Introduction
Understanding Portuguese verb patterns with prepositions helps learners avoid common mistakes and sound more natural. This article explains how verbs pair with de, a, and com in Brazilian Portuguese, shows why combinations matter, and gives clear examples you can use in everyday conversation.
- Why verb + preposition combinations matter
- Verbs that commonly take de
- Verbs that commonly take a
- Verbs that commonly take com
- Infinitive choices: personal infinitive vs. impersonal infinitive
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Useful lists to study and remember
- Context and cultural usage notes
- How to learn these patterns effectively
- Conclusion
Why verb + preposition combinations matter
In Portuguese, many verbs are followed by a specific preposition before an infinitive, a noun, or a pronoun. These combinations are not arbitrary: they affect meaning and grammar. Learning which verbs take de, a, or com will make your Portuguese clearer and more natural than translating directly from English.
Quick overview of the three prepositions
De often indicates origin, possession, cause, or the complement of a verb. A is commonly used for direction, purpose, or with verbs that require an indirect object. Com expresses accompaniment, manner, means, or tools. But in verb patterns these prepositions follow fixed constructions that you need to learn by verb.
Verbs that commonly take de
Many Portuguese verbs that express opinion, memory, desire, fear, or obligation use de before an infinitive or a noun. Some verbs require de because the structure developed historically and does not match English patterns.
Common verbs + de
Here are frequent verbs that take de and example sentences.
ter medo de — Tenho medo de voar.
gostar de — Eu gosto de música brasileira.
lembrar-se de — Ela lembrou-se do compromisso.
cansar-se de — Eu me canso de esperar.
achar (opinion) de — O que você acha de hoje?
How to use verbs + de with infinitives
When a verb takes de, the next verb is usually in the infinitive form. This creates a structure like verb + de + infinitivo. That infinitive expresses the action related to the first verb.
Examples:
Tenho medo de viajar sozinho.
Ela cansou-se de trabalhar tanto.
Vamos falar de organizar o evento.
Notes on pronominal verbs and de
Some verbs that use de are reflexive or pronominal, so the pronoun remains before the verb. For example, lembrar-se de, queixar-se de, arrepender-se de. The structure still follows verb + de + noun/infinitive.
Ela queixou-se de não ter tempo.
Ele arrependeu-se de aceitar o emprego.
Verbs that commonly take a
A appears after verbs that indicate movement toward, beginning an action, continuing to do something, or that require an indirect object introduced by a. Many of these verbs use the construction verb + a + infinitive, or verb + a + noun.
Frequent verbs + a
Important verbs that pair with a include começar a, aprender a, voltar a, ajudar a, and dedicar-se a.
Examples:
Comecei a estudar português este ano.
Ela aprendeu a dirigir cedo.
Voltamos a discutir o projeto.
Preciso ajudar a minha irmã com o relatório.
Ele se dedicou a compor músicas.
Distinguishing começar a vs começar + infinitive without preposition
In Portuguese, começar usually requires a when followed by another verb: começar a + infinitivo. This contrasts with English where begin can be used without a preposition. Omiting a sounds incorrect in Brazilian Portuguese.
Incorrect: Comecei estudar.
Correct: Comecei a estudar.
Verbs that change meaning with a
Some verbs change sense when paired with a. For example, ir a can indicate physical movement to a place, and passar a can mean to start doing something. Learning these distinctions improves comprehension.
Vou a São Paulo amanhã. (movement)
Passamos a trabalhar melhor depois da reunião. (start/change)
Verbs that commonly take com
Com is used after verbs that imply accompaniment, association, or manner. In many verb + preposition patterns, com introduces a noun showing the instrument, the person who accompanies the action, or the manner in which something is done.
Common verbs + com
Verbs such as contar com, casar-se com, preocupar-se com, concordar com, and lidar com are typical examples.
Examples:
Posso contar com você?
Ela casou-se com um músico.
Ele preocupa-se com o futuro.
Concordo com a sua ideia.
Precisamos lidar com esse problema.
When com precedes a gerund or noun
With gerunds, com often expresses simultaneous action or manner: com + gerúndio. This form explains how something happened or the context in which it occurred.
Entrou na sala com aplaudindo os artistas. (Note: prefer common constructions like Ele entrou na sala aplaudindo os artistas or entrou na sala enquanto aplaudia.)
Ela aprendeu com conversando com colegas. (Better: Aprendeu conversando com colegas.)
Be careful: Portuguese usually favors simpler, idiomatic structures: aprender com alguém, falar com alguém, trabalhar com algo. Use com to link nouns and people.
Infinitive choices: personal infinitive vs. impersonal infinitive
Portuguese has the impersonal infinitive (infinitivo impessoal) and the personal infinitive (infinitivo pessoal). Most verb + preposition patterns use the impersonal infinitive, but in some cases the personal infinitive is more precise when the subject of the infinitive differs from the main clause subject.
Examples showing the difference
Impersonal infinitive:
Ela decidiu viajar. (Decidiu viajar sozinha.)
Decidimos começar a reforma no sábado.
Personal infinitive (with different subjects):
Foi importante eles perceberem o erro. (Perceberem is personal, matching the plural subject.)
Pedimos que vocês virem cedo. (Prefer explicit subjunctive in many cases, but personal infinitive is possible.)
Note: For learners, focus first on standard verb + preposition + impersonal infinitive patterns; explore the personal infinitive later as you advance.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
English speakers often translate directly, producing incorrect patterns. Here are recurring issues and fixes.
Wrong preposition or no preposition
English: I start study now. Portuguese literal: Eu começo estudar agora. Correct: Eu começo a estudar agora.
Fix: Memorize verbs that require a, de, or com.
Using de when a is needed (or vice versa)
English: I learned to drive. Wrong Portuguese: Eu aprendi a dirigir. Wait: Actually this is correct: aprender a dirigir. But for other verbs, check lists: começar a, voltar a, ajudar a. For verbs of emotion or opinion, use de like gostar de, ter medo de.
Overusing com with gerunds
Portuguese often prefers simpler gerund structures: Aprendi conversando com colegas, not Aprendi com conversando com colegas. Keep sentences natural: Aprendi com meus colegas; Aprendi conversando com colegas.
Useful lists to study and remember
Memorization is easier with organized groups. Below are compact lists of common verbs with each preposition. Learn them with example sentences.
Verbs + de: gostar de, ter medo de, lembrar-se de, esquecer-se de, cansar-se de, tratar de, falar de, depender de.
Examples: Eu gosto de praia. Ela esqueceu-se do compromisso.
Verbs + a: começar a, aprender a, voltar a, ajudar a, ensinar a, habituar-se a, dedicar-se a.
Examples: Ele começou a trabalhar cedo. Nós ajudamos a preparar a festa.
Verbs + com: contar com, casar-se com, preocupar-se com, concordar com, lidar com, brigar com (note: brigar com is to fight with someone verbally), andar com.
Examples: Posso contar com sua ajuda? Eles casaram-se com festa pequena.
Context and cultural usage notes
Brazilian Portuguese often prefers simpler spoken forms and contractions. Prepositions can contract with definite articles: de + o = do, de + a = da, a + o = ao, a + a = à (use of the grave accent is less frequent in Brazilian Portuguese than in European; still grammar rules apply), com + o = com o (no contraction), etc. Learn contractions because native speakers use them constantly.
Examples of contractions:
Falar do problema = falar de o problema → falar do problema.
Ir ao mercado = ir a o mercado → ir ao mercado.
Note: com does not contract with the article; people say com o, com a.
In informal speech, Brazilians sometimes omit pronouns and use contractions naturally. Pay attention to context: in casual conversations, some prepositional patterns may be reduced, but the underlying grammar remains the same.
How to learn these patterns effectively
1. Read and listen to authentic Brazilian Portuguese: podcasts, songs, news, and dialogues, noting verb + preposition patterns.
2. Create flashcards grouped by preposition rather than by verb alone.
3. Practice speaking with natives or tutors, asking for correction on preposition use.
4. Keep a personal list of verbs you often use and check which preposition they require.
Practical tip
When uncertain, search a reliable dictionary entry for the verb (priberam, Michaelis, or Aurélio) which often lists the typical prepositional complements. Context sentences from real sources help internalize correct patterns faster than pure rule memorization.
Conclusion
Mastering verb patterns with de, a, and com is essential for sounding natural in Brazilian Portuguese. Focus on common verbs, learn their required prepositions, study real examples, and pay attention to contractions and colloquial usage. With practice, these patterns become automatic and boost your confidence in conversation.
