ER verbs are the second most 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 an ER verb in the present tense:
- Remove the -er ending from the infinitive
- Add the appropriate ending based on the subject
Here are the endings for ER verbs in contemporary European Portuguese:
- Eu: -o
- Tu: -es
- Ele/Ela: -e
- Nós: -emos
- Vocês: -em
- Eles/Elas: -em
Example: Comer (to eat)
Let’s conjugate the verb “comer” (to eat) as an example:
- Eu como (I eat)
- Tu comes (You eat – singular informal)
- Ele/Ela come (He/She eats)
- Nós comemos (We eat)
- Vocês comem (You eat – plural)
- Eles/Elas comem (They eat)
More Examples
Here are a few more ER verbs conjugated in the present tense:
- Beber (to drink)
- Eu bebo
- Tu bebes
- Ele/Ela bebe
- Nós bebemos
- Vocês bebem
- Eles/Elas bebem
- Vender (to sell)
- Eu vendo
- Tu vendes
- Ele/Ela vende
- Nós vendemos
- Vocês vendem
- Eles/Elas vendem
- Aprender (to learn)
- Eu aprendo
- Tu aprendes
- Ele/Ela aprende
- Nós aprendemos
- Vocês aprendem
- Eles/Elas aprendem
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 ER verbs, you’ll be able to express a wide range of actions and states in the present tense in contemporary European Portuguese.
Next: Vocabulary: Regular IR verbs in the Present Tense