Portuguese Imperative Conjugation: Complete Guide
Introduction to the Portuguese Imperative
The imperative mood in Portuguese is used to give commands, make requests, offer suggestions, or provide instructions. Unlike other verb moods that describe actions or states, the imperative directly addresses someone and tells them what to do (or what not to do).
You'll encounter the imperative constantly in everyday Portuguese—from recipes and instruction manuals to friendly advice and urgent warnings. Understanding Portuguese imperative conjugation is essential for effective communication, whether you're asking someone to pass the salt or giving directions to a lost tourist.
One key feature of Portuguese is that it has different imperative forms depending on the level of formality. You'll use different conjugations when speaking informally with friends (using tu or você) versus formally with strangers or in professional settings (using o senhor/a senhora).
Formation of the Portuguese Imperative
Portuguese imperative conjugation varies based on whether the command is affirmative (telling someone to do something) or negative (telling someone not to do something), and whether you're using informal or formal address.
Affirmative Imperative
For the informal tu form, the affirmative imperative typically uses the third person singular of the present indicative (dropping the final -s for regular verbs). For você and formal forms, Portuguese uses the present subjunctive.
| Pronoun | -AR (falar) | -ER (comer) | -IR (partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu (informal) | fala | come | parte |
| você (semi-formal) | fale | coma | parta |
| nós (let's) | falemos | comamos | partamos |
| vocês (plural) | falem | comam | partam |
Negative Imperative
For negative commands, all forms use the present subjunctive preceded by não. This is simpler than the affirmative because there's no special tu form to remember.
| Pronoun | -AR (falar) | -ER (comer) | -IR (partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | não fales | não comas | não partas |
| você | não fale | não coma | não parta |
| nós | não falemos | não comamos | não partamos |
| vocês | não falem | não comam | não partam |
Irregular Verbs
Several common verbs have irregular imperative forms that must be memorized:
| Verb | tu (affirmative) | você (affirmative) |
|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | sê | seja |
| estar (to be) | está | esteja |
| ir (to go) | vai | vá |
| ter (to have) | tem | tenha |
| fazer (to do/make) | faz | faça |
| dizer (to say) | diz | diga |
| vir (to come) | vem | venha |
| dar (to give) | dá | dê |
Usage of the Imperative in Portuguese
The imperative serves several communicative functions beyond simple commands. Understanding when and how to use Portuguese imperative conjugation appropriately is crucial for natural-sounding speech.
Direct Commands and Instructions
The most straightforward use is giving orders or instructions:
- Abre a porta. — Open the door.
- Escreva seu nome aqui. — Write your name here.
Polite Requests
When softened with words like por favor, the imperative becomes a polite request:
- Passe o sal, por favor. — Pass the salt, please.
Advice and Suggestions
The imperative can offer friendly guidance:
- Experimenta este restaurante! — Try this restaurant!
Invitations
Portuguese uses the first person plural (nós) imperative to make suggestions that include the speaker:
- Vamos ao cinema! — Let's go to the movies!
Warnings
Urgent warnings often use the imperative:
- Cuidado! Não toques nisso! — Careful! Don't touch that!
Brazilian vs. European Portuguese
In Brazilian Portuguese, the você form is used much more frequently than tu, so you'll hear the subjunctive-based imperatives more often. In Portugal, both forms are common, with tu used among friends and family.
Examples of the Portuguese Imperative
Here are practical examples demonstrating Portuguese imperative conjugation in context:
- Fala mais devagar, por favor. — Speak more slowly, please. (informal)
- Venha cá, por favor. — Come here, please. (formal)
- Não esqueças o teu passaporte! — Don't forget your passport! (informal, negative)
- Façam os exercícios da página dez. — Do the exercises on page ten. (plural)
- Sejamos honestos sobre a situação. — Let's be honest about the situation. (first person plural)
- Diz-me a verdade. — Tell me the truth. (informal)
- Não fume aqui dentro. — Don't smoke in here. (formal, negative)
- Experimente a sobremesa—é deliciosa! — Try the dessert—it's delicious! (formal)
Common Mistakes with Portuguese Imperative Conjugation
Learners frequently encounter these pitfalls when mastering the Portuguese imperative:
1. Using the Wrong Form for Negative Commands
A very common error is using the affirmative tu form in negative commands. Remember: negative imperatives always use the subjunctive.
- Incorrect: Não fala com ele.
- Correct: Não fales com ele. — Don't talk to him.
2. Confusing tu and você Forms
Mixing up the informal and formal conjugations leads to awkward or confusing commands:
- Incorrect: Tu, venha aqui. (mixing tu with você conjugation)
- Correct: Tu, vem aqui. or Você, venha aqui.
3. Forgetting Irregular Forms
Applying regular patterns to irregular verbs produces errors:
- Incorrect: Sê feliz! is correct, but learners often say *Seja feliz when addressing tu
- Study the irregular verbs table and practice them frequently.
4. Object Pronoun Placement
In affirmative imperatives, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb with a hyphen. In negative imperatives, they come before the verb:
- Affirmative: Diz-me. — Tell me.
- Negative: Não me digas. — Don't tell me.
5. Overusing the Imperative
While grammatically correct, using bare imperatives constantly can sound rude. Native speakers often soften commands with:
- Por favor (please)
- Conditional constructions: Poderia... (Could you...)
- Adding se faz favor (if you please) in Portugal
Mastering these nuances will help your Portuguese sound more natural and polite.