Conjunctions (conjunções) are the invisible scaffolding of Portuguese. They are the small words — e, mas, se, porque, embora — that let you glue ideas into compound and complex sentences. Learn them well and your Portuguese will sound fluent and cohesive; skip over them and you will be stuck producing short, choppy sentences that feel like a list of stand-alone utterances.
This page is a navigator: it introduces the full system and then points you to dedicated pages for each category. You do not need to memorise everything here — what matters now is the map: knowing what kinds of conjunctions exist, what they do, and which verb forms they demand.
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction joins two linguistic units — usually clauses, sometimes phrases — into a single sentence. Portuguese, like English, distinguishes two big groups: coordinating conjunctions join units of equal weight, and subordinating conjunctions attach a dependent clause to a main one.
Estudei muito e passei no exame.
I studied a lot and I passed the exam. (coordination — two independent facts)
Passei no exame porque estudei muito.
I passed the exam because I studied a lot. (subordination — the 'because' clause depends on the main one)
The difference matters because subordinating conjunctions often trigger specific verb forms. Embora demands the subjunctive; quando with future reference takes the future subjunctive; se pairs with particular tense combinations. Coordinating conjunctions leave the verb alone.
Coordinating conjunctions (conjunções coordenativas)
Coordinating conjunctions connect clauses that could each stand alone. Portuguese grammar traditionally splits them into five types:
| Type | Function | Main conjunctions |
|---|---|---|
| Copulative (additive) | adding information | e, nem, também |
| Adversative | contrast | mas, porém, contudo, todavia, no entanto |
| Alternative | choice | ou, ou...ou, ora...ora, quer...quer |
| Conclusive | drawing a conclusion | logo, portanto, pois (post-posed), por isso |
| Explanative | giving the reason | pois (pre-posed), porque, que |
Quero ir à praia, mas está a chover.
I want to go to the beach, but it's raining. (adversative)
O comboio está atrasado; portanto, vamos apanhar o próximo.
The train is delayed; therefore, we'll catch the next one. (conclusive)
Fica em casa, pois está a nevar.
Stay home, for it's snowing. (explanative — note *pois* here introduces the reason)
See the dedicated pages on coordinating (for e, ou, nem) and adversative conjunctions for full coverage.
Subordinating conjunctions (conjunções subordinativas)
Subordinating conjunctions attach a clause that depends on the main one. Portuguese grammarians slice these into eight semantic types, plus a ninth — the integrante — that simply introduces a noun clause.
| Type | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Causal | cause, reason | porque, pois, já que, uma vez que, visto que, dado que, como |
| Conditional | conditions | se, caso, desde que, contanto que, a não ser que, salvo se |
| Concessive | despite something | embora, ainda que, mesmo que, apesar de que, conquanto, posto que |
| Final (purpose) | intention | para que, a fim de que, de modo que (intention) |
| Temporal | time | quando, enquanto, assim que, logo que, depois que, antes que, desde que |
| Consecutive | result | tão/tanto...que, de tal modo que, de forma que (result) |
| Comparative | comparison | como, assim como, (tal) como, do que, mais...do que |
| Proportional | gradual change | à medida que, consoante, à proporção que |
| Integrante | introducing a noun clause | que (statements), se (indirect questions) |
Embora estivesse cansado, foi trabalhar.
Even though he was tired, he went to work. (concessive — note subjunctive *estivesse*)
Avisa-me assim que chegares.
Let me know as soon as you arrive. (temporal with future subjunctive *chegares*)
Saí cedo para que chegasse a horas.
I left early so that I'd arrive on time. (final — subjunctive)
Falou tão alto que toda a gente ouviu.
He spoke so loudly that everyone heard. (consecutive)
À medida que o tempo passa, vai ficando mais fácil.
As time goes by, it gets easier. (proportional)
Disse-me que vinha cá jantar.
He told me (that) he was coming to dinner. (integrante — *que* introduces the reported content)
Não sei se ele vem.
I don't know if he's coming. (integrante — *se* introduces an indirect yes/no question)
Conjunction locutions (locuções conjuncionais)
Portuguese builds many of its most expressive conjunctions out of multiple words — a locução conjuncional is a fixed multi-word phrase that functions as a single conjunction. These often signal a more formal register.
| Locution | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| uma vez que | causal | since, given that |
| dado que | causal | given that |
| visto que | causal | seeing that |
| assim que | temporal | as soon as |
| logo que | temporal | as soon as |
| ao passo que | adversative/proportional | whereas, while |
| à medida que | proportional | as (gradually) |
| apesar de que | concessive | despite (the fact that) |
| mesmo que | concessive | even if |
| a não ser que | conditional | unless |
| desde que | conditional/temporal | provided that / since (time) |
| a fim de que | final | in order that |
| de modo que | final/consecutive | so that / with the result that |
Uma vez que o voo foi cancelado, tivemos de apanhar o autocarro.
Since the flight was cancelled, we had to take the bus.
Os filhos cresciam ao passo que os pais envelheciam.
The children were growing up while the parents were aging.
Notice how a locution like ao passo que can carry two flavours: a contrast ("whereas the parents, by contrast, were aging") and a proportional meaning ("as the children grew, so the parents aged"). Context selects the reading.
Conjunctions and mood
A defining feature of Portuguese — and one of its main challenges for English speakers — is that certain subordinating conjunctions force a particular verb mood. Memorising these triggers is more efficient than trying to reason from meaning.
| Conjunction | Mood required | Why |
|---|---|---|
| embora, ainda que, mesmo que | subjunctive (always) | concession implies non-factual framing |
| para que, a fim de que | subjunctive (always) | purpose is yet unrealised |
| antes que | subjunctive (always) | action not yet happened |
| a não ser que, a menos que, salvo se | subjunctive (always) | unless-clauses are hypothetical |
| caso, contanto que, desde que (condition) | subjunctive (always) | conditional framing |
| quando, logo que, assim que (future) | future subjunctive | future time reference with se/quando pattern |
| porque, já que, uma vez que, visto que | indicative | cause is treated as a fact |
| mas, e, ou, porém, contudo | indicative | coordinating — no mood shift |
| se (real condition) | indicative or future subjunctive | see conditional page |
Embora chova muito, vou sair.
Even though it's raining a lot, I'm going out. (subjunctive *chova* after *embora*)
Porque chove muito, não vou sair.
Because it's raining a lot, I'm not going out. (indicative *chove* after *porque*)
The contrast is neat: embora and porque can both introduce a clause about rain, but embora demands the subjunctive because concession frames the fact as secondary, while porque keeps the indicative because it asserts the fact as the cause.
Punctuation with conjunctions
Portuguese punctuation around conjunctions largely follows logical grouping, with a few conventions worth noting:
- No comma before e, ou, nem in a two-item list: pão e manteiga, café ou chá. A comma appears when the list has more than two items and especially when subjects differ: O João saiu, e a Maria ficou em casa.
- Comma before mas, porém, contudo, todavia: Queria ir, mas estava cansado. Formal adversatives (porém, contudo, todavia) are usually set off by commas on both sides when mid-clause: A ideia, porém, não convenceu ninguém.
- Subordinate clause first → comma after it: Se chover, não vamos. / Quando chegares, liga-me. A subordinate clause placed after the main clause usually does not take a comma: Não vamos se chover.
- Conjunction locutions are typically followed by a comma only when the clause they introduce comes first: Uma vez que está a chover, fiquemos em casa.
Embora esteja cansado, vou ao cinema contigo.
Although I'm tired, I'll go to the cinema with you. (comma after the fronted subordinate clause)
Vou ao cinema contigo embora esteja cansado.
I'll go to the cinema with you although I'm tired. (no comma when the subordinate clause follows)
How this corner of grammar fits together
Every dedicated page in this group does three things:
- Lists the conjunctions in the category, ordered by frequency and register.
- Shows the verb forms each one demands.
- Compares them — because Portuguese offers four or five ways to say "because" or "although," and the difference is register and nuance, not meaning.
Start with coordinating if you are A1, then work through adversative, causal, conditional, and temporal. The concessive, final, and consecutive pages are B1 material and rely on a solid grasp of the subjunctive.
Common mistakes
❌ Eu quero que tu vens comigo.
Wrong — *que* as *integrante* conjunction after *querer* triggers the subjunctive.
✅ Eu quero que tu venhas comigo.
I want you to come with me.
❌ Quando chegares a casa liga-me.
Missing comma — a fronted subordinate clause needs a comma.
✅ Quando chegares a casa, liga-me.
When you get home, call me.
❌ Embora ele está doente, veio trabalhar.
Wrong mood — *embora* always takes the subjunctive.
✅ Embora ele esteja doente, veio trabalhar.
Although he is sick, he came to work.
❌ Comprei pão, e manteiga, e leite.
Over-punctuation — no comma before *e* between only two or three parallel items.
✅ Comprei pão, manteiga e leite.
I bought bread, butter and milk.
❌ Não sei que ele vem.
Wrong *que/se* — an indirect yes/no question uses *se*.
✅ Não sei se ele vem.
I don't know if he's coming.
Key takeaways
- Portuguese distinguishes coordinating (equal-weight) and subordinating (dependent-clause) conjunctions; subordinating ones often trigger the subjunctive.
- Learn conjunctions in families: causal, conditional, concessive, temporal, final, consecutive, comparative, proportional.
- Many of the most useful conjunctions are locutions (uma vez que, a não ser que, à medida que), which live in the middle register.
- The two integrante conjunctions que (statements) and se (yes/no questions) are small but structurally central.
- Mood selection after a conjunction is a lexical fact to memorise, not a meaning to reason out — some conjunctions are hard-wired for the subjunctive.
Related Topics
- Coordinating Conjunctions (E, Ou, Mas, Nem)A1 — Joining independent clauses of equal weight — the four workhorses *e*, *ou*, *mas*, and *nem*, plus the semi-coordinators *também* and *bem como*.
- Adversative Conjunctions (Mas, Porém, Contudo, Todavia)A2 — Expressing contrast and opposition in Portuguese — from the everyday *mas* to the formal *porém*, *contudo*, *todavia*, and *não obstante*.
- Causal Conjunctions (Porque, Pois, Já que, Visto que)A2 — Expressing cause and reason — from the everyday *porque* to the formal *uma vez que*, *visto que*, and *dado que*, plus the noun-phrase expressions *devido a* and *em virtude de*.
- Conditional Conjunctions (Se, Caso, Desde que, Contanto que)A2 — Expressing conditions — the four *se* patterns that English speakers must master, plus *caso*, *desde que*, *a não ser que*, and the full family of unless-clauses.
- Concessive Conjunctions (Embora, Ainda que, Mesmo que)B1 — Expressing concession and unexpected outcomes — *embora*, *ainda que*, *mesmo que*, *se bem que*, and the prepositional alternative *apesar de*, all with the subjunctive mood logic explained.
- Temporal Conjunctions (Quando, Logo que, Assim que, Enquanto)B1 — Expressing time relationships between events — and the signature PT-PT feature of the future subjunctive after *quando*, *logo que*, *assim que*, and *enquanto não*.