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A2 (Elementary)Lesson 4: Negation, Affirmation & Imperative
The affirmative imperative in Brazilian Portuguese primarily uses vocĂȘ forms (3rd person singular) for commands and requests, with tu forms existing but rarely used outside specific regions, creating a simpler but culturally nuanced system.
VocĂȘ form = 3rd person present: fale, coma, abra
Tu form = 2nd person minus -s: fala, come, abre
Brazil mostly uses vocĂȘ forms everywhere
Add pronouns for clarity: fale vocĂȘ, falem vocĂȘs
Soften with por favor, por gentileza
Irregular verbs have special forms
Context and tone determine politeness
Often replaced by questions or present tense
Commands and requests are part of daily life â from "Entre!" (Come in!) to "Me liga!" (Call me!) to "Experimenta!" (Try it!). But Brazilian Portuguese commands aren't as harsh as they might seem; tone and context make them polite requests rather than orders. Knowing when to use imperative versus softer alternatives helps you navigate social situations appropriately, from giving directions to making suggestions without sounding bossy or rude.
verb stem + -a (AR verbs) OR -e/-a (ER/IR verbs) for vocĂȘ form OR present tense minus -s for tu form
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Uses 3rd person singular present:
| Verb Type | Infinitive | 3rd Person | Imperative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -AR | falar | ele fala | Fale! | Speak! |
| -AR | esperar | ele espera | Espere! | Wait! |
| -ER | comer | ele come | Coma! | Eat! |
| -ER | beber | ele bebe | Beba! | Drink! |
| -IR | abrir | ele abre | Abra! | Open! |
"Entre e fique Ă vontade!" (Come in and make yourself comfortable!)
"Senta aqui do meu lado" (Sit here beside me)
"Me liga quando chegar" (Call me when you arrive)
"Deixa que eu pago" (Let me pay)
"Experimenta esse bolo!" (Try this cake!)
"Siga reto até o semåforo" (Go straight until the traffic light)
"Vire Ă esquerda no banco" (Turn left at the bank)
"Pegue o metrĂŽ linha verde" (Take the green line subway)
"Desça na próxima estação" (Get off at the next station)
Pronoun placement varies:
Standard: "Sente-se!" (Sit down!)
Brazilian: "Se senta!" or just "Senta!"
Never: "Senta-se!" â
Add i in vocĂȘ forms:
passear â passeie (not passee)
pentear â penteie (not pentee)
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