Introduction
Many learners of Brazilian Portuguese struggle with verb prepositions — the small words that link verbs to objects, people, or ideas. Mistakes with prepositions change meaning and sound unnatural. This article explains common errors, shows clear rules, and gives natural example sentences to help you use Portuguese verbs and prepositions confidently.
- Why prepositions matter in Portuguese verbs
- Common mistake 1: Using de instead of em (and vice versa)
- Common mistake 2: Forgetting the preposition after an infinitive verb
- Common mistake 3: Using por instead of para (and vice versa)
- Common mistake 4: Using a instead of para with movement verbs
- Common mistake 5: Confusing com with de and em
- Common mistake 6: Misusing the personal a after verbs
- Common mistake 7: Not using prepositions after certain adjectives and nouns
- Common mistake 8: Overusing prepositions with verbs of motion + infinitive
- Practical tips to avoid preposition mistakes
- Common verb + preposition list (quick reference)
- Conclusion
Why prepositions matter in Portuguese verbs
In Portuguese, verbs often pair with specific prepositions to form a complete idea. These combinations can be idiomatic and differ from English. Choosing the wrong preposition can change the intended meaning or make a sentence grammatically incorrect. Knowing typical verb + preposition patterns improves comprehension and fluency.
Verbs that require prepositions vs. transitive verbs
Some verbs are transitive and take a direct object without a preposition: comer pão, ler um livro. Other verbs need a preposition before their object: gostar de música, precisar de ajuda. Learning which verbs need a preposition is essential.
Common mistake 1: Using de instead of em (and vice versa)
Both de and em are frequent, but they serve different roles. De often indicates origin, possession, or cause. Em usually indicates location, time, or an object of focus. Some verbs require one or the other, and using the wrong one is a typical error.
Examples and explanations
Confusing verbs: pensar em vs. pensar de.
Use pensar em to indicate thinking about a person or idea. Example: Eu penso em você todos os dias.
Use pensar de to ask for an opinion. Example: O que você pensa de cinema brasileiro?
Another pair: acreditar em vs. acreditar que.
Use acreditar em when you mean to trust or have faith in someone or something. Example: Eu acredito em você.
Use acreditar que when introducing a clause (to believe that). Example: Eu acredito que ela vai chegar cedo.
Common mistake 2: Forgetting the preposition after an infinitive verb
When an infinitive verb follows another verb, many Portuguese verbs require a preposition in between. English often omits this preposition, so English speakers forget to include it in Portuguese.
Verbs commonly followed by de
Some verbs that require de before an infinitive: tentar de is incorrect; the correct structure is tentar + infinitive without de. However, verbs like decidir, esquecer, and deixar follow different patterns and must be learned.
Correct patterns:
decidir + infinitive without preposition: Eu decidi viajar amanhã.
esquecer + de + infinitive: Eu esqueci de comprar leite.
deixar + object + infinitive: Ela deixou a janela aberta. For leaving someone to do something, use deixar + alguém + infinitive: Eu deixei ele falar.
Note how English expects to say I forgot to buy; in Portuguese you must say Eu esqueci de comprar.
Common mistake 3: Using por instead of para (and vice versa)
Por and para both translate to for in English but serve different purposes. Mistaking them is extremely common and can alter meaning.
When to use para
Para indicates purpose, destination, recipient, deadline, or intended use. Examples:
Ele saiu para trabalhar. (destination/purpose)
Presente para minha mãe. (recipient)
Fazer isso para ontem. (deadline, informal: by)
When to use por
Por indicates cause, reason, duration, exchange, route, or means. Examples:
Obrigado por ajudar. (thank you for the reason)
Andamos por duas horas. (duration)
Comprei o livro por R$20. (exchange/price)
Passei por São Paulo. (route)
Confusing these can lead to odd sentences like Obrigado para ajudar (wrong) instead of Obrigado por ajudar (correct).
Common mistake 4: Using a instead of para with movement verbs
The preposition a often marks motion or direction before nouns, but verbs of movement sometimes prefer para when indicating an intended destination or goal.
Examples
Vou a Portugal means I am going to Portugal (neutral, often used for cities and countries).
Vou para a escola emphasizes destination or intention: Vou para a escola estudar. (I am going to school to study.)
Use a with transport or arrival markers: Cheguei a São Paulo ontem. But for future or planned movement emphasizing purpose, para is often more natural: Vou para casa agora.
Common mistake 5: Confusing com with de and em
Com means with and indicates accompaniment, manner, or instrument. Learners sometimes use de or em instead when describing how something is done.
Examples
Falei com o professor. (I spoke with the teacher.)
Ela escreveu com uma caneta azul. (She wrote with a blue pen.)
Wrong: Eu falei de o professor. Correct: Eu falei com o professor. Wrong: Ela escreveu de uma caneta azul. Correct: Ela escreveu com uma caneta azul.
Common mistake 6: Misusing the personal a after verbs
The personal a is required before direct objects that are definite persons or pets. English speakers often omit it because English does not have an equivalent marker.
When to use the personal a
Use a before a direct object that is a specific person, a pronoun of respect, or a beloved pet: Eu vi a Maria ontem. Eu amo o meu cachorro — but if you name the dog, you say Eu vi a Nina, not Eu vi Nina.
Note: The personal a is not used with indefinite people or after verbs that require prepositions other than the direct object construction: Procuro um amigo novo (no personal a because indefinite).
Common mistake 7: Not using prepositions after certain adjectives and nouns
Many adjectives and nouns in Portuguese are followed by specific prepositions. Learners often translate directly from English and choose the wrong preposition or skip it.
Adjective patterns
Common adjective + preposition combos:
interessado em: Ela está interessada em arte.
feliz com: Estou feliz com a notícia.
orgulhoso de: Ele está orgulhoso do filho.
Using the wrong preposition produces unidiomatic phrases like Estou feliz em a notícia (wrong) instead of Estou feliz com a notícia.
Common mistake 8: Overusing prepositions with verbs of motion + infinitive
Some verbs of motion are followed directly by an infinitive without a preposition, while others require one. Adding an unnecessary preposition is a frequent error.
Examples
Deixar + infinitive: Ela deixou entrar o gato. (She let the cat enter.) No preposition between deixar and the infinitive when the structure is deixar + objeto + infinitive.
Ir + infinitive: Nós vamos viajar amanhã. No preposition: vou estudar, vamos comer. Avoid saying vou para estudar unless you emphasize purpose.
Remember which motion verbs take an infinitive directly and which need prepositions: aprender a + infinitive is correct: Ele aprendeu a nadar. But preferir + infinitive is direct: Eu prefiro ficar em casa.
Practical tips to avoid preposition mistakes
1. Learn verb + preposition pairs as chunks. Memorize common combinations like gostar de, precisar de, pensar em.
2. Compare Portuguese structures with English translations, but do not translate prepositions literally. Focus on meaning and function.
3. Read and listen to Brazilian Portuguese frequently to internalize prepositional patterns. Pay attention to news, podcasts, and everyday conversations.
4. Make a personal list of verbs you use often and note which preposition they require. Practice with real sentences.
5. When in doubt, check a reliable dictionary or grammar resource. Many verbs are irregular in their preposition use, and a reference helps avoid repeated mistakes.
Usage and cultural notes
Brazilian Portuguese often tolerates colloquial shortcuts in speech, but written Portuguese and formal contexts expect correct preposition use. In informal conversation, natives may drop prepositions or contract words in ways that sound natural but are grammatically nonstandard. When learning, aim for standard forms, then listen to colloquial speech to understand variations.
Regional differences exist: some preposition choices vary by region or register in Brazil. For example, choices between a and para can be influenced by regional speech patterns. Exposure to different speakers helps you recognize acceptable alternatives.
Common verb + preposition list (quick reference)
These pairs are common and useful for beginners and intermediate learners:
gostar de — Eu gosto de samba.
precisar de — Eu preciso de descanso.
pensar em — Você pensa em viajar?
acreditar em — Eu acredito em milagres.
esquecer de — Ela esqueceu de ligar.
decidir (sem preposição) — Nós decidimos mudar.
ajudar a/de — Ajudei a montar a mesa. / Ajudei ela com a mudança. Note: both patterns exist depending on construction.
parar de — Parei de fumar.
começar a/começar (sem preposição) — Comecei a estudar. / Começou a chover. Context decides.
responsável por — Ele é responsável por isso.
interessado em — Estou interessado em aprender.
Conclusion
Prepositions in Portuguese may seem small, but they matter a lot. English speakers commonly mix up de, em, por, para, and com, forget the personal a, or omit required prepositions after infinitives. Study verb + preposition pairs, listen to native Brazilian Portuguese, and use a reference when unsure. With practice you will recognize patterns and communicate more naturally and accurately.
