The Portuguese grammar lesson contains short words and complete examples. Reading them as a single list can hide what each example helps you notice. Here you will compare meaning, look for repeated written material and build a small record of the patterns you can actually see. Use the supplied forms as evidence; a single example is not a complete rule for the language.
Separate the person from the whole sentence
| Person cue | Course form |
|---|---|
| I | eu |
| You | tu |
| He | ele |
| She | ela |
| We | nós |
| They | eles, elas |
The course’s stand-alone form for “I” is eu. Beside it, place eu falo inglês, labelled “I speak English”. Inspect the whole example before looking for a matching piece. A sentence can express information through a changed word or another structure; do not force the English word count onto the Portuguese form.
| Complete sentence cue | Course example |
|---|---|
| I speak English | eu falo inglês |
| You speak French | fala francês/falas francês |
| He speaks German | ele fala alemão |
| She speaks Italian | ela fala italiano |
Now compare eu falo inglês with fala francês/falas francês. The English cues change both the speaker reference and the language being spoken. That means this pair cannot, by itself, prove a rule about changing only one pronoun. Make two notes instead: what each complete line means, and which visible parts stayed the same.
Compare a change in meaning
| Use or meaning | Course example |
|---|---|
| I understand you | eu compreendo-o/eu compreendo-te |
| I don't understand you | eu não o compreendo/eu não te compreendo |
These two lines contrast understanding with not understanding: eu compreendo-o/eu compreendo-te and eu não o compreendo/eu não te compreendo. Copy them one above the other and mark every visible difference, including endings and spaces. Learn the negative example as a complete expression. This pair shows how these particular lines differ; it does not establish how to negate every verb.
Keep possession examples together
| Possession cue | Course form |
|---|---|
| My | meu |
| Your | teu/seu |
| His | seu (dele) |
| Her | sua (dela) |
Place meu (“My”) beside esta é minha casa (“This is my house”). Check whether the stand-alone form is visibly present in the complete example. Record what you observe without assuming the same form fits every object. Keep the entire house example on the reverse of a card, with its meaning on the front.
Turn observation into practice
Find the complete example that says you do not understand the other person.
Reveal the answer
eu não o compreendo/eu não te compreendo
What English person cue goes with nós?
Reveal the answer
We. Now check the whole printed entry again, including any alternatives.
End by writing a three-column notebook entry: the complete example, its meaning, and one question it leaves unanswered. For instance, you might need an example with a different person or object. This keeps a useful observation separate from a rule you have not yet checked. Revisit the original lesson to confirm spelling before adding another card.