B1 (Intermediate)Lesson 8: Sentence Architecture
Portuguese can inflect the infinitive for person and number. This personal infinitive is especially useful when the infinitive clause has its own subject.
The infinitive can inflect for person
It is common after prepositions and in reduced clauses
It helps make the infinitive clause subject explicit
The personal infinitive is one of the structures that makes Portuguese feel structurally distinct. It is highly useful in careful writing and in many natural spoken patterns as well.
infinitive + person endings
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Use the personal infinitive when the infinitive clause has an explicit subject or when you want to mark a subject clearly: "para eu entender", "antes de sairmos".
It commonly appears after prepositions and in reduced clauses.
The personal infinitive is not required in every context, but it is a powerful and very Portuguese structure.
The form helps separate the subject of the infinitive clause from the subject of the main clause.
Some contexts allow either the uninflected or personal infinitive, while others strongly favor the personal form.
Irregularity is limited because the infinitive base remains visible.
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Para eu entender, explica de novo. | For me to understand, explain again. |
| Antes de sairmos, vou fechar a janela. | Before we leave, I will close the window. |
| Sem eles perceberem, mudamos tudo. | Without them noticing, we changed everything. |
| É melhor vocês chegarem cedo. | It is better for you all to arrive early. |
| Depois de fazermos isso, descansamos. | After we do that, we rest. |
Not every infinitive needs personal marking; often the plain infinitive is enough.
Subject identity and clarity strongly influence the choice.
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