
Hello everyone! How are you today? What do you need to do to be fluent in Portuguese? Do you think you need to study grammar or practice speaking? What is your personal need in Portuguese? In our Dica today, we’ll study the verb to Need in Portuguese! Let’s start learning the uses of the verb and then study the conjugations of the two forms for this meaning with all verb endings highlighted. Take a look!
Meanings of the verb to need in Portuguese
First you need to know thatΒ in Portuguese we can use a few different structures to expressΒ the idea of the verbΒ toΒ need.Β The verbs are:Β precisarΒ (need to),Β precisar deΒ (need),Β andΒ ter queΒ (have to).
PrecisarΒ Β +Β Β verb in the infinitive
PrecisarΒ Β +Β Β deΒ +Β noun/object
TerΒ Β +Β Β queΒ Β +Β Β verb in the infinitive
We use these structures to talk about our needs and obligations; things we need or have to do. For example, you have a class scheduled at 5pm at our school in Copacabana and you’re explaining to a friend that you’re in a rush to arrive at the school on time “Eu tenho que chegar Γ s 5” or “Eu preciso chegar Γ s 5”. And the other form we use to express the need of something such as needing to eat because you’re hungry “Eu preciso comer alguma coisa”. Easy right?
Precisar in Portuguese is a regular verb from the group of verbs which end in -AR. Here you can see this verb conjugation with all endings highlighted to see clearly the changes. Let’s take a look at how we conjugate the verb precisarΒ in Portuguese.
Indicative
Present | Past Simple | Imperfect Past |
Eu preciso | Eu precisei | Eu precisava |
VocΓͺ precisa | VocΓͺ precisou | VocΓͺ precisava |
Ele/ ela precisa | Ele/ ela precisou | Ele/ ela precisava |
NΓ³s precisamos | NΓ³s precisamos | NΓ³s precisΓ‘vamos |
VocΓͺs precisam | VocΓͺs precisaram | VocΓͺs precisavam |
Eles/ elas precisam | Eles/ elas precisaram | Eles/ elas precisavam |
Past pluperfect simple | Past pluperfect composed |
Eu precisara | Eu tinha precisado |
VocΓͺ precisara | VocΓͺ tinha precisado |
Ele/ ela precisara | Ele/ ela tinha precisado |
NΓ³s precisΓ‘ramos | NΓ³s tΓnhamos precisado |
VocΓͺs precisaram | VocΓͺs tinham precisado |
Eles/ elas precisaram | Eles/ elas tinham precisado |
SimpleΒ Future | ImmediateΒ Future | Future of the past |
Eu precisarei | Eu vou precisar | Eu precisaria |
VocΓͺ precisarΓ‘ | VocΓͺ vai precisar | VocΓͺ precisaria |
Ele/ ela precisarΓ‘ | Ele/ ela vai precisar | Ele/ ela precisaria |
NΓ³s precisaremos | NΓ³s vamos precisar | NΓ³s precisarΓamos |
VocΓͺs precisarΓ£o | VocΓͺs vΓ£o precisar | VocΓͺs precisariam |
Eles/ elas precisarΓ£o | Eles/ elas vΓ£o precisar | Eles/ elas precisariam |
Imperative
Affirmative | Negative |
Precise vocΓͺ | NΓ£o precise vocΓͺ |
Precise ele/ ela | NΓ£o precise ele/ ela |
Precisemos nΓ³s | NΓ£o precisemos nΓ³s |
Precisem vocΓͺs | NΓ£o precisem vocΓͺs |
Precisem eles/ elas | NΓ£o precisem eles/ elas |
Subjunctive
Present | Imperfect Past | Future |
Que eu precise | Se eu precisasse | Quando eu precisar |
Que vocΓͺ precise | Se vocΓͺ precisasse | Quando vocΓͺ precisar |
Que ele/ela precise | Se ele/ela precisasse | Quando ele/ela precisar |
Que nΓ³s precisemos | Se nΓ³s precisΓ‘ssemos | Quando nΓ³s precisarmos |
Que vocΓͺs precisem | Se vocΓͺs precisassem | Quando vocΓͺs precisarem |
Que eles/elas precisem | Se eles/elas precisassem | Quando eles precisarem |
Other tenses
Personal infinitive | Gerund | Participle |
Para precisar eu | Precisando | Precisado |
Para precisar vocΓͺ | ||
Para precisar ele/ela | ||
Para precisarmos nΓ³s | ||
Para precisarem vocΓͺs | ||
Para precisarem eles/elas |
Precisar + Verb in Portuguese
Here we have a form that’s a compound verb, this is when we use two different verbs to express an idea. So we use the verb precisar with an verb that is giving a explanation of what it is you need. This second verb is always in the infinitive form. We use this when we want to say that we need to do something.
Examples
Esta semana, eu preciso estudar portuguΓͺs.
This week, I need to study Portuguese.
Eu preciso lerΒ mais as Dicas do dia.
I need to read the Dicas of the day more.
VocΓͺ precisa falarΒ comigo?
Do you need to speak to me?
Elas precisam escutar as mΓΊsicas da Adriana Calcanhotto.
They need to listen to Adriana Calcanhottoβs music.
Precisar de + noun in Portuguese
If we need a thing, rather than an action, we use a noun connected to the verb precisar in Portuguese by the preposition DE and it’s variations. We’ll use the verb precisar with a noun when we need something, like an object. Pay attention to the examples we have below.
Examples
O computador dela quebrou, ela precisa de um novo.
Her computer is broken, she needs a new one.
Ele precisa da tardeΒ para relaxar.
He needs the afternoon to relax.
NΓ³s precisamos do carroΒ novo.
We need the new car.
Eles precisam de um livro de PortuguΓͺs legal para aprender portuguΓͺs em 30 dias.
TheyΒ need a good Portuguese book to learn Portuguese in 30 days.
Have to in Portuguese
However, there are situations where we have an idea of obligation that the verb precisar in Portuguese does not give the correct meaning. For this situations, we use the verb ter que plus a verb in the infinitive form to represent the obligation to do something. Take a look at the conjugation of the verb Ter in the Present Tense then we’ll look at the use of this verb with the meaning of Have to.
Examples
Eu tenho queΒ aprender PortuguΓͺs para me mudar para o Brasil.
I have to learn Portuguese to move to Brasil.
EuΒ tenho queΒ estudarΒ mais.
I have to study more.
Ela tem que viajar na prΓ³xima semana para SΓ£o Paulo.
She has to travel to SΓ£o Paulo nextΒ week.
VocΓͺs tΓͺm que ver o novo filme βVai que dΓ‘ certoβ. Acho que Γ© bem legal.
You have to watch the new movie βVai que dΓ‘ certoβ. I think itβs really cool.
Exercises with Need in Portuguese
Complete the gaps with the correct conjugation of the verb Need in Portuguese:
- Eu ______ acordar cedo para ir Γ aula amanhΓ£. (Simple Future)
- NΓ³s ______ prestar atenΓ§Γ£o na aula. (Simple present)
- Ela ______Β ______ de uma fantasia para o carnaval. (Immediate Future)
- Eles ______ muito quando eram mais jovens. (Imperfect Past)
- VocΓͺs ______Β chegar cedo para conhecer oΒ Cristo Redentor. (Simple Past)
- Eu ______Β ______ dizer que te amo. (Present Continuous)
- Acho que vocΓͺs ______ de um sapato confortΓ‘vel para o passeio. (Future of the Past)
- Se eles ______ de ajuda, eles teriam avisado. (Imperfect Past)
- Talvez eles nΓ£o ______ chegar tΓ£o cedo para aula. (Present Subjunctive)
- NΓ³s _____Β _____ do seu telefone mas agora estΓ‘ tudo resolvido. (Pluperfect Composed)
Now, make a list of things that you will need toΒ orΒ have to do when you arrive in Rio de Janeiro. Let me suggest something to your list: Practice Portuguese with a group of students from our school in a fun RioLIVE! Activity.
That’s it, dear students!
After this Dica you now know how to say what you need in Portuguese. Letβs go to our Facebook and make sentences in Portuguese!
XOXO <3
Β Β Β Β
Click in the links below to see more related Dicas
Estar com em PortuguΓͺs
DifferenΓ§a entre Achar e Pensar
ExpressΓ΅s com o verbo Ter
Verbo Ter em PortuguΓͺs
Exercises with Need in Portuguese: answers
- precisarei
- precisamos
- vai precisar
- precisavam
- precisaram
- estou precisando
- precisariam
- precisassem
- precisem
- tΓnhamos precisado