A1 (Beginner)Lesson 6: Questions & Quantifiers
In Brazilian Portuguese, yes/no questions can keep statement word order: intonation and context signal the question. A common answer repeats the verb, conjugated for the new subject (Você fala? → Falo); sim and não are normal answers too.
Ask with statement word order and question intonation; the contour varies by region and context
A common answer repeats the question’s verb, conjugated for the answer’s subject
Você fala inglês? → Falo. (you → I: fala → falo)
For “no”: não + the verb — Não falo. A lone não is valid too; tone matters
Sim is a normal answer; repeating the verb is another option
Beyond yes/no: Claro!, Acho que sim, Ainda não, De jeito nenhum!
Modals can shift person too: Posso entrar? → Pode.
Né?, não é?, tá? can seek confirmation or agreement; verb repetition is one possible reply
statement word order + question intonation (variable) · answer: sim/não or the verb, conjugated for the answer’s subject
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Yes/no questions help in daily exchanges: Tem WiFi?, Aceita cartão?, Pode me ajudar? Intonation and context help identify a question without changing word order. Answers can use sim or repeat the verb: Você gosta daqui? — Gosto! Learning this option helps you follow everyday exchanges and reply with the right subject agreement.
To ask a yes/no question, you can keep statement word order and use question intonation: Você fala inglês. → Você fala inglês? Pitch may rise and then fall; the contour varies by region and context. No question-specific auxiliary like English do/does is required.
This lesson focuses on the answer: a common option is to repeat the question’s verb. Sim and não are normal answers too.
One option is to repeat the question’s verb, conjugated for the subject of the answer:
| Question (about você) | Natural answer (about eu) |
|---|---|
| Você fala inglês? | Falo. (I do.) |
| Você mora aqui? | Moro. |
"Aceita cartão?" "Aceito." (Do you take cards? — I do.)
"Tem troco?" "Não tenho." (Do you have change? — I don't.)
"Está aberto?" "Está." (Is it open? — It is.)
"Pode parcelar?" "Pode." (Can I pay in installments? — You can.)
"Você vai na festa?" "Vou." (Are you going to the party? — I am.)
"Quer carona?" "Quero!" (Want a ride? — I do!)
"Vamos juntos?" "Vamos." (Shall we go together? — Let's.)
"Pode ser amanhã?" "Pode." (Can it be tomorrow? — It can.)
Obrigado / obrigada means “thank you”. With a refusal gesture it can accompany “no, thanks”, but on its own it can be ambiguous. To refuse clearly, use Não, obrigado / obrigada:
"Aceita um cafezinho?" → "Obrigada." (Can be a refusal if context makes that clear.)
To accept, be clear: "Aceito, obrigada!" or "Pode ser!"
The verb echoes the real doer, so a modal answer often switches person:
"Posso entrar?" → "Pode." (you ask about yourself → I tell you "you can")
"Você pode me ajudar?" → "Posso." (you ask about me → "I can")
A flat Não. can sound harsh. Soften it: "Não, obrigado," "Hoje não," "Agora não dá" (can't right now), "Acho que não."
One of Brazilian Portuguese's loveliest little traps: Pois não? means "Yes? How can I help you?" — a formula offering help or agreement, even though não is sitting right there in it. It's worn down from the old phrase pois não havia de (roughly "as if I wouldn't"), so when a shopkeeper greets you with pois não, relax — it's a warm "of course."
Sources: Ciberdúvidas da Língua Portuguesa, Rio & Learn
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