You start writing and suddenly a million questions pop into your head! This, unfortunately, is a frequent situation, which can be the result of a lack of reading habit. We are skilled speakers, we know how to communicate in oral situations, but it seems that all skill goes down the drain when it comes to writing.
It is indisputable: whoever reads more writes better. This happens because, while reading, we are in contact with the rules of the Portuguese language and we understand in practice how the code and its standard registration work. But if even reading a lot, you still have many doubts about spelling and semantics, don't despair: Brasil Escola has prepared five Portuguese tips that will help you ward off the dreaded grammatical slips. Enjoy your reading and good studies!
Five Portuguese tips:
Tip 1: For sure or for sure?
Who has never come across the two writings for the same expression, let's throw the first stone! Of course, the correct way is certainly, written like that, separately. It is an adverbial phrase composed by the preposition
with and by name certainty. In a prayer, the voiceover certainly performs the function of an adverb, and can be replaced by other equivalent terms, such as Certainly, of course and no doubt. Take a look at some examples:Certainly, Grande Sertão: Veredas is a masterpiece of literature.
Certainly, Grande Sertão: Veredas is a masterpiece of literature.
Certainly we will visit you on the next vacation.
No doubt we will visit you on the next vacation.
Let it be clear: surely does not exist!
Tip 2: Suddenly or suddenly?
Again, the doubt concerns an adverbial phrase. The correct writing is suddenly, since it is an expression composed of two words: the preposition in and the noun suddenly. the adverbial phrase suddenly may be replaced by other terms whose meanings are equivalent, among them, suddenly, suddenly, abruptly and unexpectedly. Look at the examples:
the storm started suddenly!
the storm started suddenly!
Suddenly the band started to play and everyone went out on the floor to dance.
Suddenly the band started to play and everyone went out on the floor to dance.
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Tip 3: Hesitate or hesitate?
This is a frequent question, as it is a classic example of homonymous words. Homonymy occurs between two words that have the same spelling or the same pronunciation, but which have a different meaning. So both, to hesitate and hesitate, are correct, just knowing when to properly employ each of them.
To hesitate is a verb from latin haesitare and it means “to be undecided”, “to show fear”. Already hesitate is a verb formed by joining the name success with the suffix -air and it means “to succeed”. Look at the examples:
hesitated for a few moments before getting on the plane. (showed fear)
The student hesitated on the math test. (successful)
Tip 4: Meeting or against?
Both phrases exist, so both are correct. However, they are not synonymous expressions and, for this reason, they should be used in different situations. to meet means go towards something or someone, towards you. Against means the opposite, ie, go against something or someone, bumping into her, confronting. Look at the examples:
the child was to meet your parents. (towards her parents)
The orders I received will against my principles. (against principles)
Tip 5: Again or again?
Another question about adverbial phrases. The correct form is again, written like that, separately. It should never be written as a single word, as it is formed by a preposition in it's the name new. It may be replaced by equivalent expressions, including again, once again and again. Look at the examples:
he made the same mistake again.
he made the same mistake again.
we won the competition again!
we won the competition once again!
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PEREZ, Luana Castro Alves. "Portuguese Tips"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/dicas-portugues.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.