A1 Portuguese GrammarBasic Word Order
Learn the fundamental Portuguese sentence structure: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). Understand how Portuguese word order is flexible compared to English, with subjects often omitted and adjectives typically following nouns.
1Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
Portuguese follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern like English. However, the subject pronoun is often dropped because the verb conjugation indicates who is performing the action. The basic structure remains consistent in declarative sentences.
Basic SVO Structure
| Subject | Verb | Object | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eu | leio | livros | I read books |
| Ela | come | fruta | She eats fruit |
| Nós | falamos | português | We speak Portuguese |
| (Eu) | trabalho | aqui | I work here |
Examples
O Pedro compra pão.
Pedro buys bread.
S (O Pedro) + V (compra) + O (pão)
A Ana estuda medicina.
Ana studies medicine.
standard SVO order
Falo inglês e português.
I speak English and Portuguese.
subject omitted (verb shows eu)
Eles vivem em Lisboa.
They live in Lisbon.
S + V + location
2Adjective Placement
Unlike English, most Portuguese adjectives come after the noun they describe. Some common short adjectives can precede the noun, often with a change in meaning or emphasis. Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun.
Adjective Position
| After Noun (usual) | Before Noun (emphatic) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| um carro vermelho | — | red car |
| uma casa grande | uma grande casa | big/great house |
| um homem bom | um bom homem | good man |
| uma ideia nova | uma nova ideia | new idea |
Examples
Tenho um carro novo.
I have a new car.
adjective after noun (normal)
É uma mulher inteligente.
She is an intelligent woman.
adjective follows noun
É um grande amigo.
He is a great friend.
grande before noun = great
Comprei sapatos pretos.
I bought black shoes.
color adjective after noun
3Adverb Placement
Adverbs typically come after the verb they modify, but time adverbs can be flexible and often appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Adverbs of manner usually follow the verb immediately.
Adverb Positions
| Type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| manner | after verb | Ela fala bem. |
| time | start or end | Hoje trabalho. / Trabalho hoje. |
| frequency | after verb | Sempre como aqui. |
| place | after verb/object | Moro aqui. |
Examples
Ela canta muito bem.
She sings very well.
adverb after verb
Amanhã vou ao médico.
Tomorrow I go to the doctor.
time adverb at start
Estudo sempre à noite.
I always study at night.
sempre after verb
Ele raramente come carne.
He rarely eats meat.
frequency before verb also works
4Flexible Word Order
Portuguese word order is more flexible than English for emphasis. Objects can move to the front for topicalization, and subjects can follow verbs in certain contexts. The verb usually stays in the second position in statements.
Word Order Variations
| Standard | Topicalized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eu comprei o livro. | O livro, eu comprei. | The book, I bought it. |
| Ele gosta de café. | De café, ele gosta. | Coffee, he likes. |
| Chegou o comboio. | O comboio chegou. | The train arrived. |
| Disse a Maria. | A Maria disse. | Maria said. |
Examples
Este livro, já li.
This book, I've already read.
object fronted for emphasis
Chegou o professor.
The teacher arrived.
V-S order (verb first)
Ao Pedro, dei um presente.
To Pedro, I gave a gift.
indirect object fronted
Bonita, a casa é.
Beautiful, the house is.
adjective fronted for emphasis