Regular -AR Verbs in Portuguese

Overview

Regular -AR Verbs (Verbos Regulares em -AR) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Present tense conjugation of regular -ar verbs (falar, trabalhar, estudar, comprar). Largest verb class. Endings: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am.

Understanding regular -ar verbs 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 regular -ar verbs will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

To conjugate regular -AR verbs, remove the -ar ending and add personal endings:

Person	Ending	falar (to speak)	trabalhar (to work)
eu	-o	falo	trabalho
tu	-as	falas	trabalhas
ele/ela/voce	-a	fala	trabalha
nos	-amos	falamos	trabalhamos
vos	-ais	falais	trabalhais
eles/elas/voces	-am	falam	trabalham

Common regular -AR verbs:

Verb	Meaning
falar	to speak
trabalhar	to work
estudar	to study
comprar	to buy
morar	to live (reside)
gostar	to like
chegar	to arrive
ficar	to stay/remain

The -AR class is the largest in Portuguese, and new verbs entering the language almost always take -AR conjugation.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Eu falo português.	I speak Portuguese.
Tu trabalhas muito.	You work a lot.
Nós estudamos história.	We study history.
Eles compram pão.	They buy bread.
Ela chega amanha.	She arrives tomorrow.
Moramos em Lisboa.	We live in Lisbon.
Eles ficam em casa.	They stay at home.
Gostamos de musica.	We like music.
Compro pao todos os dias.	I buy bread every day.

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, regular -ar verbs 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 regular -ar verbs 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 regular -ar verbs and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Subject Pronouns -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for regular -ar verbs
• Next steps: Ir (to go) -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Poder (can/to be able) -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Reflexive Verbs -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Basic Negation -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Gostar (to like) -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Preterite (Pretérito Perfeito) -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Imperative Mood -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Present Subjunctive -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts
• Next steps: Personal Infinitive -- builds on regular -ar verbs concepts