Some second conjugation verbs are indeed very special because, just like saber and conhecer, they include a modification in the first person singular, eu (I) form. Check out these irregular verbs, and try to find some consistency in them.

ouvir (to hear)

• eu ouço

• você/ele/ela ouve

• nós ouvimos

• vocês/eles/elas ouvem

pedir (to ask for)

• eu peço

• você/ele/ela pede

• nós pedimos

• vocês/eles/elas pedem

perder (to lose)

• eu perco

• você/ele/ela perde

• nós perdemos

• vocês/eles/elas perdem

Notice that the forms are very similar, especially the third person singular forms, such as pede (he asks for) and perde (he loses). This is particularly true if the final syllable /r/ is not clearly pronounced in speech.

The next set of verbs are from the first, second, and third conjugations.

dar (to give)

• eu dou

• você/ele/ela dá

• nós damos

• vocês/eles/elas dão

sair (to leave)

• eu saio

• você/ele/ela sai

• nós saímos

• vocês/eles/elas saem

dizer (to say)

• eu digo

• você/ele/ela diz

• nós dizemos

• vocês/eles/elas dizem

trazer (to bring)

• eu trago

• você/ele/ela traz

• nós trazemos

• vocês/eles/elas trazem

pôr (to put, place)

• eu ponho

• você/ele/ela põe

• nós pomos

• vocês/eles/elas põem

In these lists, only the verbs in bold represent some kind of unexpected deviation from the regular conjugation. But notice that even with their irregularities, these verbs have some kind of system, be it the insertion of a — g — (digo, trago) or the leaving out of a — e — making the form ending in a — z (diz, traz).

As you learn these verbs, try to use them in real-life situations, such as the ones included in the following exercises.

Exercise: Translate

Translate the following sentences to Portuguese. Check your answers in Appendix C.

• She loses the keys frequently.

  _____________________________________________________________________________

• Mário always asks for guaraná at the restaurant.

  _____________________________________________________________________________

• Sabrina never tells the truth.

  _____________________________________________________________________________

• We bring the books to school.

  _____________________________________________________________________________

• Mário and Maria put the cups on the table.

  _____________________________________________________________________________

Exercise: Make a Match

Match the sentences on the left with the verbs that fit in the blanks. Check your answers in Appendix C.

• Eu_________________as chaves do carro.   (a) saio

• Eu_________________música muito alto.   (b) digo

• Eu_________________os livros para a aula.   (c) ponho

• Eu_________________a verdade à mamãe.  (d) ouço

• Eu_________________o lápis na mesa.    (e) trago

• Eu_________________de casa muito cedo.   (f) perco