Who has never suffered from the spelling of the Portuguese language? Writing is not always an easy task and it can be even worse for those who are not so familiar with the written language. Talking is easy, writing is really hard! This is because we don't always write the way we speak, which can cause some failures when putting ideas down on paper. Nothing that cannot be resolved through reading and studying the language.
To help you get rid of the five once and for all grammatical errors that no one should commit, we've prepared some portuguese tips that can save your texts! Let's check it out? Enjoy your reading and good studies!
Five Grammatical Mistakes No One Should Make!
Tip 1: But and more
✔ He wanted to sleep, but he needed to get up early.
✘ He wanted to sleep, but he needed to get up early.
The word but, when it's a conjunction, should be used to give the sense of opposition, and may be replaced by other conjunctions, including, however, however, however, however etc. The word more
it is mainly used to give an idea of quantity or intensity, always in opposition to the word any less. Examples: That's the wine more expensive from the market; Ten more ten equals twenty.
Tip 2: Whys
Because why
✔ I didn't go to work yesterday because I was unwell.
✘ I didn't go to work yesterday because I was unwell.
Why, together and without accent, is a conjunction whose function is to link two ideas, two sentences. It should be used when the second part presents an explanation or cause in relation to the first. already the form why, separate and unaccented, is an interrogative adverb of cause that should be used when asking for a cause or reason, and not just in a sentence that ends with a question mark. Example: I don't know why he has not come to visit us again.
Because why
✔ The employee resigned, I don't know why.
✔ The employee resigned yesterday, I don't know why.
✘ The employee resigned, I don't know why.
Because, when written together and with an accent, can replace the words reason cause or reason. It is classified as a noun and can be inflected in the plural and be accompanied by articles, pronouns and adjectives. Because, separated and with an accent, will be used at the end of the sentence, whether it is a question or not. Example: They didn't want to travel anymore and didn't explain because.
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Tip 3: Agent / Us
✔ We arranged to meet at the entrance to the mall.
✘ Agent arranged to meet at the entrance of the mall.
we is a pronominal phrase semantically equivalent to the pronoun we and must be conjugated in the third person singular. Agent, as defined by the Michaelis dictionary, is that "Who acts, who exerts some action; that produces some effect.What manages or deals with other people's businesses.2Person in charge of managing an agency.” Therefore, the word agent can be used only as common noun and should not be confused with the pronominal phrase a gente. Examples: James Bond is the agent most famous secret in the world.
Tip 4: For me / For me
✔ There is a lot of work for me to do.
✘ There is a lot of work for me to do.
The expression for me it must be used when the straight case pronoun “I” assumes the function of subject in the clause. Another important tip is to observe the presence of a verb: if the subject is followed by an infinitive verb that indicates an action, have no doubt that the correct way is for me. For me is an expression that should be used when "me" performs the function of a direct object, since "me" is a oblique pronoun that it cannot exercise the function of subject when it presents a postponed verb that indicates action. Therefore, "me" does nothing, who does it is me, we, you, they... Examples: My boyfriend brought a box of chocolates for me.
Tip 5: Half / Half
✔ She was kind of sad after yesterday's conversation.
✘ She was kind of sad after yesterday's conversation.
Quite may be intensity adverb and fractional numeral. As an adverb, it has the sense of “a little”, always linked to an adjective. Remember that it does not vary, that is, it is not inflected, so there is no half sad, half tired, half crazy etc. However, if quite is numeral, it will be accompanied by a noun, thus, it will agree with the gender: half a cup, half a liter, half an hour etc.
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
