Common irregular verbs in the present tense

In brief

Some everyday Brazilian Portuguese verbs have present-tense forms you cannot predict from the usual endings. Learn their common forms as complete words: ir (to go), fazer (to do or make), poder (can) and querer (to want). The form changes with the person doing the action.

Form

In the order eu, você/ele/ela, nós, vocês/eles/elas: ir → vou, vai, vamos, vão; fazer → faço, faz, fazemos, fazem; poder → posso, pode, podemos, podem; querer → quero, quer, queremos, querem.

Usage

• Use vou or vamos to say where you are going.
• Use faço or faz for everyday actions and tasks.
• Use posso or pode to talk about ability or ask permission; use quero or quer to express a wish.

Examples

• Eu vou ao mercado. — I’m going to the market.
• Ela faz café de manhã. — She makes coffee in the morning.
• Posso entrar? — Can I come in?
• Quero água, por favor. — I want water, please.

Common mistake

❌ Eu faz café.

✅ Eu faço café.

With eu, use faço, not faz. The present-tense form of fazer changes with the subject.

Remember

Memorize these short, high-frequency forms together with their subjects.