importar (a alguém)

Importar Construction

Level 2

The verb importar (to matter) focuses on the thing being important, while the person affected is the indirect object (me, lhe, nos, etc.).

How It Works

The importar construction is essential for expressing significance and making polite requests.

1. Sentence Structure (To Matter):
The thing that matters is the grammatical subject. The person it matters to is the indirect object.
Example: Isso não me importa. (That doesn't matter to me).

2. Pronoun Usage:
The standard construction uses indirect object pronouns. In Brazil, it is also common to use para + person (e.g., Isso não importa para mim).

3. Making Requests (Do you mind?):
To ask if someone minds doing something, use the reflexive form importar-se:

  • With Infinitives: Use de + infinitive. Você se importa de esperar? (Do you mind waiting?)
  • Regional Variation: In Brazil, it is very common to use se + a clause: Você se importa se eu abrir a porta? (Do you mind if I open the door?)

4. Distinction from 'Importar-se':
Be careful with the prepositions used with the reflexive importar-se (to care/to mind):
• Use com for people or things: Eu me importo com você. (I care about you).
• Use de before an action (infinitive): Não me importo de ajudar. (I don't mind helping).

5. Negative Form and Subjunctive:
The phrase Não importa (It doesn't matter) is frequent. When followed by a clause starting with que, it triggers the subjunctive mood (e.g., Não importa que ele venha).

6. Formal Meaning:
In formal or legal contexts, importar em means "to amount to" or "to total" (e.g., A dívida importa em mil reais).

Examples (5)

  1. Isso não me importa nem um pouco.

    That doesn't matter to me one bit.

    Word by Word: That not to-me matters nor a little.

    Here, 'isso' (that) is the subject, and 'me' is the indirect object pronoun.

  2. Você se importa de abrir a janela?

    Do you mind opening the window?

    Word by Word: You yourself mind of to-open the window?

    In requests, we use the reflexive form 'importar-se' followed by 'de' and an infinitive.

  3. Não me importam os detalhes, apenas o resultado.

    The details don't matter to me, only the result.

    Word by Word: Not to-me matter the details, only the result.

    Notice the verb is plural ('importam') because the subject 'os detalhes' is plural.

  4. A conta importa em cem euros.

    The bill amounts to one hundred euros.

    Word by Word: The bill amounts in hundred euros.

    In formal or financial contexts, 'importar em' means 'to amount to' or 'to total'.

  5. Não se importe com o que eles dizem.

    Don't worry about what they say.

    Word by Word: Not yourself mind with the what they say.

    When 'importar-se' is used with a noun or pronoun, it uses the preposition 'com'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using direct object pronouns (o/a) instead of indirect (lhe).

    Isso não o importa.
    Isso não lhe importa.

    Importar requires an indirect object because the thing matters 'to' someone.

  • Failing to pluralize the verb when the subject is plural.

    Não me importa os seus motivos.
    Não me importam os seus motivos.

    Since 'os seus motivos' is the subject, the verb must agree with it in the plural.

  • Confusing 'importar' (to matter) with 'importar-se' (to care).

    Eu importo você.
    Eu me importo com você.

    If you want to say 'I care about you', you must use the reflexive form 'importar-se' with the preposition 'com'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

importar (a alguém)Level 2Importar Construction

Learn This First

To use the 'importar' construction, you need to understand how to conjugate regular -ar verbs and how to use indirect object pronouns or prepositional phrases to specify who is affected by the action.

Words in This Pattern

importar