The truth is that even for those who speak Portuguese since they were born, certain mistakes are more common than they seem
Have you ever noticed how some words of the Portuguese language always seem to go hand in hand?
They appear together in so many that it is easy to end up confusing the right way to write them.
The truth is that even for those who speak Portuguese since they were born, certain mistakes are more common than they seem.
Maybe you have already slipped into some of them – and that’s fine!
The important thing is to learn in a simple and direct way.
6 words of the Portuguese language that are always together and many write wrong
1. Therefore
This is one of the most commonly used Portuguese words to complete an idea or indicate a consequence. The problem is that a lot of people end up writing wrong when it comes with others, such as “logo” or “so”.
Wrong Example: So you arrive early, that’s fine.
Correct form: As long as you arrive early, that’s fine.
“Therefore” and “as long as” they seem similar, but they do not mean the same thing. And this kind of confusion is common with several words of the Portuguese language.
2. To people
Did you know that “us” and “agent” are two words of the Portuguese language with very different meanings? When we mean “we”, it is right to write separately: agent.
Wrong Example: Agent will leave later.
Correct form: We will leave later.
Already “agent”, together, is used in phrases like police officer or health agent. One letter more or less can change everything!
3. Instead of
This is one of the expressions that generate the most doubts among those who write. And it’s a great example of how Portuguese words may seem simple, but hide traps.
“Instead of” means opposition. Already “instead of” can be used in any replacement.
Correct example:
Instead of climbing, he descended.
Instead of leaving, he stayed at home.
Pay attention to these differences. Small details make a big difference in the correct writing of the words of the Portuguese language.
4. Meeting
One more expression that can cause confusion. “From meeting to” is the opposite of “meeting”, and this kind of detail passes by many people who write on a daily basis.
Wrong Example: The decision was against the group’s desire.
If the intention was to say that the decision agrees with the group’s desire, the correct one would be:
It was to meet the desire of the group.
Mistakes like this are common even among those who are familiar with the words of the Portuguese language. Therefore, attention is always welcome.
5. Just a little
Here we have two similar expressions, but with very different meanings. Once again, the beauty (and the complexity) of the words of the Portuguese language comes into the scene.
“Just” indicates past time. Already “Greast” shows a gradual action.
Example with “just”: He arrived recently.
Example with “little”: The movement was returning to normal and little.
A simple accent or letter changes everything. And this is a striking feature of the words of the Portuguese language: subtlety can completely alter the meaning of the sentence.
6. If not / but
“If not” (two words) is used to indicate a condition. Already “if not” (one word) can mean “otherwise” or even “except.”
Example with “if not”: If it doesn’t rain, let’s go out.
Example with “if not”: I don’t want anything but a coffee with milk.
These two appear all the time in informal texts and social networks.
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