Temos de fazer um desvio para evitar o trânsito.

We have to take a detour to avoid the traffic.

Breakdown of Temos de fazer um desvio para evitar o trânsito.

• um: a
• para: to
• ter de: to have to
• evitar: to avoid

Questions & Answers about Temos de fazer um desvio para evitar o trânsito.

What does temos mean here?

Temos is the we form of the verb ter in the present tense.

• eu tenho = I have
• tu tens = you have
• ele/ela tem = he/she has
• nós temos = we have

In this sentence, though, temos is part of the expression ter de + infinitive, which means to have to / to need to.

So temos de fazer means we have to do or we need to do.

Why is there a de after temos?

Because Portuguese uses the structure ter de + infinitive to express obligation or necessity.

So:

• temos de fazer = we have to do
• tenho de sair = I have to leave
• ela tem de estudar = she has to study

You cannot normally drop the de here.
Temos fazer would be incorrect.

Can I also say temos que fazer instead of temos de fazer?