O verb to be indicates permanent status. He is one of the main connecting verbs and as such its function is to link the subject and its characteristics (predicative of the subject).
This often makes the verb agree with the predicative instead of agreeing with the subject.
Examples:
- The cry they areatsorrowsleftfor theseparation. (and no: Crying is the hurt left by separation.)
- That they areatconsequences. (and no: That's the consequences.)
- One hundred reais émuch. (and no: One hundred reais is too much.)
Conjugation of the Verb Ser
The Verb Ser undergoes profound changes in its radical, which is why it is classified as irregular irregular verb.
Indicative mode
| Gift | Past Imperfect | Past Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| (I'm | (I was | (I went |
| (you are | (you were | (you went |
| (he is | (he was | (he was |
| (we are | (we were | (We went |
| (you are | (you) were | (You went |
| (they are | (they were | (they went |
| Past tense More than perfect | future of the present | Past Future |
|---|---|---|
| (I) out | (I will | (I would be |
| (you) out | (you will be | (you) would be |
| (he) out | (he will be | (he would be |
| (we) were | (we will be | (we would be |
| (you) will | (you) will be | (you) would be |
| (they went | (they will be | (they would be |
Subjunctive Mode
| Gift | Past Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|
| (that I be | (if I were | (when I go |
| (that you) be | (if you) were | (when you) go |
| (that he) be | (if he was | (when he) goes |
| (that we) be | (if we) were | (when we) go |
| (may you) be | (if you) were | (when you) go |
| (that they) be | (if they were | (when they) go |
Imperative
| Affirmative Imperative | negative imperative |
|---|---|
| - | - |
| if you) | (no) be (you) |
| be you) | (no) be (you) |
| let us be (we) | (not) let's be (we) |
| thirst (you) | (not) be (you) |
| be (you) | (no) be (you) |
Infinitive
| Personal infinitive |
|---|
| (for) being (me) |
| (for) being (you) |
| (for) being (he) |
| (for) being (we) |
| (for) being (you) |
| (for) being (they) |
Read more about verbs:
- Linking Verbs
- anomalous verbs
- Irregular Verbs in Portuguese
concordance of the verb to be
1. the verb to be agrees with personal pronouns.
Examples:
- The complicated ones are them.
- The funniest one here is me.
- That gentleman's daughter is she.
2. The Verb Ser agrees with the subject when this is a person.
Examples:
- The mayor was the hopes of the city.
- The grandson is the grandparents' joys.
- The primary teacher is the foundation of the students.
3. The Verb Ser agrees with the predicative when the subject is the pronouns everything, this, this, that.
Examples:
- All are problems when you are upset.
- This is water under the past.
- Those are childhood memories.
4. The Verb Ser agrees with the numeral nearest in the time display (times, dates) as well as distance.
Examples:
- It's one o'clock.
- It's ten o'clock now.
- It's ten to one.
- It's a quarter past one!
- It's already two-fifteen!
- In a few days it's May one.
- Today is April 22nd.
- From start to finish it is five kilometers.
Exercises on the Verb Ser
1. Complete the sentences.
a) Today ___ April twenty-first.
Today is April twenty-first.
The verb "to be" must agree with the nearest numeral (21) in the date indication (April twenty-first).
b) Twenty kilometers ___ too much!
Twenty kilometers is too much!
The verb "to be" must be singular when the subject indicates distance (twenty kilometers).
c) That ___ fads.
These are fads.
The verb "to be" must agree with the predicative (manias) when the subject is the pronoun "that".
d) Today ___ the tenth.
Today is the tenth.
When indicating dates in which the word "day" is used, the verb "to be" must be singular.
e) Her problem ___ them.
Her problem is them.
The verb "to be" must agree with personal pronouns (they).
f) The irresponsible ___ you.
The irresponsible ones are you.
The verb "to be" must agree with personal pronouns (you).
g) My concerns ___ my work.
My concerns are my job.
In this case, the verb "to be" agrees with the subject (my concerns).
h) My joys ___ my son.
My joy is my son.
The verb "to be" must agree with the subject when the subject is a person (my son). Changing the order of the sentence makes it clearer to see: My son is my joys.
2. (FMU) Check the alternative that then correctly completes the following sentences.
I. It ___ crumbs.
II. Our life ___ follies.
III. You ___ my punishment.
IV. The colors red and black ___ the mark of the coat of arms.
V. Today ___ January 12th.
a) are, were, will be, were, are
b) yes, were, will be, was, is
c) are, were, were, were, were, are
d) yes, were, will be, were, are
e) are, were, will be, was, is
Alternative to: are, were, will be, were, are.
I. These are crumbs.
The verb "to be" must agree with the predicative (crumbs) when the subject is the pronoun "this".
II. Our lives were crazy.
The verb "to be" must agree with the plural predicative (foolishness) of a singular subject that indicates things (our life).
III. You will be my punishment.
The verb "to be" must agree with personal pronouns (you).
IV. The red and black colors were the hallmark of the coat of arms.
In this case, the verb "to be" agrees with the subject (the colors).
V. Today is January 12th.
The verb "to be" must agree with the nearest numeral (12) in the date indication (January 12th).
3. (Alerj) As for the use of the verb to be, the agreement is correct in:
a) It's already three o'clock.
b) Ten thousand reais is enough.
c) Today is the twenty-first of the month.
d) Ten points is more than necessary.
e) Two meters is less than I need.
Alternative b: Ten thousand reais is enough.
The verb "to be" must be singular when the subject indicates quantity (ten thousand).
Correction of remaining alternatives:
a) It's already three o'clock.
The verb "to be" must agree with the nearest numeral in the hour indication (three hours).
c) Today is twenty-one of the month.
The verb "to be" must agree with the nearest numeral (21) in the date indication (21 of the month).
d) Ten points is more than necessary.
The verb "to be" must be singular when the subject indicates quantity (ten points).
e) Two meters is less than I need.
The verb "to be" must be singular when the subject indicates measure (two meters).
