Introduction
In Portuguese, pluralization is an essential part of grammar, affecting both nouns and adjectives. Understanding the basic rules will help you correctly express quantity and agreement in sentences.
Basic Rules
Nouns
- In Portuguese, nouns change form when moving from singular to plural.
- The most common way to form the plural is by adding "-s" to the singular noun.
Adjectives
- Adjectives in Portuguese must agree in number with the nouns they modify.
- Like nouns, adjectives typically take an "-s" in the plural form.
Pluralization Examples
Nouns
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| carro | carros | car / cars |
| casa | casas | house / houses |
| livro | livros | book / books |
| ponte | pontes | bridge / bridges |
| amigo | amigos | friend / friends |
Adjectives
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| pequeno | pequenos | small |
| grande | grandes | big |
| vermelho | vermelhos | red |
| verde | verdes | green |
| bonito | bonitos | beautiful / handsome |
Common Patterns
Nouns Ending in "-l"
- Nouns ending in "-l" usually change to "-is" in the plural.
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| animal | animais | animal / animals |
| papel | papéis | paper / papers |
Nouns Ending in "-r" or "-z"
- Nouns ending in "-r" or "-z" generally add "-es" to form the plural.
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| computador | computadores | computer / computers |
| atriz | atrizes | actress / actresses |
Adjectives Ending in "-l"
- Adjectives ending in "-l" follow a similar rule to nouns, changing to "-is" in the plural.
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| fácil | fáceis | easy |
| legal | legais | cool / legal |
Special Cases
Nouns with Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow standard patterns.
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| mão | mãos | hand / hands |
| pão | pães | bread / breads |
Adjectives with Irregular Plurals
While most adjectives follow regular pluralization rules, a few may have irregular forms.
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|
| bom | bons | good |
| ruim | ruins | bad |
Conclusion
Understanding pluralization in Portuguese is crucial for ensuring grammatical agreement between nouns and adjectives. By following these basic rules and recognizing common patterns, you'll be able to form correct plural structures in your sentences.
