A2 (Elementary)Lesson 7: Comparisons & Connectors
Four small words join sentences: e adds, mas contrasts, ou offers a choice, porque gives the reason. Then there is the famous complication — porque, por que, porquê and por quê have different functions — and more connectors used in Brazilian speech: aí, então, por isso and só que.
e = and · mas = but · ou = or · porque = because
Unstressed e is often pronounced /i/ in Brazil, but is always written e.
In an ordinary list, generally no comma precedes the final e: pão, leite e ovos.
Starting a sentence with mas is completely normal
ou… ou = either… or; ou also softens numbers: cinco ou seis
Four porquês: porque (cause) · por que (why) · por quê (stressed why before a pause) · porquê (noun).
Choose the spelling by function, rather than only whether the sentence asks or answers.
Speech also uses aí, então, por isso and informal só que.
clause + e / mas / ou / porque + clause · por que (why) vs porque (cause) · aí, então, por isso (sequence or result)
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Connectors show how facts relate: "Fui. Choveu. Voltei." becomes "Fui, mas choveu, então voltei." These four words help you add information, contrast ideas, offer choices and give reasons. Pay attention to the different functions of the four porquês, then add aí and então to connect events in a story.
| word | what it does | example |
|---|---|---|
| e | adds | "Trabalho e estudo." (I work and study.) |
| mas | contrasts | "Quero ir, mas não posso." (I want to go, but I can't.) |
| ou | offers a choice | "Café ou chá?" (Coffee or tea?) |
| porque | gives the reason | "Fiquei em casa porque choveu." (I stayed home because it rained.) |
One pronunciation note: unstressed e is often pronounced /i/ in Brazil. Café e leite can sound like "café i leite", but the conjunction is always written e.
"Acordei cedo e fui trabalhar." (I woke up early and went to work.)
"Quero ir, mas não tenho dinheiro." (I want to go, but I don't have the money.)
"Vamos de carro ou de metrô?" (Shall we go by car or by metro?)
"Comprei o ingresso porque o show é amanhã." (I bought the ticket because the show is tomorrow.)
"Pizza ou hambúrguer?" (Pizza or burger?)
"Ou você paga agora, ou paga depois." (Either you pay now, or you pay later.)
"É pegar ou largar." (Take it or leave it.)
"Uns dez ou doze reais." (Around ten or twelve reais.)
English lets you write "bread, milk, and eggs". Portuguese does not:
✅ "Comprei arroz, feijão e carne." · ❌ arroz, feijão, e carne
A comma can appear before e in other constructions, including clauses with different subjects: "Ela saiu, e ninguém percebeu." Repeated conjunctions or an inserted phrase can also change the punctuation.
You may have been told that a sentence cannot begin with a conjunction. In Portuguese it plainly can, and it does so constantly — in print, in speech and in headlines:
"Mas e agora?" (But now what?)
"Mas que calor!" (But it's hot!)
Mas and mais are different words with a shared origin: both derive from Latin magis, “more”. Today mas introduces a contrast, while mais expresses quantity or degree, including in the comparative and superlative points earlier in this lesson. Aulete records magis as the origin of both forms. Sources: Origem da Palavra · Dicionário Aulete: mas · Dicionário Aulete: mais.
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