Understanding the position of adverbs in Portuguese sentences is crucial for mastering the language. Adverbs add nuance and detail to sentences, indicating when, how, where, and to what extent actions are performed. While adverbs in English are relatively flexible in their placement, Portuguese has more specific rules and tendencies that learners must grasp to achieve fluency and precision. This article will explore the different types of adverbs, their functions, and their typical positions within Portuguese sentences.
Types of Adverbs in Portuguese
Portuguese adverbs can be categorized into several types based on their function in a sentence. These types include:
1. Adverbs of Time (Advérbios de Tempo):
These adverbs indicate when an action occurs. Examples include:
– agora (now)
– ontem (yesterday)
– hoje (today)
– amanhã (tomorrow)
– sempre (always)
– nunca (never)
2. Adverbs of Place (Advérbios de Lugar):
These adverbs specify where an action takes place. Examples include:
– aqui (here)
– ali (there)
– lá (there)
– embaixo (underneath)
– acima (above)
3. Adverbs of Manner (Advérbios de Modo):
These adverbs describe how an action is performed. Examples include:
– bem (well)
– mal (badly)
– rapidamente (quickly)
– devagar (slowly)
– cuidadosamente (carefully)
4. Adverbs of Frequency (Advérbios de Frequência):
These adverbs indicate how often an action occurs. Examples include:
– frequentemente (frequently)
– raramente (rarely)
– sempre (always)
– nunca (never)
– às vezes (sometimes)
5. Adverbs of Quantity or Degree (Advérbios de Quantidade ou Grau):
These adverbs express the intensity or degree of an action. Examples include:
– muito (very)
– pouco (little)
– bastante (quite)
– demais (too much)
– completamente (completely)
6. Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation (Advérbios de Afirmação e Negação):
These adverbs express affirmation or negation. Examples include:
– sim (yes)
– não (no)
– certamente (certainly)
– talvez (maybe)
7. Interrogative Adverbs (Advérbios Interrogativos):
These adverbs are used to ask questions. Examples include:
– como? (how?)
– quando? (when?)
– onde? (where?)
– porquê? (why?)
General Rules for Adverb Placement in Portuguese
Portuguese adverbs are not as flexible in their placement as their English counterparts. However, there are some general rules that can help learners understand where to position adverbs in a sentence.
1. Adverbs of Manner, Place, and Time:
These adverbs typically follow the verb they modify. For example:
– Ela fala bem. (She speaks well.)
– Ele mora aqui. (He lives here.)
– Eu cheguei ontem. (I arrived yesterday.)
When an adverb modifies an infinitive verb, it is usually placed before the verb:
– Ela quer rapidamente terminar o trabalho. (She wants to quickly finish the work.)
2. Adverbs of Frequency:
These adverbs generally come before the main verb but after auxiliary verbs. For example:
– Eu sempre estudo à noite. (I always study at night.)
– Nós raramente saímos durante a semana. (We rarely go out during the week.)
However, if the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the adverb of frequency comes after the auxiliary and before the main verb:
– Ela tem frequentemente viajado a trabalho. (She has frequently traveled for work.)
3. Adverbs of Quantity or Degree:
These adverbs usually come before the adjective or adverb they modify:
– Ele é muito inteligente. (He is very intelligent.)
– A sopa está bastante quente. (The soup is quite hot.)
When modifying a verb, adverbs of quantity or degree are typically placed after the verb:
– Ela trabalha muito. (She works a lot.)
4. Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation:
These adverbs generally precede the verb:
– Sim, eu vou. (Yes, I will go.)
– Não, ele não veio. (No, he didn’t come.)
Special Considerations and Exceptions
While the general rules provide a good foundation, there are several special considerations and exceptions that learners should be aware of:
1. Emphasizing Adverbs:
Sometimes, for emphasis, adverbs can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause:
– Rapidamente, ele saiu da sala. (Quickly, he left the room.)
– Sempre, eu lembro de você. (Always, I remember you.)
2. Multiple Adverbs:
When a sentence contains more than one adverb, the order is usually manner, place, and then time:
– Ela dança bem aqui todas as noites. (She dances well here every night.)
3. Negative Adverbs:
In negative sentences, the adverb “não” precedes the verb, and other adverbs typically follow the verb:
– Ela não trabalha bem. (She does not work well.)
– Ele não veio ontem. (He did not come yesterday.)
4. Interrogative Sentences:
In questions, interrogative adverbs usually come at the beginning of the sentence:
– Onde você mora? (Where do you live?)
– Como ela está? (How is she?)
Practical Examples
To further illustrate the placement of adverbs in Portuguese, let’s look at a few practical examples:
Example 1:
– English: She always reads books in the afternoon.
– Portuguese: Ela sempre lê livros à tarde.
Here, “sempre” (always) comes before the main verb “lê” (reads), and “à tarde” (in the afternoon) follows the object “livros” (books).
Example 2:
– English: They quickly finished the project yesterday.
– Portuguese: Eles rapidamente terminaram o projeto ontem.
In this example, “rapidamente” (quickly) comes before the main verb “terminaram” (finished), and “ontem” (yesterday) is placed at the end of the sentence.
Example 3:
– English: Do you often go to the gym?
– Portuguese: Você vai frequentemente à academia?
Here, “frequentemente” (often) is placed before the prepositional phrase “à academia” (to the gym) and after the main verb “vai” (go).
Example 4:
– English: He doesn’t speak Portuguese very well.
– Portuguese: Ele não fala português muito bem.
In this sentence, “não” (not) precedes the verb “fala” (speaks), while “muito bem” (very well) follows the object “português” (Portuguese).
Example 5:
– English: Why are you studying so late?
– Portuguese: Por que você está estudando tão tarde?
Here, the interrogative adverb “por que” (why) is placed at the beginning, and “tão tarde” (so late) follows the gerund “estudando” (studying).
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learning a new language inevitably involves making mistakes. Here are some common errors English speakers might make when positioning adverbs in Portuguese, along with tips on how to avoid them:
1. Misplacing Adverbs of Frequency:
English speakers might place adverbs of frequency incorrectly by following English syntax.
– Incorrect: Eu estudo sempre à noite.
– Correct: Eu sempre estudo à noite.
2. Misplacing Adverbs of Manner:
Learners might place adverbs of manner before verbs, similar to English.
– Incorrect: Ela bem fala.
– Correct: Ela fala bem.
3. Incorrect Order of Multiple Adverbs:
When using more than one adverb, learners might not follow the manner-place-time order.
– Incorrect: Ela dança todas as noites bem aqui.
– Correct: Ela dança bem aqui todas as noites.
4. Incorrect Placement of Negative Adverbs:
Neglecting to place the negative adverb “não” before the verb can lead to misunderstandings.
– Incorrect: Ela trabalha não bem.
– Correct: Ela não trabalha bem.
5. Misplacing Interrogative Adverbs:
Placing interrogative adverbs incorrectly can make questions confusing.
– Incorrect: Você mora onde?
– Correct: Onde você mora?
Practice Exercises
To reinforce your understanding of adverb placement in Portuguese, try the following exercises:
Exercise 1: Place the adverbs correctly in the following sentences.
1. Eu (nunca) como carne.
2. Ela (rápido) correu para a escola.
3. Nós (hoje) vamos ao cinema.
4. Eles (frequentemente) viajam para o exterior.
5. Você (onde) mora?
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Portuguese, paying attention to adverb placement.
1. She often studies at night.
2. They live here.
3. I will call you tomorrow.
4. He speaks very well.
5. Why are you running so fast?
Answers to Exercise 1:
1. Eu nunca como carne.
2. Ela correu rapidamente para a escola.
3. Nós vamos ao cinema hoje.
4. Eles frequentemente viajam para o exterior.
5. Onde você mora?
Answers to Exercise 2:
1. Ela frequentemente estuda à noite.
2. Eles moram aqui.
3. Eu vou te ligar amanhã.
4. Ele fala muito bem.
5. Por que você está correndo tão rápido?
Conclusion
Mastering the placement of adverbs in Portuguese requires understanding the specific rules and patterns that govern their usage. While it may seem challenging at first, consistent practice and exposure to native Portuguese will help you internalize these rules. Remember to pay attention to the type of adverb you are using and its typical position in a sentence. By doing so, you will be able to express yourself more clearly and accurately in Portuguese. Happy learning!
