Collocations in Portuguese: which verb goes with which noun
Here a sentence can be grammatically right and still wrong. It breaks no rule — nobody says it, that is all. Which verb goes with which noun is not explained by any rule. It is a habit of the language, and habits are learnt in pairs.
A handful of verbs carry almost all of it. Where the obvious choice is a different verb, it is in the third column — those are the places where it goes wrong.
fazer
Things that get done or made: the bed, the shopping, a trip — and the weather. English spreads these over «make», «do», «ask», «go on» and «be».
| Portuguese | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| fazer uma pergunta | ask a question | tempting: pedir |
| fazer as compras | do the shopping | |
| fazer a cama | make the bed | |
| fazer o jantar | make dinner, cook dinner | |
| fazer anos | have one’s birthday | tempting: ter |
| fazer frio | be cold (weather) | tempting: ser |
| fazer uma viagem | go on a trip, take a trip | tempting: tomar |
| fazer exercício | exercise, take exercise | |
| fazer sentido | make sense | |
| fazer de conta | pretend, make believe | tempting: pretender |
| fazer falta | be missed, be needed | tempting: perder |
| fazer a barba | shave | |
| fazer as pazes | make up (after a quarrel), make peace |
Posso fazer uma pergunta?May I ask a question?
Faço as compras ao sábado.I do the shopping on Saturdays.
Faço a cama todas as manhãs.I make my bed every morning.
ter
Where English says «be»: hungry, cold, afraid, sleepy, in a hurry, twenty years old. Estar, the other «be», works here only with com after it: estar com fome.
| Portuguese | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| ter fome | be hungry | tempting: estar |
| ter sede | be thirsty | tempting: estar |
| ter frio | be cold, feel cold (of a person) | tempting: estar |
| ter calor | be hot, feel hot (of a person) | tempting: estar |
| ter medo | be afraid | tempting: estar |
| ter razão | be right | |
| ter sono | be sleepy | tempting: estar |
| ter vinte anos | be twenty (years old) | tempting: ser |
| ter pressa | be in a hurry | tempting: estar |
| ter saudades | miss, long for (someone or somewhere) | tempting: perder |
| ter sorte | be lucky | tempting: ser |
| ter lugar | take place | tempting: tomar |
As crianças têm fome.The children are hungry.
Tenho sede depois da caminhada.I’m thirsty after the walk.
Tenho frio nas mãos.My hands are cold.
dar
Things that are given — including a walk, and a window that looks onto the street. Giving birth is the one English shares.
| Portuguese | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| dar uma volta | go for a walk, go for a spin | tempting: tomar |
| dar os parabéns | congratulate; wish someone a happy birthday | |
| dar uma resposta | give an answer | |
| dar um conselho | give (a piece of) advice | |
| dar para | be enough; be possible | tempting: ser |
| dar jeito | suit, be convenient | |
| dar à luz | give birth | |
| dar de comer | feed | |
| dar razão | agree that someone is right; rule in someone’s favour | |
| dar para a rua | look out onto the street (of a window) | tempting: olhar |
Vamos dar uma volta depois do jantar.Let’s go for a walk after dinner.
Dei-lhe os parabéns pelo trabalho.I congratulated him on his work.
Nunca deu uma resposta clara.He never gave a clear answer.
tomar
Things that are taken: a tablet, notes, a decision — and the coffee, breakfast and shower that English «has».
| Portuguese | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| tomar um café | have a coffee | tempting: ter |
| tomar o pequeno-almoço | have breakfast | tempting: ter |
| tomar banho | have a shower, have a bath | tempting: ter |
| tomar conta de | look after, take care of | |
| tomar uma decisão | make a decision | tempting: fazer |
| tomar notas | take notes | |
| tomar um comprimido | take a tablet | |
| tomar cuidado | be careful, mind |
Vamos tomar um café?Shall we go for a coffee?
Tomo o pequeno-almoço às sete.I have breakfast at seven.
Tomo banho de manhã.I have a shower in the morning.
ficar
Stay, become, be located — the most versatile verb in the language. With an adjective it is the everyday word for «get»: get ill, get dark.
| Portuguese | English | Easy to get wrong |
|---|---|---|
| ficar em casa | stay at home | |
| ficar perto | be nearby (of a place) | |
| ficar doente | fall ill, get ill | tempting: tornar-se |
| ficar contente | be pleased (at something) | |
| ficar bem | suit, look good on | tempting: parecer |
| ficar com | keep | tempting: manter |
| ficar sem | run out of | |
| ficar escuro | get dark | |
| ficar para trás | fall behind, be left behind | |
| ficar à espera | wait (for a while) |
Hoje fico em casa.I’m staying at home today.
A estação fica perto daqui.The station is near here.
Fiquei doente no fim de semana.I fell ill at the weekend.