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Study Resource: Brazilian Portuguese verbs followed by ‘para’

By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira

The following verbs in Brazilian Portuguese are often followed by the preposition para.

VerbExample
avisar
Translation: to warn
Eu avisei para você não chegar tarde.
Translation: I warned you not to be late.
dar
Translation: to give
Nós demos tudo para eles.
Translation: We gave everything to them.
dizer
Translation: to say
Eu disse para o Paulo ficar em casa.
Translation: I told Paulo to stay home.
esforçar-se
Translation: to make an effort
As crianças se esforçaram para fazer a prova.
Translation: The children made an effort to do the test.
*falar
Translation: to speak
Por favor, fale para a Ana que eu estou no escritório.
Translation: Please, tell Ana that I’m in the office.
pedir
Translation: to ask, to request, to require
Você pediu para ele te ajudar?
Translation: Did you ask him to help you?
perguntar
Translation: to ask, to inquire, to demand
Eu perguntei para a secretária a que horas ela volta.
Translation: I asked the secretary what time she comes back.
sorrir
Translation: to smile
O bebê sorriu para a mãe.
Translation: The baby smiled at the mother.
telefonar / ligar
Translation: to call
Você ligou/telefonou para a Roberta?
Translation: Did you call/phone Roberta?

*The verb falar meaning to speak can also be followed by the preposition com meaning with, as in:

Ontem eu falei com o Roberto.
Translation: Yesterday I spoke with Roberto.