Separate the listener from grammatical person
The word você addresses the listener, but its verb follows third person singular grammar. Compare você fala, ele fala, and ela fala. The same ending does not mean that all three subjects refer to the same person in a conversation. A question addressed to someone and a statement about someone else have different communicative roles. Learn the subject and verb as a pair, then attach a useful message. This lesson uses a common Brazilian model while recognizing that tu is also used in various regions and communities with locally patterned agreement.
Você fala português?
Do you speak Portuguese?
The singular address word takes the third person singular present form. The question refers directly to the listener, but English second person meaning does not determine a traditional second person Portuguese ending.
Você é estudante?
Are you a student?
The address word takes the singular third person form of the identity verb. The sentence asks about the listener’s status. The profession or status noun does not change the verb’s grammatical person.
Use vocês when addressing several people
The plural address form vocês takes third person plural agreement: vocês falam, vocês são, and vocês estão. Keep the accent in the written pronoun. It is not enough to make only the subject plural while leaving a singular verb in the standard model. A group can share one object, so the number of questions, books, or classes mentioned afterward does not determine the verb. First identify how many people are being addressed, then retrieve the matching complete pair. Regional alternatives exist, but this basic distinction is useful across many Brazilian interactions.
Vocês falam inglês?
Do you speak English, addressing several people?
The plural address word requires a plural verb form. The language name remains unchanged because it is the object of speaking. The number of addressees controls the agreement rather than the number of languages.
Vocês estão bem?
Are you well, addressing several people?
The plural listeners take the plural state form. The adverb describing their condition does not change for gender or number. The written nasal mark remains part of the correct verb form.
Follow a complete example
Build a sentence with this meaning: Do you speak English, addressing several people? Before looking at the answer, identify which information controls the grammatical choice.
- First, identify the message: Do you speak English, addressing several people? Keep that message fixed while comparing forms. A sentence can be grammatical yet communicate something different, so meaning is part of the decision.
- The plural address word requires a plural verb form. The language name remains unchanged because it is the object of speaking. The number of addressees controls the agreement rather than the number of languages.
- Now read the complete sentence, Vocês falam inglês?. Check the words surrounding your choice as well as the choice itself. Explain what would change if the speaker, number, or intended message changed. Then cover this example and reconstruct the sentence from the English cue.
Vocês falam inglês? Do you speak English, addressing several people?
References for this explanation
Use a gente for an everyday we message
The expression a gente is common in Brazilian conversation with a meaning similar to we. In the standard agreement model practiced here, it takes a third person singular verb: a gente fala, a gente é, and a gente está. Its meaning can include several people even though its grammar is singular. The ordinary noun gente can also mean people, so interpret the expression in context. Learn the two words together and preserve the space. A similar looking single word, agente, means an agent and is different vocabulary.
A gente estuda aqui.
We study here, using the conversational we expression.
The expression includes the speaker and others in meaning but takes a singular verb in this model. The location does not determine agreement. Keeping the whole subject expression together prevents selecting an ending only from the English translation.
A gente está na escola.
We are at school.
The conversational subject expression takes the singular state form. The location phrase names where the group is. Real world plurality does not override the construction’s singular agreement in the standard pattern.
References for this explanation
Keep nós and its plural ending as a complete alternative
The pronoun nós is also a normal way to say we. It takes first person plural forms: nós falamos, nós somos, and nós estamos. The choice between it and a gente depends on style, context, rhythm, and the speaker, rather than a rule that one is always correct and the other wrong. In careful beginner production, keep each subject with its own agreement pattern. Changing the subject expression while leaving the other pattern’s verb is a common mixed form. Compare equivalent messages so the grammatical difference remains visible without a change in meaning.
Nós falamos português.
We speak Portuguese, using the plural pronoun.
The first person plural pronoun takes its matching plural ending. This can express a similar group meaning to the conversational alternative, but the two subjects have different grammatical agreement patterns.
Nós somos estudantes.
We are students.
The subject includes the speaker and others, and the identity verb takes its first person plural form. The plural status noun describes the group. The pronoun, verb, and complement cooperate to express the message.
References for this explanation
Use respectful address when the situation calls for it
The expressions o senhor and a senhora can address someone respectfully or with greater formality. They also take third person singular verbs: A senhora fala inglês? The appropriate social choice depends on the setting and the person’s preference. Do not assume that você has exactly the same level of familiarity everywhere in Brazil, or that respectful address is required solely because someone appears a certain age. Listen to introductions and follow explicit preferences. This lesson practices the verb agreement of these expressions without turning social conventions into an inflexible national rule.
A senhora fala inglês?
Do you speak English, respectfully addressing a woman?
The respectful address phrase takes third person singular agreement. The feminine noun identifies the form of address, but gender does not create a different verb ending. The question is directed to the listener in context.
O senhor está bem?
Are you well, respectfully addressing a man?
The respectful singular address phrase takes the singular state form. The condition word remains unchanged. Social formality affects the address phrase, while the grammatical agreement follows that phrase consistently.
References for this explanation
Let each reply take the current speaker’s viewpoint
In a conversation, the person who was addressed becomes the speaker when answering. A question such as Você fala inglês? can receive Falo, a compact positive reply using the speaker form. Você está bem? can receive Estou bem. The reply should not copy the question’s verb ending mechanically. Brazilian speech also often shortens você to cê and some forms of estar to tá or tô. Recognize these conversational forms, but keep the full written models while learning to identify the underlying subject and verb relationship reliably.
Você fala inglês? Falo.
Do you speak English? I do.
The answer describes the person who is now speaking, so it uses the speaker form. The subject can remain unexpressed because the exchange establishes it. Repeating the verb is a natural compact way to answer this question.
Você está bem? Estou bem.
Are you well? I am well.
The reply moves from the listener subject in the question to the speaker subject in the answer. The state meaning stays the same, but the grammatical person changes. The full form provides the deliberate writing model.
Try the reasoning with less help
Build a sentence with this meaning: Do you speak English? I do. Before looking at the answer, identify which information controls the grammatical choice.
- First, identify the message: Do you speak English? I do. Keep that message fixed while comparing forms. A sentence can be grammatical yet communicate something different, so meaning is part of the decision.
- The answer describes the person who is now speaking, so it uses the speaker form. The subject can remain unexpressed because the exchange establishes it. Repeating the verb is a natural compact way to answer this question.
- Now read the complete sentence, Você fala inglês? Falo.. Check the words surrounding your choice as well as the choice itself. Explain what would change if the speaker, number, or intended message changed. Then cover this example and reconstruct the sentence from the English cue.
Compare your reasoning
Você fala inglês? Falo. Do you speak English? I do.
Keep negation simple and treat variation precisely
For the basic negative, place não before the finite verb: Você não fala inglês? or A gente não estuda aqui. Actual Brazilian usage includes variation in address, object pronouns, and agreement that extends beyond this beginner set. The lesson’s standard production model is useful without labeling every different conversational pattern careless or meaningless. Keep the distinction you are learning precise: these exercises ask for specified subjects with specified agreement. Before the ordering activity, create your own greeting, one question, one self report, and one group statement, then check the viewpoint in every turn.
A gente não estuda aqui.
We do not study here, using the conversational we expression.
The negative word does not change the singular agreement associated with this subject expression. It simply denies the activity in the stated location. The correct verb form must still be selected from the subject.
Você não fala inglês?
Don’t you speak English?
The negative word precedes the finite verb, which still follows the singular address word’s agreement. Question intonation gives the sentence its confirmation seeking function. No additional English style do helper is inserted.
Notice the difference
Common mistakes
Do not mix the two we patterns
Instead ofA gente falamos português.
For this meaningA gente fala português.
The conversational expression takes singular agreement in this standard model. A similar message with the first person plural pronoun would use the plural verb form. The correction concerns a particular subject and verb pairing, not the number of people in the real group. Practice both complete alternatives beside each other.
Plural address needs a plural verb
Instead ofVocês fala inglês?
For this meaningVocês falam inglês?
The prompt addresses several people, so the plural address word requires plural agreement in the standard pattern. The language name does not control the verb. Identify the addressees first, then retrieve the complete subject and verb pair and retain the accent in the written pronoun.
Keep the expression as two words
Instead ofAgente estuda aqui.
For this meaningA gente estuda aqui.
The intended subject meaning we is written as two words. The single word is different vocabulary, meaning an agent. The spacing is therefore part of communicating the intended subject rather than a cosmetic preference. After checking the spacing, retain the singular verb agreement associated with the expression.
From understanding to using
Make your own example.
Try these without answer choices. Say your answer aloud or write it below, then compare your reasoning with the model.
Your turn 1
Ask one person whether they study here, then give a positive answer from their viewpoint.
Compare with a model
Você estuda aqui? Estudo.
Do you study here? I do.
The question addresses a listener with third person singular grammar. The answer shifts to the speaker form because the person answering now describes themself. The location and activity stay fixed, so the changing ending reflects viewpoint rather than a different event. Read the pair aloud, then ask the same question to several people and decide what must change.
- Did you preserve the requested meaning?
- Does the form match the person or noun in your message?
- Can you explain your choice before looking at the model?
Your turn 2
Say we speak Portuguese in two ways, first with nós and then with a gente.
Compare with a model
Nós falamos português. A gente fala português.
We speak Portuguese. We speak Portuguese, using the conversational expression.
The two subjects can refer to the same real group, but they require different verb agreement in the model practiced here. The first is a first person plural pronoun; the second takes singular grammar. Cover the model and rebuild both sentences from the intended meaning. Explain the subject choice before selecting the ending, so that English we does not cause you to combine pieces from different patterns.
- Did you preserve the requested meaning?
- Does the form match the person or noun in your message?
- Can you explain your choice before looking at the model?
Put it into practice
Make the next choice.
Choose a response and learn why it works. Your score reflects your first answer to each question. You can revisit anything you miss.
Choose an answer, then open the explanation to check your reasoning.
Question 1
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Do you speak Portuguese?
Você ___ português?
- fala
- falo
Check the answer
Answer: fala
fala: The singular address word takes the third person singular present form. The question refers directly to the listener, but English second person meaning does not determine a traditional second person Portuguese ending.
falo: This is the speaker form. It does not match the explicit listener subject in the question.
Question 2
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Are you a student?
Você ___ estudante?
- sou
- é
Check the answer
Answer: é
sou: This form belongs to the speaker. The question’s subject is the listener and requires a different present form.
é: The address word takes the singular third person form of the identity verb. The sentence asks about the listener’s status. The profession or status noun does not change the verb’s grammatical person.
Question 3
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Do you speak English, addressing several people?
Vocês ___ inglês?
- falam
- fala
Check the answer
Answer: falam
falam: The plural address word requires a plural verb form. The language name remains unchanged because it is the object of speaking. The number of addressees controls the agreement rather than the number of languages.
fala: This is singular. It does not agree with the plural address word in the standard pattern practiced here.
Question 4
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Are you well, addressing several people?
Vocês ___ bem?
- está
- estão
Check the answer
Answer: estão
está: This is singular. A question to several addressees requires plural agreement in the model shown.
estão: The plural listeners take the plural state form. The adverb describing their condition does not change for gender or number. The written nasal mark remains part of the correct verb form.
Question 5
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We study here, using the conversational we expression.
A gente ___ aqui.
- estuda
- estudamos
Check the answer
Answer: estuda
estuda: The expression includes the speaker and others in meaning but takes a singular verb in this model. The location does not determine agreement. Keeping the whole subject expression together prevents selecting an ending only from the English translation.
estudamos: This is the first person plural ending used with the separate plural pronoun. It does not match the expression practiced here.
Question 6
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We are at school.
A gente ___ na escola.
- estamos
- está
Check the answer
Answer: está
estamos: This form belongs with the first person plural pronoun. The same group can be described with that pronoun, but the subject and verb must change together.
está: The conversational subject expression takes the singular state form. The location phrase names where the group is. Real world plurality does not override the construction’s singular agreement in the standard pattern.
Question 7
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We speak Portuguese, using the plural pronoun.
Nós ___ português.
- falamos
- fala
Check the answer
Answer: falamos
falamos: The first person plural pronoun takes its matching plural ending. This can express a similar group meaning to the conversational alternative, but the two subjects have different grammatical agreement patterns.
fala: This singular form fits the conversational alternative subject. It does not agree with the explicit plural pronoun shown.
Question 8
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We are students.
Nós ___ estudantes.
- é
- somos
Check the answer
Answer: somos
é: This is singular third person grammar. It cannot replace the first person plural form required by the explicit subject.
somos: The subject includes the speaker and others, and the identity verb takes its first person plural form. The plural status noun describes the group. The pronoun, verb, and complement cooperate to express the message.
Question 9
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Do you speak English, respectfully addressing a woman?
A senhora ___ inglês?
- fala
- falam
Check the answer
Answer: fala
fala: The respectful address phrase takes third person singular agreement. The feminine noun identifies the form of address, but gender does not create a different verb ending. The question is directed to the listener in context.
falam: This is plural. The prompt addresses one woman, so the singular respectful phrase requires a singular verb.
Question 10
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Are you well, respectfully addressing a man?
O senhor ___ bem?
- estou
- está
Check the answer
Answer: está
estou: This is the speaker form. The question concerns the person being addressed, so it requires the form that agrees with the respectful subject.
está: The respectful singular address phrase takes the singular state form. The condition word remains unchanged. Social formality affects the address phrase, while the grammatical agreement follows that phrase consistently.
Question 11
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Do you speak English? I do.
Você fala inglês? ___.
- Falo
- Fala
Check the answer
Answer: Falo
Falo: The answer describes the person who is now speaking, so it uses the speaker form. The subject can remain unexpressed because the exchange establishes it. Repeating the verb is a natural compact way to answer this question.
Fala: This repeats the question’s third person form rather than shifting to the speaker’s self report requested by the cue.
Question 12
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Are you well? I am well.
Você está bem? ___ bem.
- Está
- Estou
Check the answer
Answer: Estou
Está: This retains a third person singular form. It does not express the requested first person answer about the current speaker.
Estou: The reply moves from the listener subject in the question to the speaker subject in the answer. The state meaning stays the same, but the grammatical person changes. The full form provides the deliberate writing model.
Question 13
Complete the sentence for this meaning: We do not study here, using the conversational we expression.
A gente não ___ aqui.
- estuda
- estudamos
Check the answer
Answer: estuda
estuda: The negative word does not change the singular agreement associated with this subject expression. It simply denies the activity in the stated location. The correct verb form must still be selected from the subject.
estudamos: This ending belongs with the first person plural pronoun. Negation does not permit mixing the two subject patterns.
Question 14
Complete the sentence for this meaning: Don’t you speak English?
Você não ___ inglês?
- falar
- fala
Check the answer
Answer: fala
falar: The ordinary question still needs a finite verb. A negative word does not turn the required present form into an infinitive.
fala: The negative word precedes the finite verb, which still follows the singular address word’s agreement. Question intonation gives the sentence its confirmation seeking function. No additional English style do helper is inserted.
Conversation builder
Put a first exchange in order
Arrange the turns so that each response follows the question or invitation it answers. Use names, repeated information, and any change of address as clues.
- Oi! Eu sou a Lia.
Hi! I am Lia.
- Oi, Lia. Eu sou o Rui. Você estuda aqui?
Hi, Lia. I am Rui. Do you study here?
- Estudo. E você?
I do. And you?
- Eu também. A gente estuda na mesma escola!
Me too. We study at the same school!
- Você fala inglês?
Do you speak English?
- Falo. E você?
I do. And you?
- Eu também falo inglês.
I speak English too.
Keep the conversation going
What to practice next
Return to the production tasks after a break. Reconstruct your sentences without the models, compare the meaning and form, and repair any error by explaining its cause. Then use one sentence in a short exchange of your own.
Sources and editorial notes
By Loquus ·
Source checked with AI assistance
These original explanations synthesize the cited sources. They have not been certified by an independent human language specialist. Regional usage and context are described where they affect the answer. Report a correction in the discussion below.
- Dicionário Priberam: você
- Dicionário Priberam: gente
- Dicionário Priberam: nós
- Dicionário Priberam: senhor
- University of Texas, Orlando Kelm: Regular verbs
- Ciberdúvidas, Fernando Pestana: A gente, nós e nosso
- Dicionário Priberam: Present conjugation of falar
- Dicionário Priberam: Present conjugation of ser
- Dicionário Priberam: Present conjugation of estar
- University of Washington, Bate Papo: University life
- University of Washington, Bate Papo: Professions and daily activities
- Dicionário Priberam: não
Learning research behind the practice
Worked examples, retrieval practice, and later review inform the activities. These studies do not establish the effectiveness of this specific lesson.
- Karpicke and Roediger: The critical importance of retrieval for learning
- Butler and Roediger: Feedback enhances the positive effects and reduces the negative effects of multiple choice testing
- Institute of Education Sciences: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning
- Rittle Johnson and Star: Compared to what?