Introduction
This article explains how to use two useful Portuguese beginner phrases: Este exemplo and Esta frase. You will learn when to use each phrase, how gender and number work, simple sample sentences in Brazilian Portuguese, common mistakes, and practical tips for everyday conversations and classroom learning.
- What do these phrases mean?
- Why gender matters in Brazilian Portuguese
- Basic grammar rule: agreement and placement
- Common situations where beginners use these phrases
- Simple, realistic examples for beginners
- Using them in questions
- Short dialogues to practice
- Plural forms and quick comparisons
- Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
- Tips to remember gender and agreement
- Useful classroom and everyday scenarios
- Short practice exercises for learners
- How to expand beyond these phrases
- Mini glossary for quick review
- Common classroom prompts with these phrases
- Practice plan for the next week
- Conclusion
What do these phrases mean?
Este exemplo literally means this example. Use it when pointing to a specific example that is masculine or when the noun it refers to is masculine.
Esta frase literally means this sentence or this phrase. Use it when pointing to a specific sentence that is feminine or when the noun it refers to is feminine.
Why gender matters in Brazilian Portuguese
Portuguese nouns have gender: masculine or feminine. Articles, demonstratives, adjectives, and some pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun. Demonstratives like este and esta change to match the noun:
masculine singular: este
feminine singular: esta
For plural, these change to estes and estas. Always match the demonstrative to the noun, not to the speaker or the object color or size.
Basic grammar rule: agreement and placement
Demonstratives typically come before the noun: este exemplo, esta frase. They can also appear alone when the noun is understood from context: Este é bom or Esta é clara. When the noun follows, the demonstrative and noun both appear.
Examples with verb be and pointing:
Este exemplo é bom para iniciantes.
Esta frase é simples.
Common situations where beginners use these phrases
Classroom explanations: teachers and students use these phrases to refer to items on the board or in a worksheet.
Textbook reading: learners point to a model sentence and say Esta frase é formal or Esta frase é coloquial.
Language exchange or tutoring: you might ask your partner about an example: Este exemplo está correto?
Practical vocabulary connected to the phrases
exemplo – example (masculine)
frase – sentence/phrase (feminine)
este / esta – this (masculine / feminine)
esses / essas – those (nearer plural)
aquele / aquela – that (farther, masculine / feminine)
Simple, realistic examples for beginners
Short sample sentences that you can read aloud, copy into a notebook, or use in class:
Este exemplo mostra como conjugar o verbo comer no presente.
Translation: This example shows how to conjugate the verb comer in the present.
Esta frase é um cumprimento informal: Oi, tudo bem?
Translation: This sentence is an informal greeting: Oi, tudo bem?
Professora: Este exemplo está no livro na página 10.
Translation: Teacher: This example is in the book on page 10.
Aluno: Esta frase tem uma palavra nova para mim.
Translation: Student: This sentence has a new word for me.
Using them in questions
Asking about correctness or meaning is common. Structure is simple: start with verb or question word, then the demonstrative and noun.
Está correto este exemplo?
O que significa esta frase?
Is it correct this example? / What does this sentence mean?
Short dialogues to practice
Dialogue 1 — At a language class:
Aluno: Professora, posso ler esta frase em voz alta?
Professora: Sim, leia com atenção.
Dialogue 2 — Studying with a partner:
Maria: Veja este exemplo de pronúncia.
João: Obrigado, vou repetir.
Plural forms and quick comparisons
Remember to change both the demonstrative and noun for plural. Singular masculine is este exemplo, plural masculine is estes exemplos. Singular feminine is esta frase, plural feminine is estas frases.
Estes exemplos são úteis para a prova.
Estas frases são fáceis de memorizar.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake 1: Mixing gender. Example: saying este frase. Fix: Check the noun gender. Frase is feminine, so use esta.
Mistake 2: Using English word order with Portuguese pronouns incorrectly. Example: Saying frase esta. Fix: Put the demonstrative before the noun: esta frase.
Mistake 3: Forgetting plural agreement. Example: Saying estes frase for multiple sentences. Fix: Use estas frases for plural feminine.
Mistake 4: Choosing the wrong demonstrative for distance. Este/esta implies near you; aquele/aquela implies farther away. If the object is farther, choose aquele or aquela: aquela frase.
Tips to remember gender and agreement
Tip 1: Learn the noun with its article. Memorize o exemplo and a frase together. The article o (masculine) or a (feminine) helps you remember the correct demonstrative.
Tip 2: Practice with flashcards: front has the English word, back has the Portuguese with article and demonstrative. Example card: This example — o exemplo — este exemplo.
Tip 3: Read simple dialogues and underline demonstratives. Repeat aloud to build muscle memory for word order and agreement.
Useful classroom and everyday scenarios
Scenario — Filling a form or reading instructions:
In a manual: Este exemplo ilustra o preenchimento do formulário.
Practical: When filling forms, you might see model fields and say this example shows how to fill it.
Scenario — On a menu or sign:
Menu note: Esta frase não se aplica ao prato do dia. (This phrase does not apply to the daily special.)
Scenario — Messaging a partner or teacher:
Message: Este exemplo parece mais claro agora. (This example seems clearer now.)
Short practice exercises for learners
Exercise 1 — Choose the correct phrase for each item:
1. ____ exemplo (o exemplo) — answer: Este exemplo
2. ____ frase (a frase) — answer: Esta frase
3. ____ exemplos (os exemplos) — answer: Estes exemplos
4. ____ frases (as frases) — answer: Estas frases
Exercise 2 — Translate and practice speaking:
Translate into Portuguese and say aloud: This sentence is easy. — Esta frase é fácil.
Translate: These examples are helpful. — Estes exemplos são úteis.
How to expand beyond these phrases
Once you feel comfortable with este exemplo and esta frase, practice other demonstratives and related structures. Learn aquele and aquela for things farther away and isso/isso for abstract references. Add adjectives: este bom exemplo, esta frase completa.
Practice combining with verbs: ler esta frase, repetir este exemplo, explicar este exemplo, traduzir esta frase.
Mini glossary for quick review
o exemplo — the example (masculine)
a frase — the sentence / the phrase (feminine)
este / esta — this (nearby)
estes / estas — these
aquele / aquela — that (farther)
Common classroom prompts with these phrases
Leia esta frase, por favor. (Read this sentence, please.)
Explique este exemplo com suas palavras. (Explain this example in your own words.)
Substitua a palavra nesta frase por um sinônimo. (Replace the word in this sentence with a synonym.)
Practice plan for the next week
Day 1: Write 10 sentences using esta frase and este exemplo. Say them aloud.
Day 3: Listen to a short Portuguese dialogue and write down any sentences you hear. Label them using esta frase or este exemplo depending on context.
Day 6: Practice a mini-roleplay with a partner: one person is the teacher pointing to examples, the other responds.
Conclusion
Mastering Este exemplo and Esta frase is a practical step for beginners. Focus on gender agreement, placement before the noun, and correct plural forms. Use the short dialogues, exercises, and everyday scenarios provided to build confidence and accuracy. With targeted practice, you will quickly recognize when to use este exemplo and esta frase in real conversations and lessons.
