IR verbs are the least common type of regular verbs in European Portuguese. They follow a consistent pattern in the present tense, making them relatively straightforward to learn and use.
Conjugation Pattern
To conjugate a regular IR verb in the present tense:
- Remove the -ir ending from the infinitive
- Add the appropriate ending based on the subject
Here are the endings for regular IR verbs in contemporary European Portuguese:
- Eu: -o
- Tu: -es
- Ele/Ela: -e
- Nós: -imos
- Vocês: -em
- Eles/Elas: -em
Example: Partir (to leave, to depart)
Let’s conjugate the verb “partir” (to leave, to depart) as an example:
- Eu parto (I leave)
- Tu partes (You leave – singular informal)
- Ele/Ela parte (He/She leaves)
- Nós partimos (We leave)
- Vocês partem (You leave – plural)
- Eles/Elas partem (They leave)
More Examples
Here are a few more regular IR verbs conjugated in the present tense:
- Abrir (to open)
- Eu abro
- Tu abres
- Ele/Ela abre
- Nós abrimos
- Vocês abrem
- Eles/Elas abrem
- Decidir (to decide)
- Eu decido
- Tu decides
- Ele/Ela decide
- Nós decidimos
- Vocês decidem
- Eles/Elas decidem
- Assistir (to watch, to attend)
- Eu assisto
- Tu assistes
- Ele/Ela assiste
- Nós assistimos
- Vocês assistem
- Eles/Elas assistem
Note on Usage
In contemporary European Portuguese, “vocês” is commonly used to address multiple people or as a more formal way to address a group. The pronoun “vós” and its corresponding conjugations are still found in very formal or literary contexts, but are rarely used in everyday conversation.
By mastering the conjugation of regular IR verbs, you’ll be able to express a wide range of actions and states in the present tense in contemporary European Portuguese.