Prepositions after common nouns and adjectives

In brief

In Brazilian Portuguese, many nouns and adjectives require a particular preposition before their complement. Learn the preposition together with the word: English equivalents do not always use the same one.

Form

noun/adjective + required preposition + complement; e.g., interesse em algo, orgulho de alguém, responsável por algo, satisfeito com algo.

Usage

• Use interesse em for an interest in a subject or activity.
• Use orgulho de and orgulhoso de for pride in someone or something.
• Use responsável por for the person or task someone is in charge of; use satisfeito com for satisfaction with a result.
• When a preposition meets an article, use the usual contraction, as in responsável pela equipe (por + a).

Examples

• Ela tem interesse em fotografia. — She is interested in photography.
• Tenho muito orgulho da minha irmã. — I’m very proud of my sister.
• A Ana é responsável pela equipe. — Ana is responsible for the team.
• Estamos satisfeitos com o resultado. — We’re satisfied with the result.

Common mistake

❌ A Ana é responsável para a equipe.

✅ A Ana é responsável pela equipe.

English ‘responsible for’ takes por in Portuguese, not para. With the feminine article a, por becomes pela.

Remember

Treat the noun or adjective and its preposition as one vocabulary item.