Ir (to go) in Portuguese

Overview

Ir (to go) (O Verbo Ir) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Highly irregular verb 'ir' (vou, vais, vai, vamos, ides, vão). Used for motion and to form near future (ir + infinitive). Takes preposition 'a' before destinations.

Understanding ir (to go) is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering ir (to go) will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Present tense conjugation of ir:

Person	Form	Example
eu	vou	Vou ao trabalho.
tu	vais	Onde vais?
ele/ela/voce	vai	Vai a praia.
nos	vamos	Vamos ao cinema.
vos	ides	Ides a escola?
eles/elas/voces	vao	Vao para casa.

Key uses:

1. Movement: Vou ao supermercado. (I go to the supermarket.)
2. Near future (ir + infinitive): Vou comer. (I am going to eat.)
3. Suggestions (vamos + infinitive): Vamos sair? (Shall we go out?)

Prepositions with ir: a (to, short trip), para (to, longer/permanent), de (by, transport).

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Vou ao trabalho.	I go to work.
Onde vais?	Where are you going?
Vamos à praia.	We're going to the beach.
Vou comer.	I'm going to eat.
Vamos ao restaurante.	We go to the restaurant.
Vou de carro.	I go by car.	transport
Vai para casa.	He goes home.
Vou estudar.	I am going to study.	near future
Vamos!	Let us go!	suggestion

Common Mistakes

Applying wrong conjugation endings

• Wrong: Mixing up verb class endings (-AR/-ER/-IR)
• Right: Identify the verb class from the infinitive and apply the correct endings
• Why: Each verb class has distinct personal endings that must be kept separate.

Forgetting preposition requirements

• Wrong: Omitting required prepositions after certain verbs
• Right: Learn verbs together with their required prepositions
• Why: Many Portuguese verbs require specific prepositions that differ from English patterns.

Regularizing irregular forms

• Wrong: Applying regular patterns to an irregular verb
• Right: Check whether a verb is irregular before conjugating
• Why: Common verbs often have irregular forms that must be memorized.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A1 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, ir (to go) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice ir (to go) with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using ir (to go) and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular -AR Verbs -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for ir (to go)
• Next steps: Near Future (ir + inf) -- builds on ir (to go) concepts