Basic question formation and responses

• Yes/no questions: mainly just raise intonation at end

  • Verb-subject inversion optional (more formal)

  • Question words go at beginning or end

  • Basic responses: sim, não, talvez, claro, também

  • Question tags: né?, não é?, certo?

  • No auxiliary verbs needed (no "do/does")

  • Word order very flexible in informal speech

  • Written questions need only question mark

Questions are how you navigate daily life – from "Tem café?" (Is there coffee?) to "Quanto custa?" (How much?), you need them for everything! Portuguese question formation is actually easier than English since you don't need auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does" – just raise your voice at the end. Master these patterns and you can ask for directions, order food, make friends, and handle any basic situation in Brazil.