Infinitivo (Infinitive)
Portuguese has two main forms of the infinitive:
- Impersonal Infinitive (Infinitivo Impessoal) – the basic verb form, not marked for person.
- Personal Infinitive (Infinitivo Pessoal) – marked for person/number, agreeing with a clear subject.
1. Impersonal Infinitive (Infinitivo Impessoal)
The impersonal infinitive is the uninflected base form of the verb. It is used:
- After prepositions: É importante para falar com ela. (It is important to speak with her.)
- As the object of other verbs: Eu gosto de comer. (I like to eat.)
Examples:
- falar (to speak)
- comer (to eat)
- partir (to leave)
2. Personal Infinitive (Infinitivo Pessoal)
The personal infinitive is unique to Portuguese. It is used when the subject of the action is explicit and can change according to the person and number.
Formation
Add the endings directly to the infinitive form (same for -ar, -er, -ir verbs):
| Person | AR (falar) | ER (comer) | IR (partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | falar | comer | partir |
| tu | falares | comeres | partires |
| ele/ela/você | falar | comer | partir |
| nós | falarmos | comermos | partirmos |
| vós | falardes | comerdes | partirdes |
| eles/elas/vocês | falarem | comerem | partirem |
Usage
After prepositions when the subject is explicit
- Para nós falarmos, precisamos de tempo. (For us to speak, we need time.)
- Depois de eles saírem, começamos a reunião. (After they leave, we start the meeting.)
When the subject of the subordinate clause differs from the main clause
- Ele pediu para nós estudarmos juntos. (He asked for us to study together.)
- Ela queria que vocês viajassem depois de comerem. (She wanted you to travel after eating.)
Differences Between BP and EP
- EP: Personal infinitive is consistently used, both in formal and informal speech/writing.
- BP: Still used, but often replaced by indicative or subjunctive forms in casual conversation.
Irregular Forms
Most verbs are regular in the personal infinitive; irregularities usually come from the stem:
| Verb | Infinitive | Eles Form |
|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | ser | serem |
| ter (to have) | ter | terem |
| vir (to come) | vir | virem |
| pôr (to put) | pôr | porem |
Summary
- Impersonal Infinitive: Base verb form, no agreement with subject.
- Personal Infinitive: Inflected form agreeing with the subject; unique to Portuguese.
Examples:
- Impersonal: É importante falar. (It is important to speak.)
- Personal: Para eles falarem, precisam de autorização. (For them to speak, they need permission.)
- Personal: Ela pediu para nós sairmos cedo. (She asked for us to leave early.)
