somebody
- contar algo a (lhe) = to tell something to somebody
- dar algo a (lhe) = to give something to somebody
- dizer algo a (lhe) = to say something to somebody
- escrever algo a (lhe) = to write something to somebody
- enviar algo a (lhe) = to send something to somebody
- mostrar algo a (lhe) = to show something to somebody
- pedir algo a (lhe) = to ask something of somebody
- servir algo a (lhe) = to serve something to somebody
- trazer algo a (lhe) = to bring something to somebody
When there are both direct and indirect object pronouns in the same sentence, which goes first?
The direct object pronoun precedes the indirect object pronoun.
Complete the sentence in European Portuguese: “Ela mandou-me uma mensagem. Ela ________” (She sent me a message. She sent it to me).
me mandou-a
The direct and indirect object pronoun contractions aren’t used in Brazilian Portuguese.
Complete the sentence in Brazilian Portuguese: “Ela me mandou uma mensagem. Ela ________” (She sent me a message. She sent it to me).
ma mandou
me (indirect) + o (direct) =
mo
me (indirect) + __ (direct) = mos
os
__ (indirect) + a (direct) = mas
me
te (indirect) + o (direct) = __
to
te (indirect) + _ (direct) = ta
a
__ (indirect) + os (direct) = tos
te
te (indirect) + as (direct) = __
tas
lhe (indirect) + o (direct) = __
lh
lhe (indirect) + a (direct) = __
lha
lhe (indirect) + os (direct) = __
lhos
lhe (indirect) + as (direct) = __
lhas
nos (indirect) + o (direct) = __
no-lo
nos (indirect) + a (direct) = __
no-la
nos (indirect) + os (direct) = __
no-los
nos (indirect) + as (direct) = __
no-las
vos (indirect) + o (direct) = __
vo-lo
vos (indirect) + a (direct) = __
vo-la
vos (indirect) + os (direct) = __
vo-los
vos (indirect) + as (direct) = __
vo-las
lhes (indirect) + o (direct) = __
lho
lhes (indirect) + a (direct) = __
lha
lhes (indirect) + os (direct) = __
lhos
lhes (indirect) + a (direct) = __
lhas
Ela deu-lhe os livros. (She gave him the books.)
State “She gave him them” in Brazilian Portuguese.
Ela lhe deu-os.
The direct and indirect object pronoun contractions aren’t used in Brazilian Portuguese.
Finish the sentence in European and Brazilian Portuguese:
Isto é para __ (This is for you).
ti (European)/você (Brazilian)
Prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns are used after prepositions.
State the prepositions and their English equivalents that precede prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns.
- a = to/at
- de = from
- em = in
- para = for
- por = on/about
- sobre = with
- sem = without
Fill in the blank: “Seu pai fala de ___” (His father is talking about me).
mim
Prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns are used after prepositions.
State “Can I dance with you [familiar]?” in European Portuguese.
- com = with
- posso = I can
- dançar = to dance
Posso dançar contigo?
com + ti = contigo
State “Can I dance with you [formal]?” in European Portuguese.
- com = with
- posso = I can
- dançar = to dance
Posso dançar com você?
com + mim = _______
conmigo
com + ti = _______
contigo
com + si = _______
consigo
com + nós = _______
connosco/conosco
com + vós = _______
convosco
What’s “I know her name” in Portuguese?
- sei = I know
- o nome = name
Eu sei o nome dela.
de + ela = dela
What’s “I know your name” in Portuguese?
- sei = I know
- o nome = name
Eu sei teu nome.
de + ele = ____
dele
de + eles = ____
deles
de + elas = ____
delas
Translate “We trust him.”
-acreditamos = we believe
Nós acreditamos nele.
em + ele = nele
Translate “We trust you.”
-acreditamos = we believe
Nós acreditamos em ti.
em + ela = ____
nela
em + eles = ____
neles
em + elas = ____
nelas
A mim ninguém me ligou. (No one called me.)
Here, the preposition “a” is used to…
clarify, emphasize, or contrast.
How do you say “I did it myself” in Portuguese?
- fiz = I did
- isso = it
Eu mesmo fiz isso.
“Mesmo” can be added to the subject pronoun for emphasis.
In Portuguese, “I get dressed” is…
-vestir = to dress
Visto-me/me visto.
Here, the reflexive is used.
- Me lavo/lavo-me. (I wash myself.)
- Eu lavo meu cão. (I wash my dog.)
Which sentence is reflexive?
1.
Make “falar” (to talk) reflexive.
falar-se (to talk to onself/each other)
In Brazilian Portuguese, where are reflexive pronouns located?
right before the verb and after indirect and direct object pronouns
Translate “She sat down” into European Portuguese.
-sentou = she sat
Ela sentou-se.
In European Portuguese, the reflexive pronoun is usually attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen.
What’s “She did not sit” in European Portuguese?
-sentou = she sat
Ela não se sentou.
In negative sentences in European Portuguese, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb after prepositions, conjunctions, and relative clauses.
State “Read yourself” in European Portuguese.
-leia = read (interrogative)
Te leia.
In interrogative sentences in European Portuguese, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb, after prepositions, conjunctions, and relative clauses.
In the case of compound verbs (perfect tenses, verb + infinitive, present progressive, etc.), where should the reflexive pronoun be placed?
Either attached to the end of the infinitive with a hyphen or, in Brazilian Portuguese, before the first conjugated verb (perfect tenses, present progressive).
In Portuguese, “my house” is…
-casa = house
a minha casa
All possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
What are the four versions of “my” in Portuguese?
- o meu
- os meus
- a minha
- as minhas
List the four versions of “your [singular]” in Portuguese?
- o teu
- os teus
- a tua
- as tuas
The four versions of “his/her/its” in Portuguese are…
- o seu
- os seus
- a sua
- as suas
State the four versions of “your [plural]” in Portuguese.
- o vosso
- os vossos
- a vossa
- as vossas
What are the four forms of “we” in Portuguese?
- o nosso
- os nossos
- a nossa
- as nossas
List the four forms of “their” in Portuguese.
- o seu
- os seus
- a sua
- as suas
Complete the sentence “Ele colocou ____ mãos nos bolsos” (He put his hands in his pockets).
as
The definite article is used instead of the possessive adjective when relating body parts, clothing, or personal possessions when the possessor is clear.
Translate “Your house is bigger than mine” in Portuguese.
-casa = house
A tua casa é maior que a minha.
Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun accompanied by a possessive adjective. The possessive pronouns must agree with the noun they replace in gender and number and be used with the appropriate definite article.
Fill in the blank: “Meu computador está quebrado. Posso usar ______?” (‘My computer is broken. Can I use yours?’).
o teu
Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun accompanied by a possessive adjective. The possessive pronouns must agree with the noun they replace in gender and number and be used with the appropriate definite article.
Fill in the blank: “Enviei a carta para o meu amigo. Enviaste ______?” (I sent a letter to my friend. Did you send one to yours?).
ao (para o) teu (Euro.)/seu (Braz.)
Possessive pronouns can be used with contracted forms of the definite article.
Complete the dialogue.
“É este o celular de Maria?” (Is this Maria’s cellphone?).
“Sim, este é _____” (Yes, it is hers).
o seu
What’s “this man” in Portuguese?
este homem
Demonstrative adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number.
True or False: “this woman” in Portuguese is “esta a mulher.”
False; it’s “esta mulher.” The definite article is not used with demonstrative adjectives.
“This” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese is…
este/esta
What’s “these” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese?
estes/estas
State “that” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese.
esse/essa
Translate “those” (masculine and feminine).
esses/essas
“That over there” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese is…
aquel/aquela
What’s “those over there” in Portuguese?
aqueles/aquelas
