āØMastering auxiliary verbs is a game changer in speaking Portuguese confidently! They help you express ongoing actions, habits, and states effortlessly - without getting overwhelmed by verb conjugations. Letās dive into the essentials! šÆ
š What Are Auxiliary Verbs?
Auxiliary verbs are helpers that combine with other verbs (usually in the infinitive) to add meaning like time, aspect, or mood. In European Portuguese, the most important ones for the present tense are:
⢠estar: For actions happening right now
Example: Estou a trabalhar (I am working)
ā¢costumar: For habitual actions
Example: Costumo ler antes de dormir (I usually read before sleeping)
ā¢andar: For ongoing or recent habits
Example: Ando a praticar piano todos os dias (Iāve been practicing piano every day)
ā¢continuar: To express continuing action
Example: Continuo a estudar para o exame (I continue studying for the exam)
ā¢ficar: To express staying/remaining with an action or state
Example: Fico a pensar no que disseste (I stay thinking about what you said)
ā¢vir: For gradual or developing actions
Example: Venho a gostar mais de portuguĆŖs (I've been liking Portuguese more)
š„ Why Focus on These Verbs?
They reduce the need to conjugate every verb in the present tense ā just learn these auxiliaries + infinitive verbs!Perfect for expressing ongoing activities or habits without complex rulesOffer more natural and fluid ways to sound like a native speaker šļø
š” Quick Tip:
For habits or facts you do regularly, use costumar OR conjugate the main verb normally.
For example:"Como pão todos os dias." (I eat bread every day.)"Costumo comer pão." (I usually eat bread.)
š Ready to Practice?
Try sentences with these auxiliaries and infinitives to build confidence. Share your examples below or ask for help! Need more tips or a quiz? Just ask! ā”