vá/vás/vá/vamos/vão
Subjuntivo De Ir
The verb ir is highly irregular in the present subjunctive (conjuntivo). Instead of using the stem from 'vou', it uses the stem vá-: vá, vás, vá, vamos, vão.
How It Works
The verb ir is a 'suppletive' verb, meaning it pulls its forms from different historical roots. In the present subjunctive, it uses the root vadere.
1. Conjugation:
- Eu vá
- Tu vás
- Você/Ele/Ela vá
- Nós vamos (Note: identical to the indicative)
- Vocês/Eles/Elas vão
2. Common Triggers:
It is almost always preceded by expressions of:
- Desire: Quero que você vá... (I want you to go...)
- Doubt: Duvido que eles vão... (I doubt they are going...)
- Necessity: É preciso que nós vamos... (It is necessary that we go...)
- Conjunctions: Caso ele vá... (In case he goes...)
3. Special Use as an Interjection:
In Portugal, vá is frequently used alone to mean 'Come on' or 'Alright then' (e.g., Vá, despacha-te!).
Examples (4)
- Espero que você vá à festa amanhã.
I hope you go to the party tomorrow.
Word by Word: I hope that you go to the party tomorrow.
The verb 'esperar' (to hope) triggers the subjunctive because it expresses a wish rather than a certainty.
- Caso ele vá ao médico, peça o atestado.
In case he goes to the doctor, ask for the certificate.
Word by Word: In case he goes to the doctor, ask the certificate.
The conjunction 'caso' (in case) always requires the subjunctive because it introduces a hypothetical scenario.
- É importante que nós vamos juntos.
It is important that we go together.
Word by Word: It is important that we go together.
Impersonal expressions like 'é importante que' trigger the subjunctive to express necessity.
- Vá embora agora, por favor!
Go away now, please!
Word by Word: Go away now, for favor!
The subjunctive form 'vá' is used as the formal imperative (command) for 'você'.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative 'vai' after a subjunctive trigger.
Duvido que ele vai hoje.Duvido que ele vá hoje.After verbs of doubt like 'duvidar', you must use the subjunctive 'vá', not the factual indicative 'vai'.
Confusing the present subjunctive with the future subjunctive.
Quando eu vá ao Brasil, visitarei o Rio.Quando eu for ao Brasil, visitarei o Rio.Use 'vá' for current wishes/doubts. Use 'for' (future subjunctive) for events that haven't happened yet but will trigger something else.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the irregular subjunctive forms of 'ir' (vá, vás, etc.), learners first need to be familiar with the verb's basic indicative forms and the general rules for forming the present subjunctive in Portuguese, particularly the use of the 'a' thematic vowel for non-AR verbs.
- vou/vais/vai/vamos/vãoIr Present Tense
Understanding the indicative forms of the irregular verb 'ir' is essential before learning its subjunctive counterparts.
Foundations - seja/sejas/seja/sejamos/sejamSubjuntivo De Ser
Learning other highly irregular subjunctive forms like 'ser' helps the learner recognize the pattern of irregularity in common Portuguese verbs.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- for/fores/for/formos/foremFuturo Do Subjuntivo De Ser/Ir
The future subjunctive of 'ir', often confused with the present subjunctive by learners.
Level 4 - fosse/fosses/fosse/fôssemos/fossemImperfeito Do Subjuntivo De Ser/Ir
The imperfect subjunctive of 'ir', used for past wishes or 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If I went...').
Level 4 - querer que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Desejo
One of the most common sentence structures that triggers the use of 'vá'.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice vá/vás/vá/vamos/vão in Bubblegum
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