Personal Pronouns

01

Omitting the Subject Pronoun

Because verb conjugations are often unique to the subject, the pronoun is frequently dropped in conversation and writing, especially when the context is clear.

When the pronoun is omitted, the subject is understood from the verb's ending.

• Moro em Salvador.

  I live in Salvador.

• Falamos português e inglês.

  We speak Portuguese and English.

Pronouns are included when you need to be clear, to contrast two different subjects, or to add emphasis.

• Eu prefiro café, mas ela prefere chá.

  I prefer coffee, but she prefers tea.

• Quem fez isso? Eu fiz.

  Who did this? I did.

02

Verb Conjugation Groups

For practical purposes, pronouns can be organized into groups that share the same verb conjugations. This simplifies the process of learning verb patterns.

Group 1: `eu`

The first-person singular, eu (I), always has its own unique verb form.

• Eu bebo muita água.

  I drink a lot of water.

Group 2: `você`, `ele`, `ela`, `a gente`

These pronouns all share the same third-person singular verb form.

• Você trabalha aqui?

  Do you work here?

• Ele estuda engenharia.

  He studies engineering.

• Ela mora com os pais.

  She lives with her parents.

A very common informal alternative to nós (we) is a gente. Although it means "we," it is grammatically singular and always takes the same verb form as ele or ela.

• A gente vai ao cinema hoje.

  We are going to the movies today.

• Nós vamos ao cinema hoje.

  We are going to the movies today.

Group 3: `nós`

The first-person plural, nós (we), has its own distinct verb conjugation. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but in everyday speech, a gente is often preferred.

• Nós entendemos a situação.

  We understand the situation.

Group 4: `vocês`, `eles`, `elas`

These pronouns all share the same third-person plural verb form.

• Vocês precisam de ajuda?

  Do you (all) need help?

• Eles são brasileiros.

  They are Brazilian.

• Elas viajam amanhã.

  They are traveling tomorrow.

03

The Case of 'You': `Você` vs. `Tu`

In most of Brazil, você is the standard pronoun for "you" (singular) in almost all situations, from informal to semi-formal. Although it means "you," it uses third-person verb conjugations, the same as ele/ela.

The pronoun tu is also used for "you" (singular), but its usage is limited to specific regions, such as the state of Rio Grande do Sul and parts of the Northeast. Even in these regions, it is common in colloquial speech to conjugate tu with the third-person verb form, just like você.

• Tu mora perto daqui?

  Do you live near here? (Colloquial usage)

This course primarily uses você, as it is the most widely understood and used form in Brazil.

04

Formal Address: `O Senhor` & `A Senhora`

For formal situations, or when addressing an older person or someone in a position of authority, o senhor (for a man) and a senhora (for a woman) are used instead of você. They also take the third-person singular verb form.

• O senhor gostaria de ver o cardápio?

  Would you (sir) like to see the menu?

• A senhora pode assinar aqui, por favor.

  Could you (madam) sign here, please.

05

Gender in Plural Pronouns

The plural pronoun "they" has two forms: eles and elas. Use elas only for a group composed entirely of females.

• Minhas primas chegaram. Elas estão na sala.

  My (female) cousins arrived. They are in the living room.

Use eles for a group of all males or for a mixed-gender group. Even if a group has ninety-nine women and one man, the pronoun used is eles.

• Meus pais moram longe. Eles vêm me visitar no Natal.

  My parents live far away. They come to visit me at Christmas.