1 - Expressing identity and permanent characteristics (ser)

To describe permanent or defining characteristics, you need the verb ser (to be). For example:

  • Eu sou a Susana. (I am Susana)

Conjugation

Irregular verb “ser” (to be) in the present tense

  • SINGULAR

    • Eu sou (I am)

    • Tu és (You are - singular, informal)

    • Ele é (He is) | Ela é (She is)

  • PLURAL

    • Nós somos (We are)

    • Vocês são (You are - plural, informal)

    • Eles são (They are - masculine) | Elas são (They are - feminine)


Note:

In Portuguese, when speaking formally, you use o senhor (sir) and a senhora (madam) instead of tu or você. These forms are grammatically treated as third person (ele, ela and eles, elas), not second person.

So, you use the same verb conjugation as for ele, ela (he, she):

  • O senhor é professor. (You are a teacher. - formal, speaking to a man)

  • A senhora é médica. (You are a doctor. - formal, speaking to a woman)

The same applies in the plural form:

  • Os senhores são engenheiros. (You are engineers. - formal, group of men or mixed)

  • As senhoras são professoras. (You are teachers. - formal, group of women)

Use ser in these situations

Identity | profession | nationality

  • Eu sou a Susana. (I am Susana.)

  • Ele é professor. (He is a teacher.)

  • Somos espanhóis. (We are Spanish.)

Defining characteristics

Traits that are seen as permanent or defining. These are not expected to change easily.

  • A neve é branca. (The snow is white.)

  • Ela é inteligente. (She is intelligent.)

  • O carro é grande. (The car is big.)

Origin | possession (ser + de)

  • O azeite é de Portugal. (The olive oil is from Portugal.)

  • A casa é dos meus pais. (The house belongs to my parents. / The house is (from) my parents'.)

Time | dates | days

  • Hoje é sexta-feira. (Today is Friday.)

  • São sete horas. (It is seven o’clock.)

  • É dia 1 de janeiro. (It is January 1st.)

Events| location of events

  • O casamento é na praia. (The wedding is on the beach.)

Passive voice

  • O filme é feito (por ela). (The movie is made (by her).)
    (ser + past participle)

    Note: As a beginner, you don’t need to learn passive voice yet, just have a general idea that sometimes we use this structure to focus on the thing being acted upon, not the person doing the action.

Permanent location

  • A farmácia é na avenida principal. (The pharmacy is on the main avenue.)

  • A escola é ao lado do mercado. (The school is next to the market.)

  • Atenas é na Grécia. (Athens is in Greece.)

  • A Itália é na Europa. (Italy is in Europe.)

  • O Algarve é no sul de Portugal. (The Algarve is in the south of Portugal.)

Practice

For each sentence below, decide: should you use the verb ser? Yes or no? Why?

1) Ela ___ muito simpática. (She is very nice.)

2) O concerto ___ no parque. (The concert is in the park.)

3) A Joana ___ no supermercado. (Joana is at the supermarket.)

4) Hoje ___ terça-feira. (Today is Tuesday.)

5) O Pedro ___ cansado depois da aula. (Pedro is tired after class.)

6) Lisboa ___ em Portugal. (Lisbon is in Portugal.)

7) O copo ___ em cima da mesa. (The glass is on the table.)

8) A Ana ___ médica. (Ana is a doctor.)

9) O telemóvel ___ do João. (The phone is João’s.)

10) A comida ___ ótima hoje! (The food is great today!)

    1. Ela é muito simpática.
      She is very nice.
      Use ser: describing a personality trait (permanent).

    2. O concerto é no parque.
      The concert is in the park.
      Use ser: it’s the location of an event.

    3. A Joana está no supermercado.
      Joana is at the supermarket.
      Don't use ser: it’s her current location, not a permanent location (use estar)

    4. Hoje é terça-feira.
      Today is Tuesday.
      Use ser: talking about the day/date, which is fixed.

    5. O Pedro está cansado depois da aula.
      Pedro is tired after class.
      Don't use ser: temporary state, not permanent/defining characteristic (use estar)

    6. Lisboa é em Portugal.
      Lisbon is in Portugal.
      Use ser: it’s a geographical fact or definition.

    7. O copo está em cima da mesa.
      The glass is on the table.
      Don't use ser: describing where something is now, not permanent location (use estar)

    8. A Ana é médica.
      Ana is a doctor.
      Use ser: profession = identity.

    9. O telemóvel é do João.
      The phone is João’s.
      Use ser: describes possession.

    10. A comida está ótima hoje!
      The food is great today!
      Don't use ser: it’s your current opinion/impression, tomorrow the food may be different (use estar).