gostar de, preferir & Verbs with Prepositions
gostar de, preferir e verbos com preposições • A1 • 12 cartões
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Frases de exemplo
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Gostar de (to like)
Expressing likes with the verb gostar followed by the preposition de
📌 Nota gramatical
The verb 'gostar' (to like) in European Portuguese must always be followed by the preposition 'de'. It conjugates regularly in the present tense: eu gosto, tu gostas, ele/ela/você gosta, nós gostamos, vós gostais, eles/elas/vocês gostam.
Exemplo
Contractions with 'de' and definite articles
Combining the preposition 'de' with masculine, feminine, and plural articles
📌 Nota gramatical
When the preposition 'de' is followed by a definite article (o, a, os, as), they must contract: de + o = do, de + a = da, de + os = dos, de + as = das.
Exemplo
Contractions with 'de' and pronouns (ele/ela)
Combining 'de' with third-person singular pronouns
📌 Nota gramatical
When 'de' is followed by 'ele', 'ela', 'eles', or 'elas', they combine to form 'dele', 'dela', 'deles', and 'delas'.
Exemplo
Gostar de + Infinitive verb
Expressing liking an action by using an infinitive after 'de'
📌 Nota gramatical
When 'gostar de' is followed by an action, the second verb remains in its infinitive (dictionary) form. No preposition contraction occurs before an infinitive verb.
Exemplo
Negative sentences with gostar
Making negative statements with gostar de using 'não'
📌 Nota gramatical
To form a negative sentence, place the negative particle 'não' directly before the conjugated verb 'gostar'. The preposition 'de' remains unchanged.
Exemplo
Questions with gostar (Yes/No)
Forming simple questions using gostar de
📌 Nota gramatical
Yes/no questions are formed by rising intonation on the statement, or by inverting subject and verb in formal contexts. In speech, tone alone distinguishes questions from statements.
Exemplo
Preferir (to prefer)
Expressing preferences directly without a preposition
📌 Nota gramatical
Unlike 'gostar de', the verb 'preferir' (to prefer) is a direct transitive verb at A1 level and does not require a preposition when followed by a direct object noun.
Exemplo
Preferir: comparing two nouns (a ... do que ...)
Comparing two things with preferir using 'do que'
📌 Nota gramatical
When preferring one noun over another, European Portuguese uses 'preferir [noun A] do que [noun B]' at the basic level to contrast options clearly.
Exemplo
Precisa de (to need)
Expressing necessity with precisar followed by 'de'
📌 Nota gramatical
The high-frequency verb 'precisar' (to need) always requires the preposition 'de' before nouns or infinitives, mirroring the pattern of 'gostar de'.
Exemplo
Ir a / Ir para (to go to)
Movement verbs taking spatial prepositions 'a' or 'para'
📌 Nota gramatical
The verb 'ir' (to go) requires prepositions for destinations. 'Ir a' is used for short visits (contracting to ao/à), while 'Ir para' implies longer stays or definitive relocation.
Exemplo
Estar em (to be in/at)
Locational verbs taking the preposition 'em'
📌 Nota gramatical
The verb 'estar' (to be, temporary state/location) takes the preposition 'em' to indicate places. 'Em' contracts with definite articles into no/na/nos/nas.
Exemplo
Falar com (to speak with)
Communication verbs taking the preposition 'com'
📌 Nota gramatical
Verbs of communication like 'falar' (to speak) take the preposition 'com' (with) when introducing the person spoken to. 'Com' combines with pronouns: comigo, contigo.
Exemplo
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