Portuguese interrogative sentences are used to ask questions and seek information. They typically begin with an interrogative word (question word) and are marked by a rising intonation at the end. Understanding how to form and use interrogative sentences is essential for effective communication in Portuguese. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Portuguese interrogative sentences, including the different question words, sentence structure, and examples to help beginners grasp the concept.
Question Words in Portuguese
Question words are crucial elements in forming interrogative sentences in Portuguese. They are used to introduce different types of questions, such as who, what, where, when, why, and how. Here are some commonly used question words in Portuguese:
Quem? (Who?)
Quem é o teu melhor amigo? (Who is your best friend?)
Com quem vais ao cinema? (Who are you going to the cinema with?)
O que? (What?)
O que queres para o jantar? (What do you want for dinner?)
O que estás a fazer? (What are you doing?)
Onde? (Where?)
Onde fica a biblioteca? (Where is the library?)
Onde estacionaste o carro? (Where did you park the car?)
Quando? (When?)
Quando é o teu aniversário? (When is your birthday?)
Quando chegas a casa? (When do you arrive home?)
Por que? / Por quê? (Why?)
Por que estás a chorar? (Why are you crying?)
Por quê não foste à festa? (Why didn’t you go to the party?)
Como? (How?)
Como te chamas? (What is your name?)
Como é que se faz isso? (How do you do that?)
Sentence Structure of Interrogative Sentences
In Portuguese, the word order in interrogative sentences follows a pattern that differs from declarative sentences. Generally, the subject comes before the verb in declarative sentences, but in interrogative sentences, the verb comes before the subject. However, it’s important to note that this rule may vary depending on the type of question and verb tense.
Yes/No Questions:
Yes/no questions in Portuguese are formed by starting the sentence with the verb, followed by the subject and a question mark. Here are some examples:
Falas português? (Do you speak Portuguese?)
Estás a estudar para o exame? (Are you studying for the exam?)
Wh-Questions:
Wh-questions in Portuguese are formed by starting the sentence with the question word, followed by the verb and the subject. Here are some examples:
Onde moras? (Where do you live?)
Que horas são? (What time is it?)
Verb Tense and Word Order:
In interrogative sentences with specific verb tenses, the word order may change. In the present continuous tense, the verb “estar” (to be) is placed before the subject. For example:
Estás a ler este livro? (Are you reading this book?)
In past tense sentences, the auxiliary verb comes before the main verb and the subject. For example:
Foste ao cinema ontem? (Did you go to the cinema yesterday?)
Estudaste para o teste? (Did you study for the test?)
Examples of Interrogative Sentences
Let’s explore some more examples of interrogative sentences in Portuguese:
Quem é o teu professor de matemática? (Who is your math teacher?)
O que estás a fazer? (What are you doing?)
Onde fica a estação de comboios? (Where is the train station?)
Quando chegas a casa? (When do you arrive home?)
Por que estás triste? (Why are you sad?)
Como se diz “hello” em português? (How do you say “hello” in Portuguese?)
Falas inglês? (Do you speak English?)
Estás a gostar do filme? (Are you enjoying the movie?)
Que horas são? (What time is it?)
Foste à praia hoje? (Did you go to the beach today?)
Remember, intonation plays an important role in forming interrogative sentences in Portuguese. The rising intonation at the end of the sentence helps indicate that it is a question, even if the word order doesn’t change.
Conclusion
Portuguese interrogative sentences are essential for asking questions and gathering information in conversations. By understanding the various question words and their usage, as well as the sentence structure, beginners can effectively communicate and engage in meaningful dialogues in Portuguese. Practice forming interrogative sentences using different question words and verb tenses to enhance your language skills and become more confident in your Portuguese proficiency.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct question word for the following sentence:
__ é a tua mãe? (Who/What/Where)
Answer: Who
Explanation: The correct question word in this sentence is “Who” because it is asking about a person’s mother. The expected answer would be a person’s name or identity. Example sentence: “Quem é a tua mãe?” (Who is your mother?)
Exercise 2:
Select the appropriate question word for the following sentence:
__ queres para o jantar? (What/When/Where)
Answer: What
Explanation: The suitable question word in this sentence is “What” because it is asking about the desired food for dinner. The expected answer would be a specific dish or type of cuisine. Example sentence: “O que queres para o jantar?” (What do you want for dinner?)
Exercise 3:
Choose the correct question word for the following sentence:
__ fica o supermercado? (What/Where/Why)
Answer: Where
Explanation: The correct question word in this sentence is “Where” as it is asking about the location of the supermarket. The expected answer would be a specific place or address. Example sentence: “Onde fica o supermercado?” (Where is the supermarket?)
Exercise 4:
Select the appropriate question word for the following sentence:
__ é o teu aniversário? (Who/When/Why)
Answer: When
Explanation: The suitable question word in this sentence is “When” as it is inquiring about the date of someone’s birthday. The expected answer would be a specific day or month. Example sentence: “Quando é o teu aniversário?” (When is your birthday?)
Exercise 5:
Choose the correct question word for the following sentence:
__ estás a chorar? (Who/Why/How)
Answer: Why
Explanation: The correct question word in this sentence is “Why” as it is asking for the reason behind someone’s tears. The expected answer would be an explanation or motive. Example sentence: “Por que estás a chorar?” (Why are you crying?)
Exercise 6:
Select the appropriate question word for the following sentence:
__ te chamas? (What/Who/How)
Answer: What
Explanation: The suitable question word in this sentence is “What” as it is inquiring about someone’s name. The expected answer would be the person’s name. Example sentence: “Como te chamas?” (What is your name?)
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct question word for the following sentence:
__ português? (Do/Can/Speak)
Answer: Do
Explanation: The correct question word in this sentence is “Do” as it is asking about someone’s ability to speak Portuguese. The expected answer would be either “Yes, I do” or “No, I don’t.” Example sentence: “Falas português?” (Do you speak Portuguese?)
Exercise 8:
Select the appropriate question word for the following sentence:
Estás a gostar __ filme? (Which/What/How)
Answer: Which
Explanation: The suitable question word in this sentence is “Which” as it is asking about someone’s opinion on a specific movie. The expected answer would be the name of the movie. Example sentence: “Estás a gostar de qual filme?” (Which movie are you enjoying?)
Exercise 9:
Choose the correct question word for the following sentence:
__ horas são? (What/When/How)
Answer: What
Explanation: The correct question word in this sentence is “What” as it is asking about the time. The expected answer would be the specific hour and minutes. Example sentence: “Que horas são?” (What time is it?)
Exercise 10:
Select the appropriate question word for the following sentence:
Foste __ praia hoje? (To/At/The)
Answer: To
Explanation: The suitable question word in this sentence is “To” as it is asking about someone’s visit to the beach. The expected answer would be either “Yes, I did” or “No, I didn’t.” Example sentence: “Foste à praia hoje?” (Did you go to the beach today?)
In these exercises, the correct answers are provided along with explanations to help understand why those choices are correct. The example sentences demonstrate how the question words are used in context and how they influence the meaning of the sentences. Practicing these exercises will assist beginners in familiarizing themselves with Portuguese interrogative sentences and developing their language skills.
Originally posted 2023-07-19 03:12:11.