Introduction
One of the most distinctive features of Portuguese grammar is the infinitivo pessoal, or personal infinitive. While most Romance languages use only the impersonal infinitive, Portuguese offers learners a powerful tool for expressing who performs an action without conjugating verbs into complex tenses. Understanding when to use the personal versus impersonal infinitive can transform your fluency and help you sound more like a native speaker. This comprehensive guide will demystify both forms, providing you with clear rules, abundant examples, and practical insights to master this essential aspect of Portuguese grammar.
- What Is the Infinitive in Portuguese?
- The Impersonal Infinitive
- The Personal Infinitive: A Portuguese Specialty
- Common Verbs and Expressions That Take the Personal Infinitive
- Tricky Cases and Optional Usage
- Practical Tips for Learners
- Comparing with Other Romance Languages
- Advanced Examples and Nuances
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Practice Exercises
- Cultural Notes on Infinitive Usage
- Summary of Key Points
- Conclusion
What Is the Infinitive in Portuguese?
The infinitive is the base form of a verb, the form you find in dictionaries. In English, infinitives typically include the word to: to speak, to eat, to live. In Portuguese, infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir. For example:
falar — to speak
comer — to eat
viver — to live
Unlike English, which has only one infinitive form, Portuguese has two: the impersonal infinitive and the personal infinitive. The impersonal infinitive is the standard dictionary form, while the personal infinitive adds specific endings to indicate who is performing the action.
The Impersonal Infinitive
The impersonal infinitive is the basic infinitive form that does not specify who performs the action. It remains unchanged regardless of the subject. This form is used in several common situations.
After Prepositions Without a Specific Subject
When you use a preposition followed by an infinitive and there is no specific subject mentioned, the impersonal infinitive is your choice:
Antes de sair, desligue as luzes. — Before leaving, turn off the lights.
É difícil aprender português sem praticar. — It is difficult to learn Portuguese without practicing.
Ela foi ao mercado para comprar frutas. — She went to the market to buy fruit.
Notice that in these examples, the action of leaving, learning, or buying does not have a clearly defined subject performing it, or the subject is understood from context.
After Auxiliary and Modal Verbs
When you use auxiliary verbs like poder (can), dever (should, must), querer (to want), or precisar (to need), the following infinitive remains impersonal:
Posso ajudar você? — Can I help you?
Eles querem viajar para o Brasil. — They want to travel to Brazil.
Você deve estudar mais. — You should study more.
Precisamos terminar este projeto. — We need to finish this project.
The subject of both the auxiliary verb and the infinitive is the same person or people, so there is no need to mark the infinitive for person.
In Generic or Impersonal Statements
When making general statements that apply to people in general rather than specific individuals, use the impersonal infinitive:
Fumar faz mal à saúde. — Smoking is bad for health.
Trabalhar muito pode causar estresse. — Working too much can cause stress.
É bom dormir oito horas por noite. — It is good to sleep eight hours per night.
These sentences describe actions in general, not actions performed by specific people.
The Personal Infinitive: A Portuguese Specialty
The infinitivo pessoal is what makes Portuguese infinitives truly special. This form adds specific endings to the infinitive to indicate who is performing the action. It allows you to express subject relationships clearly without using fully conjugated verbs.
Formation of the Personal Infinitive
The personal infinitive is formed by taking the impersonal infinitive and adding personal endings. Interestingly, the first and third person singular forms are identical to the impersonal infinitive:
Using FALAR (to speak) as an example:
eu falar — (for) me to speak
tu falares — (for) you to speak
ele/ela/você falar — (for) him/her/you to speak
nós falarmos — (for) us to speak
vós falardes — (for) you all to speak
eles/elas/vocês falarem — (for) them/you all to speak
The endings -es, -mos, -des, and -em are added to show who performs the action. The vós form is rarely used in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese, appearing mainly in formal or literary contexts.
For -er and -ir verbs, the pattern is identical:
COMER (to eat):
eu comer, tu comeres, ele comer, nós comermos, eles comerem
PARTIR (to leave):
eu partir, tu partires, ela partir, nós partirmos, elas partirem
When to Use the Personal Infinitive
The personal infinitive appears in several specific grammatical contexts. Understanding these situations will help you recognize when this form is necessary.
After Certain Prepositions with Different Subjects
When the subject of the infinitive differs from the subject of the main verb, the personal infinitive clarifies who does what. Common prepositions that trigger this use include para (for, in order to), sem (without), até (until), ao (upon), and por (for, by):
Eu trouxe o livro para você ler. — I brought the book for you to read.
Eles saíram sem nós sabermos. — They left without us knowing.
Vamos esperar até eles chegarem. — We will wait until they arrive.
Ela ficou feliz por nós estarmos aqui. — She was happy that we are here.
Notice how the personal infinitive endings make it crystal clear who performs each action. In the first example, você will do the reading, not eu. In the second, nós did not know, while eles left.
As the Subject of a Sentence
When an infinitive clause functions as the subject of a sentence, Portuguese often uses the personal infinitive to specify who performs the action:
Aprendermos português é importante. — Our learning Portuguese is important.
Eles chegarem cedo foi uma surpresa. — Their arriving early was a surprise.
Vocês viajarem juntos foi uma boa ideia. — Your traveling together was a good idea.
The personal infinitive indicates exactly who is learning, arriving, or traveling.
With Impersonal Expressions When Subject Is Specified
When you use impersonal expressions like é necessário (it is necessary), é importante (it is important), é possível (it is possible), or é difícil (it is difficult) and you want to specify who should perform the action, the personal infinitive is used:
É importante estudarmos todos os dias. — It is important for us to study every day.
É necessário eles participarem da reunião. — It is necessary for them to participate in the meeting.
É possível vocês chegarem mais cedo? — Is it possible for you to arrive earlier?
Compare these with impersonal statements: É importante estudar (It is important to study in general) uses the impersonal infinitive because no specific subject is mentioned.
Common Verbs and Expressions That Take the Personal Infinitive
Certain verbs and expressions commonly require the personal infinitive. Familiarizing yourself with these will help you recognize patterns in natural Portuguese speech.
Verbs of Ordering, Allowing, and Causing
Verbs like mandar (to order), deixar (to let, allow), fazer (to make), and pedir (to ask) can take the personal infinitive when there is a different subject performing the infinitive action:
Ela mandou eles saírem. — She ordered them to leave.
O professor deixou os alunos escolherem o tema. — The teacher let the students choose the topic.
O filme fez todos chorarem. — The movie made everyone cry.
After Verbs of Perception
Verbs like ver (to see), ouvir (to hear), and sentir (to feel) often use the personal infinitive:
Vi eles entrarem na sala. — I saw them enter the room.
Ouvi você falar meu nome. — I heard you say my name.
Senti o chão tremer. — I felt the ground shake.
Note that with perception verbs, both the personal infinitive and the gerund are possible, though the infinitive is more common in formal registers.
With Temporal Expressions
Expressions involving time often use the personal infinitive, especially with ao (upon, when) and antes de (before), depois de (after) when subjects differ:
Ao chegarmos em casa, começou a chover. — Upon our arriving home, it started to rain.
Antes de eles saírem, já tínhamos limpado tudo. — Before they left, we had already cleaned everything.
Depois de vocês terminarem, podemos ir. — After you finish, we can go.
Tricky Cases and Optional Usage
The choice between personal and impersonal infinitive is not always rigid. In some contexts, Portuguese speakers have flexibility, and both forms may be acceptable, though they can carry slightly different nuances.
When the Subject Is Clear from Context
Sometimes the subject of an infinitive is obvious from the surrounding context. In these cases, speakers may use either form:
Chegamos para ajudar. — We arrived to help.
Chegamos para ajudarmos. — We arrived to help.
Both sentences are correct. The first uses the impersonal infinitive because the subject nós is clear from the conjugated verb chegamos. The second explicitly marks the infinitive with the personal ending -mos for added clarity or emphasis.
Emphasis and Style
Even when not strictly necessary, Portuguese speakers sometimes use the personal infinitive for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic effect:
É melhor irmos embora. — It is better for us to leave. (emphasis on us specifically)
É melhor ir embora. — It is better to leave. (more general or neutral)
The first example with irmos emphasizes that specifically we should leave, while the second is more neutral and could apply more broadly.
Regional and Register Variations
The frequency of personal infinitive use can vary between European and Brazilian Portuguese, and between formal and informal registers. Brazilian Portuguese tends to use the personal infinitive less frequently in casual speech than European Portuguese, though it remains an important feature in both varieties. In formal writing and literary contexts, you will encounter the personal infinitive more consistently.
Practical Tips for Learners
Mastering the distinction between personal and impersonal infinitives takes practice, but these strategies can accelerate your progress.
Ask Yourself: Who Is Doing What?
The fundamental question is always about the subject. When you encounter or want to use an infinitive, ask yourself: Is the subject of this infinitive the same as the main verb, or is it different? If different, lean toward the personal infinitive. If the same or unspecified, the impersonal infinitive is often appropriate.
Listen and Read Extensively
Exposure to authentic Portuguese through reading, podcasts, films, and conversation will help you internalize when each form is used. Pay attention to sentences with prepositions followed by infinitives, and note whether the infinitive is marked for person.
Practice with Common Phrases
Memorize frequently used expressions that employ the personal infinitive. This builds intuition:
Antes de sairmos, vamos comer. — Before we leave, let us eat.
É difícil conseguirmos ingressos. — It is difficult for us to get tickets.
Vi eles chegarem. — I saw them arrive.
Ela ficou sem termos notícias. — She stayed without us having news.
Do Not Overthink It
While the personal infinitive is a distinctive feature of Portuguese, many contexts allow for flexibility. Native speakers themselves sometimes vary in their usage, especially in informal conversation. Focus on the clearest cases first, and gradually refine your usage as you gain experience.
Comparing with Other Romance Languages
Understanding how Portuguese differs from Spanish, French, and Italian can illuminate why the personal infinitive exists and how special it truly is.
In Spanish, French, and Italian, when you want to express that a different subject performs an infinitive action, you typically must use a conjugated verb in the subjunctive mood:
Spanish: Es importante que estudiemos. — It is important that we study.
French: Il est important que nous étudiions. — It is important that we study.
Portuguese: É importante estudarmos. — It is important for us to study.
Notice how Portuguese can express the same idea with the personal infinitive, avoiding the subjunctive entirely. This makes Portuguese more flexible and, in some ways, simpler for expressing these relationships.
Advanced Examples and Nuances
As you progress in Portuguese, you will encounter more sophisticated uses of the personal infinitive in literary texts, formal speech, and everyday complex sentences.
Complex Sentences with Multiple Infinitives
Sentences can contain both personal and impersonal infinitives, depending on the function of each:
Queremos trabalhar até eles chegarem para podermos sair juntos. — We want to work until they arrive so we can leave together.
In this sentence, trabalhar is impersonal because its subject is the same as queremos (we). However, chegarem is personal because eles (they) is the subject. Finally, podermos is personal because it emphasizes that nós (we) will be able to leave.
Literary and Formal Usage
In literature and formal documents, the personal infinitive is used more consistently and with greater stylistic variation:
Sermos honestos é fundamental para a confiança. — Our being honest is fundamental for trust.
O fato de estarmos aqui demonstra nosso compromisso. — The fact that we are here demonstrates our commitment.
Apesar de terem chegado tarde, conseguiram participar. — Despite their having arrived late, they managed to participate.
These constructions showcase the elegance and precision that the personal infinitive brings to Portuguese expression.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even advanced learners sometimes stumble with infinitives. Being aware of common errors will help you avoid them.
Using Personal Infinitive After Modal Verbs
A frequent mistake is adding personal endings to infinitives that follow modal verbs when the subject is the same:
Incorrect: Podemos irmos agora?
Correct: Podemos ir agora? — Can we go now?
Since podemos already indicates we are the subject, the infinitive ir should remain impersonal.
Forgetting the Personal Infinitive with Different Subjects
Conversely, failing to use the personal infinitive when subjects differ can create ambiguity:
Unclear: Espero até eles chegar.
Clear: Espero até eles chegarem. — I wait until they arrive.
The personal ending -em makes it unmistakably clear that eles (they) are the ones arriving, not eu (I).
Mixing Up First and Third Person Singular
Since both eu (I) and ele/ela (he/she) have the same personal infinitive form as the impersonal infinitive, context is crucial:
Para eu sair, preciso terminar o trabalho. — For me to leave, I need to finish the work.
Para ele sair, ele precisa terminar o trabalho. — For him to leave, he needs to finish the work.
Both use sair without an ending, but the subject pronoun before the infinitive clarifies who will leave.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these examples. Determine whether the personal or impersonal infinitive is appropriate, and identify the correct form.
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form
1. É necessário nós (estudar / estudarmos).
2. Quero (viajar / viajarmos) amanhã.
3. Eles saíram sem nós (ver / vermos).
4. (Trabalhar / Trabalharmos) é importante.
5. Ela pediu para eles (ficar / ficarem).
Answers and Explanations
1. estudarmos — Different subject from impersonal expression, needs personal form.
2. viajar — Same subject as quero, impersonal infinitive after modal verb.
3. vermos — Different subject: they left, we saw.
4. Trabalhar or Trabalharmos — Both acceptable; impersonal for general statement, personal for emphasis on nós.
5. ficarem — Different subject: she asked, they stay.
Cultural Notes on Infinitive Usage
Language reflects culture, and the personal infinitive reveals something about how Portuguese speakers conceptualize actions and relationships.
The personal infinitive allows for exceptional precision in expressing who does what without resorting to complex subordinate clauses. This reflects a linguistic culture that values clarity in relationships between actions and actors. In Brazilian Portuguese especially, where the spoken language often simplifies verb forms, the personal infinitive remains one area where speakers maintain distinction and precision.
Interestingly, while Brazilian Portuguese tends to be less formal in many grammatical aspects compared to European Portuguese, both varieties treasure the personal infinitive. It appears in everyday conversation, from planning weekend activities to discussing responsibilities at work. Phrases like antes de sairmos (before we leave) and para eles entenderem (for them to understand) are natural parts of daily communication.
Summary of Key Points
To solidify your understanding, here are the essential takeaways about Portuguese infinitives:
The impersonal infinitive is the basic form used after modal verbs, in general statements, and when the subject is the same as the main verb or unspecified. It remains unchanged regardless of who performs the action.
The personal infinitive adds endings to indicate who performs the action. Use it when the subject differs from the main verb, as the subject of a sentence, with certain prepositions, and after impersonal expressions when specifying who acts.
The personal infinitive endings are: -es (tu), -mos (nós), -des (vós), -em (eles/elas/vocês). The first and third person singular forms match the impersonal infinitive.
Always ask: who is performing this action? If the answer differs from the main subject or needs clarification, the personal infinitive is likely your best choice.
Conclusion
The distinction between personal and impersonal infinitives represents one of the most elegant features of Portuguese grammar. While it may seem complex at first, understanding this distinction will significantly enhance your ability to express nuanced ideas and understand native speakers. The personal infinitive gives Portuguese a unique flexibility among Romance languages, allowing speakers to clarify subjects without always resorting to fully conjugated subordinate clauses. As you continue practicing through reading, listening, and speaking, these forms will become increasingly natural. Embrace the personal infinitive as a powerful tool that sets Portuguese apart and enriches your communication in this beautiful language.
