Expressing Identity: Ser by Fernanda L. Ferreira, Ph.D.
If someone were to ask you about yourself, how would you answer? Look at the following examples and notice how Mário Rodrigues describes himself.
Meu nome é Mário Rodrigues. (My name is Mário Rodrigues.)
Sou médico. (I am a medical doctor.)
Sou simpático, de estatura mediana. (I am friendly, of average height.)
Sou de Campinas. (I am from Campinas.)
You will notice that Mário Rodrigues has indicated his name, his profession, his physical and emotional characteristics, and his place of origin. All of these traits are part of his identity, and are not likely to change. These somewhat permanent characteristics are expressed using the verb ser (to be) in Portuguese.
TRACK 27
The Verb Ser in the Present Tense
Portuguese |
English |
eu sou |
I am |
você é |
you are |
ele/ela é |
he/she/it is |
nós somos |
we are |
vocês são |
you (plural) are |
eles/elas são |
they are |
Remember that there is also the tu form which is used in some parts of Brazil, and is conjugated as tu és for “you are.” Also remember that often Brazilians will use the phrase a gente for the first person plural or “we,” so you would say a gente é for “we are.” If you want to be more formal, use the second person o senhor and a senhora for “you sir/ma'am are…” and conjugate it with the conjugated form é.
