Regular –AR verbs

Understanding the Basics

Every Portuguese verb in its dictionary form ends in -AR, -ER, or -IR. This form is called the infinitive. For -AR verbs, conjugation is like changing outfits – you take off the -AR "outfit" and dress the verb stem in different endings depending on who's doing the action.

The Conjugation Pattern

Let's use FALAR (to speak) as our model:

1. Find the stem: FALAR - AR = FAL-
2. Add the appropriate ending:

EU → -O

• fal + o = falo (I speak)

TU → -AS (rarely used in Brazil)

• fal + as = falas (you speak - informal)

VOCÊ/ELE/ELA → -A

• fal + a = fala (you speak/he speaks/she speaks)

NÓS → -AMOS

• fal + amos = falamos (we speak)

A GENTE → -A (same as ele/ela)

• fal + a = fala (we speak - informal)

VOCÊS/ELES/ELAS → -AM

• fal + am = falam (you all speak/they speak)

Complete Conjugation Table

When to Use Present Indicative

1. Current Actions

• Eu estudo português (I study/am studying Portuguese)
• Ela trabalha no banco (She works at the bank)

2. Habitual Actions

• Nós jantamos às 8 horas (We have dinner at 8 o'clock)
• Eles sempre chegam tarde (They always arrive late)

3. Universal Truths

• O sol nasce no leste (The sun rises in the east)
• Brasileiros falam português (Brazilians speak Portuguese)

4. Near Future (super common in Brazil!)

• Eu te ligo mais tarde (I'll call you later)
• A gente conversa amanhã (We'll talk tomorrow)

5. Ongoing States

• Eu moro em São Paulo (I live in São Paulo)
• Vocês gostam de pizza? (Do you like pizza?)

Stress Patterns and Pronunciation

Pay attention to where the stress falls:

• faLO, FAla, faLAmos, FAlam
• The stress shifts around, which is why Brazilian Portuguese sounds so musical!

Common Regular -AR Verbs

Here are essential ones to practice:

• amar (to love)
• andar (to walk)
• chamar (to call)
• comprar (to buy)
• dançar (to dance)
• estudar (to study)
• gostar (to like)
• morar (to live)
• pensar (to think)
• trabalhar (to work)
• usar (to use)
• viajar (to travel)