Portuguese, like many other languages, has a specific structure for forming negative sentences. In this guide, we will provide a brief and accurate explanation of how to form negative sentences in Portuguese. We will cover the basic structure, the placement of negation words, and provide examples to illustrate the concepts. Whether you are a beginner or just starting to learn Portuguese, this guide will help you understand and construct negative sentences effectively.
Basic Structure of Negative Sentences in Portuguese:
In Portuguese, a negative sentence is typically formed by adding a negation word before the verb. The most common negation word in Portuguese is “não,” which translates to “not” in English. It is important to note that “não” usually comes before the verb in negative sentences, unlike in English where “not” follows the verb. Here is a basic example to illustrate this structure:
Example: Eu não falo português.
Translation: I do not speak Portuguese.
In the above example, “não” precedes the verb “falo” (speak) to form the negative sentence. This structure applies to most cases, but there are some exceptions that we will cover later in this guide.
Placement of Negation Words in Portuguese:
As mentioned earlier, “não” is the most common negation word used in Portuguese. However, there are other negation words that can also be used to create negative sentences, such as “nem” (neither) and “jamais” (never). These words are generally placed before the verb, just like “não.” Let’s look at some examples:
a) Eu nem gosto de chocolate.
Translation: I don’t even like chocolate.
b) Ela jamais irá esquecer isso.
Translation: She will never forget this.
In both examples, “nem” and “jamais” are placed before the verbs “gosto” (like) and “irá esquecer” (will forget) to create negative sentences. It is important to pay attention to the placement of these negation words to ensure the sentence conveys the intended meaning.
Exceptions to the Basic Structure:
While the basic structure involves placing the negation word before the verb, there are some exceptions in Portuguese. These exceptions occur when the verb is in the infinitive form or when it is preceded by certain conjunctions or adverbs. In these cases, the negation word is placed before the auxiliary verb. Let’s examine some examples to clarify this concept:
a) Eu prefiro não falar sobre isso.
Translation: I prefer not to talk about it.
b) Ela vai talvez não chegar a tempo.
Translation: She might not arrive on time.
In the first example, the verb “falar” (to talk) is in the infinitive form, and the negation word “não” is placed before the auxiliary verb “prefiro” (prefer) to form the negative sentence. Similarly, in the second example, the negation word “não” is placed before the auxiliary verb “vai” (will) due to the presence of the adverb “talvez” (maybe).
Double Negatives:
Unlike in English, Portuguese allows the use of double negatives, which can be used for emphasis or to intensify negation. In these cases, two negation words are used in the same sentence. The most common combination is “não” followed by “nada” (nothing) or “ninguém” (nobody). Let’s see some examples:
a) Eu não vejo nada.
Translation: I don’t see anything.
b) Ela não conhece ninguém.
Translation: She doesn’t know anyone.
In both examples, the double negatives “não” + “nada” and “não” + “ninguém” are used to emphasize the negation. It is important to note that while double negatives are grammatically correct in Portuguese, they may sound awkward or ungrammatical in English translations.
Conclusion:
Forming negative sentences in Portuguese involves placing a negation word, most commonly “não,” before the verb. Other negation words like “nem” and “jamais” can also be used for specific contexts. However, exceptions to this basic structure arise when the verb is in the infinitive form or when certain conjunctions or adverbs are present. Additionally, Portuguese allows the use of double negatives for emphasis or intensification of negation. By understanding these concepts and practicing with examples, beginners can effectively construct negative sentences in Portuguese and communicate their intended meaning accurately.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct negation word to form a negative sentence in Portuguese:
Eu _ entendo o que você está dizendo.
a) não
b) nem
c) jamais
Answer: a) não
Explanation: The correct answer is “não” because it is the most common negation word used in Portuguese. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu não entendo o que você está dizendo” (Translation: I do not understand what you are saying).
Exercise 2:
Select the appropriate placement of the negation word to form a negative sentence in Portuguese:
Ela _ quer sair hoje à noite.
a) nem
b) não
c) jamais
Answer: b) não
Explanation: The correct answer is “não” because it should be placed before the verb “quer” (wants) to form a negative sentence. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Ela não quer sair hoje à noite” (Translation: She does not want to go out tonight).
Exercise 3:
Identify the exception to the basic structure of negative sentences in Portuguese:
Eu _ consigo entender essa música.
a) nem
b) não
c) talvez
Answer: c) talvez
Explanation: The correct answer is “talvez” because it is an adverb that precedes the verb “consigo entender” (can understand). In this case, the negation word “não” is placed before the auxiliary verb “consigo” (can), creating the negative sentence. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu talvez não consiga entender essa música” (Translation: Maybe I cannot understand this song).
Exercise 4:
Choose the appropriate double negative to intensify the negation in Portuguese:
Eu _ quero _ fazer isso.
a) não / nada
b) não / ninguém
c) jamais / nem
Answer: a) não / nada
Explanation: The correct answer is “não / nada” because it forms a double negative to intensify the negation. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu não quero nada fazer isso” (Translation: I don’t want to do anything).
Exercise 5:
Select the negation word that emphasizes the sense of “never” in Portuguese:
Eu _ vou _ esquecer esse dia.
a) não / nem
b) jamais / não
c) talvez / nunca
Answer: b) jamais / não
Explanation: The correct answer is “jamais / não” because “jamais” emphasizes the sense of “never” and “não” precedes the verb “vou esquecer” (will forget). Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu jamais vou esquecer esse dia” (Translation: I will never forget this day).
Exercise 6:
Choose the correct placement of the negation word in the given sentence:
Nós _ devemos _ perder a esperança.
a) jamais / não
b) não / jamais
c) não / não
Answer: b) não / jamais
Explanation: The correct answer is “não / jamais” because “não” should be placed before the verb “devemos” (should) and “jamais” comes after the verb. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Nós não devemos jamais perder a esperança” (Translation: We should never lose hope).
Exercise 7:
Identify the negation word that can be used to express “neither” in Portuguese:
Ela _ come _ bebe carne.
a) não / não
b) nem / nem
c) jamais / talvez
Answer: b) nem / nem
Explanation: The correct answer is “nem / nem” because “nem” is used to express “neither” and should be placed before both verbs “come” (eats) and “bebe” (drinks). Therefore, the sentence should be: “Ela não come nem bebe carne” (Translation: She neither eats nor drinks meat).
Exercise 8:
Choose the appropriate negation word for the given sentence:
Eu _ sei o que fazer.
a) nem
b) não
c) talvez
Answer: b) não
Explanation: The correct answer is “não” because it is the appropriate negation word to form a negative sentence. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu não sei o que fazer” (Translation: I do not know what to do).
Exercise 9:
Identify the exception to the basic structure of negative sentences in Portuguese:
Ele _ viu _ alguém.
a) não / nunca
b) nem / jamais
c) talvez / não
Answer: a) não / nunca
Explanation: The correct answer is “não / nunca” because “nunca” (never) precedes the verb “viu” (saw), and “não” is placed before the verb “viu.” Therefore, the sentence should be: “Ele nunca viu ninguém” (Translation: He never saw anyone).
Exercise 10:
Select the appropriate double negative to intensify the negation in Portuguese:
Eu _ entendo _ nada disso.
a) nem / não
b) não / nada
c) jamais / nunca
Answer: b) não / nada
Explanation: The correct answer is “não / nada” because it forms a double negative to intensify the negation. Therefore, the sentence should be: “Eu não entendo nada disso” (Translation: I don’t understand any of this).
In each exercise, the correct answer is explained based on the rules and structures of forming negative sentences in Portuguese. By understanding these explanations and practicing with examples, learners can develop a better grasp of negative sentence construction in Portuguese.
Originally posted 2023-07-19 04:03:17.