Personal Infinitive in Portuguese

Overview

Personal Infinitive (Infinitivo Pessoal) is a intermediate (CEFR B1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Unique Portuguese feature: infinitive that conjugates for person (-es, -mos, -des, -em). Clarifies subject in infinitive clauses. É importante estudarmos.

Understanding personal infinitive is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the B1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

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

How It Works

Unique Portuguese feature: infinitive that conjugates for person (-es, -mos, -des, -em). Clarifies subject in infinitive clauses. É importante estudarmos.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
É importante estudarmos.	It's important for us to study.
Antes de saíres...	Before you leave...
Para eles entenderem...	So that they understand...
Depois de termos comido...	After we had eaten...
Convem estudarmos.	Advisable for us to study.
Apesar de estarem cansados.	Despite being tired.
Sem eu saber.	Without my knowing.
Ate chegarmos.	Until we arrive.
Para nos entendermos.	So we understand.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect form usage

• Wrong: Applying rules from English or other languages directly
• Right: Follow Portuguese-specific patterns for personal infinitive
• Why: Portuguese has its own rules that do not always align with English or other Romance languages.

Forgetting agreement rules

• Wrong: Not matching gender, number, or person correctly
• Right: Ensure all elements in the sentence agree with each other
• Why: Portuguese requires strict agreement between subjects, verbs, articles, adjectives, and pronouns.

Mixing formal and informal registers

• Wrong: Using tu forms with voce verb conjugations, or vice versa
• Right: Be consistent with your chosen register throughout a conversation
• Why: Register consistency is important for natural-sounding Portuguese.

Usage Notes

At the B1 level, understanding regional variation becomes more important. Brazilian and European Portuguese may handle personal infinitive differently in terms of frequency, formality, and preferred constructions.

This concept is essential for both spoken and written Portuguese at the intermediate level. In formal writing, adhere to the standard rules; in casual speech, you may encounter simplified or alternative forms, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.

Practice Tips

1. Practice personal infinitive 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 personal infinitive and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular -AR Verbs -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for personal infinitive
• Next steps: Personal Infinitive - Advanced -- builds on personal infinitive concepts