Singular Subject Pronouns
In Portuguese, subject pronouns tell us who is performing the action. Here are the basic singular pronouns:
- eu (I)
- tu (you, informal)
- ele (he)
- ela (she)
The verb ser (to be) changes depending on the pronoun. You have already seen the forms for eu and tu. For ele and ela, use é:
| Pronoun | Verb form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| eu | sou | I am |
| tu | és | you are |
| ele / ela | é | he / she is |
Negation: Using "não"
To make a negative statement, simply place the word não (not / no) directly before the verb.
| I am not tall. | Eu não sou alto. |
| You are not Portuguese. | Tu não és português. |
| He is the teacher. | Ele é o professor. |
| She is the teacher and is not tall. | Ela é a professora e não é alta. |
Formal Ways to Say "You"
When speaking to someone formally in Portugal, you do not use tu. Instead, you use formal pronouns. Because these act as titles or third-party references, they all take the third-person verb form (é).
- você (you) — A semi-formal "you".
- o senhor (you, formal masculine) — Literally "the gentleman", used for men you do not know well or elders.
- a senhora (you, formal feminine) — Literally "the lady", used for women in formal contexts.
| You are not the teacher. | Você não é a professora. |
| You are Portuguese and he is not tall. | O senhor é português e ele não é alto. |
| You are not tall. | A senhora não é alta. |
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