ABSTRACT

Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide is an innovative reference guide to Brazilian Portuguese, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume.

The Grammar is divided into two parts. Part A covers traditional grammatical categories such as agreement, nouns, verbs and adjectives. Part B is carefully organized around language functions covering all major communication situations such as:

  • establishing identity
  • making contact
  • expressing likes, dislikes and preferences.

With a strong emphasis on contemporary usage, all grammar points and functions are richly illustrated with examples. Main features of the Grammar include:

  • clear, jargon-free explanations
  • emphasis on the language as it is spoken and written today
  • extensive cross-referencing between the different sections.

A combination of reference grammar and practical usage manual, Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar is the ideal resource for learners of Brazilian Portuguese at all levels, from beginner to advanced. It can be used independently, or in conjunction with the Modern Brazilian Portuguese Workbook, see ISBN 9780415566469.

John Whitlam is a freelance writer, university lecturer and lexicographer based in Rio de Janeiro. He has authored a number of language teaching books and project coordinated and co-authored three of the best-selling bilingual dictionaries of Portuguese and English.

chapter |2 pages

Introduction

chapter |6 pages

Glossary of grammatical terms

part |2 pages

Part A: Structures

chapter 1|11 pages

Pronunciation and spelling

chapter 2|5 pages

Gender and gender agreement

chapter 3|5 pages

Number and number agreement

chapter 4|6 pages

Articles

chapter 5|10 pages

Adjectives and adverbs

chapter 6|7 pages

Numbers and numerical expressions

chapter 7|15 pages

Personal pronouns

chapter 8|5 pages

Demonstratives

chapter 9|5 pages

Possessives

chapter 10|4 pages

Relative pronouns

chapter 11|7 pages

Interrogatives

chapter 12|2 pages

Exclamations

chapter 13|11 pages

Indefinite adjectives and pronouns

chapter 14|5 pages

Negatives

chapter 15|7 pages

Regular verb conjugations

chapter 16|7 pages

Semi-irregular and irregular verbs

chapter 18|6 pages

Use of the tenses

chapter 19|9 pages

The infinitive

chapter 20|7 pages

The subjunctive

chapter 21|2 pages

The imperative

chapter 22|5 pages

Reflexive verbs

chapter 23|10 pages

Ser, estar and ficar

chapter 25|15 pages

Prepositions

chapter 26|11 pages

Conjunctions

chapter 27|2 pages

Word order

chapter 28|7 pages

Word formation

part |2 pages

Part B: Functions

chapter II|70 pages

Giving and seeking factual information

chapter III|66 pages

Putting events into a wider context

chapter IV|36 pages

Expressing emotional attitudes

chapter V|20 pages

The language of persuasion

chapter VI|19 pages

Expressing temporal relations