Once you can say one thing, you need to add another — pile on a second point, reinforce an argument, throw in an extra detail. Brazilian Portuguese has a rich set of additive connectors, from the everyday também (also) to the essay-grade além disso (moreover) and the emphatic correlative não só... mas também (not only... but also). This page sorts them by register and strength, and flags a notorious false friend: inclusive, which in Portuguese means "even / including," not English "inclusive."
The basic additives
The core additive words appear constantly in both speech and writing:
| Marker | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| e | and | all (overused in writing = childish) |
| também | also, too | all |
| ainda | still, yet, furthermore | all |
| além disso | moreover, besides | neutral → written |
| ademais | furthermore | formal / written |
| outrossim | likewise, furthermore | very formal / legal |
| inclusive | even, including | all (false friend!) |
O apartamento é grande e também tem uma vista linda.
The apartment is big and also has a beautiful view.
Ele fala inglês e ainda domina o espanhol.
He speaks English and on top of that has a command of Spanish.
Note também normally goes after the verb or at the end ("eu também acho"), and ainda here means "furthermore / on top of that," a sense distinct from its temporal "still / yet."
"além disso": the go-to written additive
The most useful upgrade from plain e is além disso ("besides this / moreover"). It opens a new sentence to add a supporting point and is the bread-and-butter connector of structured writing.
O projeto é caro. Além disso, vai atrasar o cronograma.
The project is expensive. Moreover, it'll delay the schedule.
Ela é uma ótima profissional. Além de competente, é muito dedicada.
She's a great professional. Besides being competent, she's very dedicated.
The variant além de + noun/infinitive ("besides being..., in addition to...") lets you fold the addition into a single sentence. Ademais means the same as além disso but is markedly more formal — reserve it for essays and speeches.
"não só... mas também": the correlative
To add two linked points with emphasis — "not only X but also Y" — Portuguese uses the correlative não só... mas também (or não apenas... mas também). Both halves should be grammatically parallel.
Ela não só canta, mas também compõe as próprias músicas.
She not only sings but also composes her own songs.
O curso é bom não apenas para iniciantes, mas também para avançados.
The course is good not only for beginners but also for advanced learners.
Keep the two slots parallel: verb-with-verb, noun-with-noun. "Não só canta, mas também a composição" would break the parallelism (see Parallel Structure). A common shorter variant is não só... como também.
Reinforcing and restating additives
To add a point that echoes or parallels the previous one, use igualmente (likewise), da mesma forma / do mesmo modo (in the same way), or bem como (as well as). These are neutral-to-formal.
Os pais devem participar; da mesma forma, os professores precisam se envolver.
Parents should take part; likewise, teachers need to get involved.
O relatório analisa os custos bem como os benefícios do projeto.
The report analyzes the costs as well as the benefits of the project.
Vale acrescentar / vale (a pena) ressaltar ("it's worth adding / pointing out") is a useful written phrase to introduce an extra point with a touch of emphasis.
Vale acrescentar que os preços ainda podem subir.
It's worth adding that prices may still rise.
The false friend: "inclusive"
Here is the trap. Portuguese inclusive does not mean English "inclusive" (welcoming/diverse). It means "even" or "including" — it adds an item you might not have expected.
Todo mundo foi à festa, inclusive eu.
Everyone went to the party, even me / including me.
Ele come de tudo, inclusive comida apimentada.
He eats everything, including spicy food.
A loja abre todos os dias, inclusive aos domingos.
The store is open every day, including Sundays.
So "inclusive eu fui" = "even I went," not "an inclusive I went." This is one of the most common false friends for English speakers. To express English "inclusive" in the diversity sense, Portuguese uses inclusivo/inclusiva (with an -o/-a ending): "uma escola inclusiva" (an inclusive school). The adverb inclusive and the adjective inclusivo are different words — don't mix them.
Common Mistakes
❌ Nossa empresa é inclusive.
Wrong — to mean 'welcoming/diverse' you need the adjective 'inclusiva'.
✅ Nossa empresa é inclusiva.
Our company is inclusive.
❌ Todos vieram, inclusivo o chefe.
Wrong — the adverb meaning 'even/including' is 'inclusive', invariable.
✅ Todos vieram, inclusive o chefe.
Everyone came, even the boss.
❌ É caro. E vai atrasar. E precisa de aprovação.
Monotone — repeated 'e' sounds childish in writing.
✅ É caro. Além disso, vai atrasar e ainda precisa de aprovação.
It's expensive. Moreover, it'll be delayed and still needs approval.
❌ Ela não só canta mas também a composição é dela.
Broken parallelism — both halves of 'não só... mas também' must match grammatically.
✅ Ela não só canta, mas também compõe.
She not only sings but also composes.
❌ Além disso de ser caro, vai atrasar.
Mixed constructions — it's either 'além disso, ...' or 'além de ser caro, ...'.
✅ Além de ser caro, vai atrasar.
Besides being expensive, it'll be delayed.
The two patterns are distinct: além disso (standalone, opens a sentence) vs. além de + noun/infinitive (folds the addition in). Don't blend them.
Key Takeaways
- Everyday additives: também (also), ainda (furthermore/on top of that); written upgrade: além disso (moreover), formal ademais.
- In writing, avoid repeating e — vary your additive connectors; chains of "e" sound childish.
- não só... mas também adds two emphasized, parallel points.
- além de + noun/infinitive folds an addition into one sentence; além disso opens a new one.
- False friend alert: inclusive = "even / including" (adverb, invariable); the diversity sense is the adjective inclusivo/inclusiva.
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