Graphical Discordance and Verbal Irregularity

Graphical disagreement and verbal irregularity they refer to a grammatical class (verb) endowed with distinct particularities, of which we must be aware. Thus, in view of this reality, the article in question aims to address the differences demarcated between these two elements, which are under discussion.

These expressions are often considered synonymous, which is why it is necessary to know how to distinguish them, so as not to commit any “slip” that could hurt the language. Therefore, let us consider the ideas present in the statements of two renowned grammarians – Celso Cunha and Lindley Cintra, in their Contemporary Portuguese Grammar:

* Some verbs referring to the first conjugation, whose stems end in “-ç”, “-c” and “-g”, change these letters, respectively, to “-qu”, “-c” and “-gu”, always let the “-e” follow them. Let's see some examples:

stay - stayed

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to do justice - I punished

arrive - arrived

* Verbs referring to the second and third conjugations, whose stems end in “-c”, “-g” and “-gu” change these letters to, respectively, “-ç”, “-j” and “-g”. Let's look at these cases that follow:

win - win - win

tanger - tanjo - tanja

lift - lift - lift

restrict - restrict - restrict

extinguish - extinguish - extinguish

Through the changes now demarcated, we found that these are just graphic accommodations that in no way resemble the verbal irregularity, submitted to the conventionalism governed by grammatical postulates, especially those relating to spelling questions.


By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "Graphic Discordance and Verbal Irregularity"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/discordancia-grafica-irregularidade-verbal.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.

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