falas/comes/abres

Tu Verb Forms

Level 2

In Portuguese, the pronoun tu (you) uses specific verb endings: -as for -AR verbs and -es for -ER/-IR verbs. It is primarily used for informal and intimate situations.

How It Works

The tu conjugation is the second-person singular in Portuguese. While você is common, tu is essential for building fluency in informal communication.

1. Present Tense Patterns:

  • -AR: -as (falar → falas)
  • -ER/-IR: -es (comer → comes, abrir → abres)

2. Past Tense (Pretérito Perfeito):
To talk about completed actions, use these endings:

  • -AR: -aste (falar → falaste)
  • -ER: -este (comer → comeste)
  • -IR: -iste (abrir → abriste)

3. Object Pronouns and Imperatives:
The pronoun te is the object form of tu (e.g., 'Eu te amo'). In Brazil, the imperative (commands) often uses the tu form (e.g., 'Fala!') even in regions where você is the dominant subject pronoun.

4. Regional Usage and Pronunciation:
In Portugal, tu is standard for informal use. The final -s is pronounced as a 'sh' [ʃ] sound. In Brazil, usage is regional. In the South (Rio Grande do Sul), many speakers use tu with the correct verb endings. In Rio de Janeiro, speakers often use tu with third-person verbs (e.g., 'Tu vai'), and like in Portugal, they pronounce the final -s as 'sh' [ʃ].

Examples (6)

  1. Tu falas português muito bem!

    You speak Portuguese very well!

    Word by Word: You speak Portuguese very well!

    A standard example using an -AR verb (falar) with the -as ending in the present tense.

  2. Tu comeste a maçã?

    Did you eat the apple?

    Word by Word: You ate the apple?

    Demonstrates the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) ending -este for -ER verbs.

  3. Eu te vi ontem no parque.

    I saw you yesterday at the park.

    Shows the object pronoun te which corresponds to 'tu', very common in Brazil.

  4. Tu abres a janela, por favor?

    Will you open the window, please?

    Word by Word: You open the window, for favor?

    An example of an -IR verb (abrir) taking the -es ending in the present tense.

  5. Tu falaste com ele?

    Did you speak with him?

    Word by Word: You spoke with him?

    Shows the past tense ending -aste for -AR verbs.

  6. Fala comigo!

    Talk to me!

    Word by Word: Talk with-me!

    The imperative form for 'tu' is often used in Brazil even when people use 'você' in other contexts.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing 'tu' with third-person possessives like 'seu'.

    Tu viste o seu pai?
    Tu viste o teu pai?

    When using 'tu', you must use the corresponding possessive teu/tua. Mixing 'tu' with 'seu' (which belongs to 'você') is a common learner error.

  • Using 'tu' in formal situations in Portugal.

    Tu queres um café? (to a waiter)
    O senhor quer um café?

    In Portugal, 'tu' is strictly for friends and family. For service staff or elders, use o senhor/a senhora.

  • Using the wrong past tense ending for 'tu'.

    Tu falou com ela?
    Tu falaste com ela?

    In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), 'tu' uses specific endings like -aste, -este, or -iste. Using the third-person 'falou' with 'tu' is considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing.

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falas/comes/abresLevel 2Tu Verb Forms

Learn This First

To learn the 'tu' verb forms, a learner must first identify 'tu' as the informal second-person singular pronoun and understand how it differs from the formal 'você'. Additionally, familiarity with the standard present tense conjugation paradigms for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs is required to recognize the specific '-as' and '-es' endings.

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Words in This Pattern

-as-es