Introduction
Many new learners of Brazilian Portuguese wonder why they sometimes forget the small word de in phrases like gostar de. This article explains the grammar behind de, common beginner mistakes, practical examples, and quick tips to remember when to use it in everyday situations.
- Why the small word de feels easy to forget
- What does de do in Portuguese verbs like gostar de?
- Common verbs that require de
- Simple, everyday examples
- Why English speakers omit de: direct-object vs. prepositional-object
- De + infinitive: verbs followed by actions
- Practical tips to avoid forgetting de
- Common mistakes and how to correct them
- Exceptions and related constructions
- Short practice dialogue for beginners
- Useful vocabulary and quick reference
- How to check yourself when speaking or writing
- When you can relax about mistakes
- Additional mini-exercises
- Conclusion
Why the small word de feels easy to forget
In English, verbs of liking, wanting, or talking about preferences often do not use a preposition in the same way. For example, English speakers say I like coffee while in Portuguese you say Eu gosto de café. That extra step feels unnecessary at first, so learners omit de unintentionally.
Another reason is that de is short, frequent, and unstressed in speech. When beginners focus on conjugating verbs like gostar, lembrar, precisar, they may skip the tiny preposition in rapid speech or writing.
What does de do in Portuguese verbs like gostar de?
De is a preposition that links a verb to its object in many verb + noun or verb + verb constructions. With verbs that express feelings, preferences, needs, or memory, Portuguese often requires de before the thing or action involved.
Examples of this pattern include verbs such as gostar de, precisar de, lembrar-se de, ficar triste de. The preposition signals the relationship between the verb and the following noun or infinitive.
Common verbs that require de
Below are verbs beginners commonly see and must pair with de. The first occurrence uses strong formatting.
gostar de – to like
precisar de – to need
lembrar-se de – to remember
cansar de – to get tired of
ter medo de – to be afraid of
Simple, everyday examples
Short sentences are easiest to remember. Each example uses realistic beginner vocabulary and contexts.
Eu gosto de música.
Translation: I like music.
Você precisa de água?
Translation: Do you need water?
Ela lembra de estudar amanhã.
Translation: She remembers to study tomorrow.
Estamos cansados de esperar.
Translation: We are tired of waiting.
Ele tem medo de altura.
Translation: He is afraid of heights.
Why English speakers omit de: direct-object vs. prepositional-object
In English many verbs take a direct object without a preposition: I need coffee, I like pizza. In Portuguese those verbs often take a prepositional object introduced by de. Beginners translate word-for-word and leave out the preposition, producing Eu gosto pizza instead of Eu gosto de pizza.
Think of de as the connector that Portuguese requires to mark that the verb is taking an object in a particular pattern. It is not a redundant word; it changes how the verb links to the noun or infinitive.
De + infinitive: verbs followed by actions
Many verbs use de before an infinitive (the base form of a verb) to talk about liking, needing, or remembering actions.
Examples with infinitives:
Eu gosto de viajar.
Translation: I like to travel.
Você precisa de comer algo?
Translation: Do you need to eat something?
Ele lembra de ligar para a mãe.
Translation: He remembers to call his mother.
Note about reflexive verbs
Some verbs like lembrar-se combine a reflexive pronoun with de. Beginners sometimes leave out the reflexive pronoun or the preposition. Correct: Eu me lembro de estudar. Incorrect: Eu lembro estudar or Eu lembro de estudar without me in some contexts. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, me lembro de estudar is common and natural.
Practical tips to avoid forgetting de
Concrete strategies help fix this common omission.
1. Learn verbs as chunks: study gostar de, precisar de, lembrar-se de as full phrases instead of learning only gostar or precisar.
2. Use simple drills: write 10 sentences daily linking the verb with de plus a familiar object or infinitive, e.g., Eu gosto de futebol, Eu preciso de dinheiro, Eu gosto de cozinhar.
3. Make flashcards: front side verb, back side verb + de. Reviewing the chunk trains your brain to include de automatically.
4. Listen for de in audio: when watching beginner podcasts or content, note every time you hear de after these verbs. Hearing natural speech helps internalize the pattern.
5. Use substitution practice: replace the noun after de with a different familiar word to see the structure in many contexts, e.g., Eu gosto de chocolate, Eu gosto de praia, Eu gosto de correr.
Common mistakes and how to correct them
Here are errors learners often make and corrected versions.
Wrong: Eu gosto chocolate.
Correct: Eu gosto de chocolate.
Wrong: Você precisa dinheiro?
Correct: Você precisa de dinheiro?
Wrong: Ela lembra estudar.
Correct: Ela lembra de estudar.
When correcting, explain the missing element explicitly: insert de, then repeat the phrase aloud in a short sentence to reinforce the pattern.
Exceptions and related constructions
Not all verbs need de. Some verbs take a direct object without a preposition, like comer, beber, ver. Knowing which verbs require de comes with study and exposure.
Example direct-object verbs:
Eu como arroz.
Eu vejo um filme.
Ele bebe água.
Also, some verbs use other prepositions, for example pensar em (to think about), olhar para (to look at). Beginners should not assume de fits every verb; check common verbs individually.
Short practice dialogue for beginners
Use this mini-dialogue to practice including de in context.
Ana: Você gosta de café?
João: Sim, eu gosto de café. E você?
Ana: Eu prefiro chá, mas eu gosto de chocolate também.
João: Eu preciso de uma xícara agora.
Reading and repeating this dialogue helps you hear how natural speakers use de in everyday exchanges.
Useful vocabulary and quick reference
Key words beginners will meet in these patterns:
gostar de – to like
precisar de – to need
lembrar-se de – to remember
cansar de – to get tired of
ter medo de – to be afraid of
Sample sentences for a beginner’s notebook
Write these in a notebook and review them regularly.
Eu gosto de aprender português.
Você precisa de ajuda?
Ela lembra de comprar pão.
Nós estamos cansados de esperar.
Eles têm medo de cachorro.
How to check yourself when speaking or writing
Quick self-check methods reduce omissions in real time.
Pause briefly after the verb and ask yourself does this verb normally need a preposition in Portuguese. If yes, add de and continue.
When writing, underline verbs in your sentence and ensure any verb that in Portuguese requires a preposition has one. If unsure, consult a beginner grammar list or dictionary entry for the verb.
When you can relax about mistakes
Beginners should aim for clarity first. Omitting de may still be understood by native speakers, but it can sound unnatural. As you gain confidence, prioritize learning the chunked patterns and practicing them in speaking and writing.
Additional mini-exercises
Fill-in-the-blank practice helps. Complete with de where required.
Eu gosto ___ futebol.
Você precisa ___ estudar?
Ela lembra ___ ligar amanhã.
Answers: de, de, de.
Conclusion
Forgetting de is a common and fixable beginner error. Learn verbs as chunks with de, practice short sentences and dialogues, and use simple checks when speaking and writing. With targeted drills and exposure in everyday contexts like menus, messages, and conversations, including de will become automatic.
