Expressing obligation
To say that you "have to" or "must" do something, use the verb ter (to have) followed by the preposition de and an infinitive verb.
First, let's review the present tense conjugation of the irregular verb ter:
| Pronoun | Ter (Present) |
|---|---|
| Eu | tenho |
| Tu | tens |
| Ele / Ela / Você | tem |
| Nós | temos |
| Eles / Elas / Vocês | têm |
Notice that the plural form têm takes a circumflex accent to distinguish it from the singular tem.
Chores and daily routines
Use ter de to talk about daily tasks and household chores.
| I have to wake up early tomorrow. | Eu tenho de acordar cedo amanhã. |
| We have to tidy and clean the house. | Temos de arrumar e limpar a casa. |
| They have to cook the fish for dinner. | Eles têm de cozinhar o peixe para o jantar. |
Work and schedules
This structure is equally useful for discussing work responsibilities, meetings, and deadlines.
| I have to prepare the meeting tomorrow. | Tenho de preparar a reunião amanhã. |
| You have to do the report for the boss. | Tens de fazer o relatório para o chefe. |
| We have to send the passport to the client. | Temos de enviar o passaporte ao cliente. |
Negating an obligation
To express that someone does not have to do something, place não immediately before the conjugated form of ter.
| The client doesn't have to send the message now. | O cliente não tem de enviar a mensagem agora. |
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