—
Frases de exemplo
← → Teclas de seta para navegar · A para ouvir
Subject Clarity with Different Subjects
Using the personal infinitive when the main clause and subordinate clause have different subjects.
📌 Nota gramatical
When the subject of the infinitive differs from the subject of the main verb, the personal infinitive is mandatory to ensure clarity. It takes regular personal endings (-es, -mos, -des, -em) to explicitly state who is performing the action.
Exemplo
Prepositional Complements with 'para'
Using the personal infinitive after the preposition 'para' to express purpose with distinct subjects.
📌 Nota gramatical
When 'para' introduces a purpose clause with a new subject, the personal infinitive is required. This distinguishes intent when the person doing the action differs from the main sentence subject.
Exemplo
Temporal Clauses with 'antes de' and 'depois de'
Using the personal infinitive after temporal prepositions to specify who executes the prior or subsequent action.
📌 Nota gramatical
Expressions like 'antes de' (before) and 'depois de' (after) frequently take the personal infinitive in advanced Portuguese to avoid ambiguity regarding who acts before or after.
Exemplo
Causal Clauses with 'por' and 'a por de'
Expressing reason or cause using the personal infinitive governed by the preposition 'por'.
📌 Nota gramatical
The preposition 'por' combined with the personal infinitive explains the motivation or reason behind the main clause action, clearly attributing responsibility to a specific grammatical person.
Exemplo
Conditional Clauses with 'a não ser que' or 'ao'
Using the personal infinitive in conditional constructions introduced by specific prepositions.
📌 Nota gramatical
Advanced conditional nuances can be achieved by combining 'ao' or other connectors with the personal infinitive, establishing a strict conditional link tied to a specific subject.
Exemplo
Complement of Adjectives and Abstract Nouns
Using the personal infinitive as a complement to adjectives and nouns expressing necessity, certainty, or emotion.
📌 Nota gramatical
When adjectives (e.g., 'contente', 'essencial', 'difícil') or nouns (e.g., 'vontade', 'receio') govern an infinitive clause with a distinct agent, the personal infinitive provides the exact subject.
Exemplo
With Compound Prepositions ('em vez de', 'apesar de')
Using the personal infinitive after complex connective prepositions.
📌 Nota gramatical
Compound prepositions like 'em vez de' (instead of) and 'apesar de' (despite) frequently require the personal infinitive to maintain precision regarding who performed or failed to perform an action.
Exemplo
Infinitive with Pronoun Placement (Mesóclise / Próclise)
Integrating clitic pronouns with inflected personal infinitives.
📌 Nota gramatical
When using the personal infinitive with object pronouns, normal pronoun placement rules apply. Words that attract the pronoun (negative words, conjunctions) cause proclise; otherwise, mesoclise or enclise is used according to standard European Portuguese norms.
Exemplo
Stylistic Inversion and Headline Contexts
Using the personal infinitive at the start of sentences or in professional headlines for dramatic effect.
📌 Nota gramatical
In advanced European Portuguese registers, the personal infinitive can initiate a sentence to establish a hypothetical or general condition affecting a specific group, common in journalism and essays.
Exemplo
Distinction from the Subjunctive Mood
Knowing when to choose the personal infinitive instead of the present subjunctive.
📌 Nota gramatical
While both the personal infinitive and the subjunctive can express hypothetical actions with different subjects, the personal infinitive is preferred when focusing on the action itself as a process, whereas the subjunctive focuses on an event or doubt.
Exemplo
Passive Meanings with Personal Infinitive
Using the personal infinitive with a passive or reflexive nuance.
📌 Nota gramatical
When the subject of the personal infinitive undergoes the action rather than performing it, the construction maintains its personal ending while conveying a passive or reflexive sense in professional contexts.
Exemplo
Idiomatic Expressions and Fixed Collocations
Recognizing fixed phrases in European Portuguese that require the inflected personal infinitive.
📌 Nota gramatical
Certain idioms and legal-administrative expressions in Portugal routinely incorporate the personal infinitive. Memorizing these collocations ensures native-like fluency at the B2 level.
Exemplo
Configurar treino
Configure a sua sessão de treino.