A NEW
PRACTICAL
AND EASY METHOD
OF LEARNING THE
PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE.

AFTER THE SYSTEM
OF

F. AHN,

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSOR
AT THE COLLEGE OF NEUSS.

LONDON:
FRANZ THIMM,
FOREIGN PUBLISHER,
3 BROOK STREET,
GROSVENOR SQUARE. W.

1857.

PREFACE.

“Learn a foreign language as you learned your mother-tongue.” It is the way that nature herself follows, it is the same which the mother points out in speaking to her child, repeating to it a hundred times the same words, combining them imperceptibly and succeeding in this way in making it speak the same language she speaks. To learn in this manner is no longer a study, it is an amusement. This is in a few words the Method which Prof. Ahn has so successfully adopted in his continental Grammars.

The Editor of this Grammar has followed the rational System, which has already procured for Prof. Ahn a European reputation, and he has adopted it for the Study of the Portuguese Language. He is greatly indebted to the excellent Grammars by Bösche, Müller, etc., which he has used for the ground work of this Grammar and it is hoped that its simplicity and utility will procure for it that favour, which the German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Dutch and Latin Grammars of Prof. Ahn have already found in the Colleges and Schools of England.

The Editor.

The Copyright for England, France
and Germany is secured.

INDEX.

FIRST COURSE.

The Pronunciation.

1. The Alphabet.

The Portuguese Alphabet is composed of the 25 following letters:

There are six vowels: a, e, i, o, u and y, the rest are consonants.

2. The Accent.

The Portuguese language has several accents:

• the ʹ acute accent,
• the ^{^} circumflex accent,
• the ~ hyphen, called til, is set over some letters
• as a substitute for m, as:
• lã for lam
• bẽ for bem
• huã for huam.

3. The Vowels.

A 1. is pronounced like the a in the English word path, when it has the acute accent ´:

• chá, tea
• dá, he gives
• lá, there.

2. is it pronounced short and clear like the a in father:

capitão, the captain (first a),

or if found before the double consonants: cc, ll, mm, nn, pp, ss, tt, as:

• acclamar, to call out
• annullar, to annull
• alludir, to allude
• appellar, to appeal.

3. it has a soft and aspirated sound at the end of words if not accentuated: vergonha, the shame. If the hyphen ~ til stands over the a it takes a nasal sound:

• irmãa (pr. irmāng), the sister
• lã (pr. lāng), the world.

E has three sounds:

1. open but short like ai in the English word hail, when with the acute accent ´ as:

• pé, foot
• fé, belief
• sé,

or in:

• mel, honey
• he, he is
• quero (pr. kayro), I will,

or in those verbs ending in er:

• conhecer, to know
• receber, to receive.

2. long, when with the circumflex ^{^} over it, as:

• lê, he reads
• vê, he sees
• rêde, the net.

3. It is almost mute at the end of words without the accent, as:

• liberdade, liberty
• amizade, friendship.

I is pronounced like e in the English word me, and it is only the accent that determines the pronunciation, as:

• tímido,
• timoré,
• difficil,
• javalí.

O has three sounds:

1. clear and strong in:

• mólho,
• dó.

2. soft and long in:

• bôlo, cake
• gôrdo, fat
• rapôsa, the fox (fem.).

3. quite short, almost like oo in:

• poder, to be able
• molho, a bundle almost pronounced like
• molyou.

U is pronounced like the oo in the word wood, but the pronunciation depends much upon the length of the syllables, f. i. in túmulo, the grave, the first u is long, the second is short. If provided with the til ~ and before m and n it takes the nasal sound.

If it follows after g and q, it is either aspirated, or it is quite mute, as:

• guerra (gerrah), war
• quero (kayro), I will
• quieto (key-eh-to), quite.

In qual, it is slightly sounded to distinguish it from the Noun cal, the chalk.

Y is pronounced like the vowel I.

4. The Consonants.

B is pronounced like the English B.

C before a, o, u, l and r is pronounced like k, as:

• cavallo (kahvallo), the horse
• cravo (krahvo), the pink
• cuidado (kooeedado), the care.

• Before e and i it sounds like s, as:
• ceo (sayo), heaven
• cigarro (seegarro), cigar.
• If the c before a, o, u has a cedille (ç)
• it sounds like s, as:
• caça (kassah), chase
• aço (asso), the steel
• açucar (assookar), sugar.
• The double c, is distinctly heard only before e and i,
• the first sounds like k, the second like s, as:
• accidente (akseedente), the accident.

D is pronounced like the English.

Fdo.do.

G before a, o and a consonant is pronounced like the English g, as:

• gordo, fat
• gravo, grave.

g before e and i sounds like the j in the English word joy, as: general.

gua almost sounds like the English wa, as:  guarda, pr. gwarda.

H is only softly aspirated in few words, as:

• anhelar,
• hálito;
• otherwise it is mute, as:
• homem (omem), man
• hora (ora), hour.
• Many writers drop the h at the beginning
• and write um, uma,
• instead of: hum, huma.

J is pronounced like the English j.

K only occurs in foreign words and is pronounced like the English K.

L is pronounced like the English L.

M at the beginning of words, or between two vowels when it belongs to the second syllable, is pronounced like the English m, as:

• menino, child
• amar, to love.

It takes a nasal sound at the end of words, or when it follows after a, e, i, o or u which cannot well be described, as:

• condição, condition
• bem (bang), well
• bom (bong), good.

N is pronounced like the English n, but has the same peculiarities as m.

P is pronounced as in English.

Q sounds like k, as: quero (kayro), I will.

R is pronounced as in English.

S is pronounced as in English; between two vowels it sounds like z.

T is pronounced like the English.

Vdo.do.

X has three sounds.

1. It sounds generally like sh, as:

• xarope (sharope), syrup
• enxaqueca (anshakeykah), headake.

2. After e it is pronounced like ks, as:

• extenção,
• extenuado,
• expulso,
• excellente.

3. Between two vowels it is pronounced like gz, as:

• exactamente,
• exornar,
• except in:
• paixão,
• puxo,
• Alexandre,
• baixo,
• and some other words, where it sounds like sh.

The x must be pronounced so softly that it is scarcely audible.

Z sounds like the English, as:

• zelo,
• zona.
• At the end of words it sounds like s, as:
• rapaz,
• luz,
• voz.

5. Double Consonants.

The Portuguese language has the following double consonants:

Ch 1. is pronounced like the English ch, as:

• acho,
• chaga,
• marchar.

2. it is pronounced like k in words derived from Latin or Greek, as:

• monarchia,
• archeo,
• archonte,
• Achilles.

Lh is pronounced like the ll in the English word “billiards” or in the French words “fille, bouilli”,as:

• mulher, woman
• mólho, the bundle.

Nh is pronounced like the French gn in “espagne, peigner”, as:

• ganho, I win
• banho, bath
• manha, trick.

Ph is pronounced like f, as: philosophia.

Rh and Th are pronounced like r and t.

6. The Diphthongs.

The Portuguese language has two kinds of diphthongs: the pure, those which are distinctly pronounced, and the nasal diphthongs, pronounced with a nasal sound.

Pure Diphthongs.

• ae, as:
• taes,
• olivaes.
• ai (the a and i do not blend), as:
• pai (pa-i),
• ai (a-i).
• ao, as:
• páo (pa-o),
• máo (ma-o).
• au, as:
• aula,
• auto,
• pauta,
• causa.
• ei, ey, as:
• rei,
• rey,
• lei,
• sei.
• éi, as:
• papéis,
• réis.
• eo, as:
• deo,
• mordeo,
• viveo.
• éo, as:
• Céo,
• véo,
• réo.
• eu, as:
• eu,
• euro,
• meu,
• seu.
• io, as:
• pio,
• rio,
• vio,
• ouvio.
• oa, as:
• loa,
• toa.
• oe, as:
• heroe,
• dóe,
• róe.
• oi, as:
• boi.
• ôo, oo, as:
• vôo,
• sôo,
• môo.
• ou, as:
• ou,
• ouvir,
• douto.
• ui, uy, as:
• fui,
• Rui.
• In the above the first vowel is preeminent,
• in the following the second vowel has most emphasis.
• ea, as:
• lactea,
• área.
• eo, as:
• lacteo,
• arboreo.
• ia, as:
• gloria.
• oa (pron. oâ and oá), as:
• agoa,
• coadura,
• coalho.
• ui (pron. ui), as:
• quirinal,
• inquirir.
• uo (pron. uó), as:
• equoreo.
• uu (pron. uú), as:
• equuleo.

Nasal Diphthongs.

• ãa (bad orthography am or an), as:
• maçãa (mas-sang), apple,
• irmãa (ir-mang), sister.
• ãe (bad aem, aen), as:
• capitães (kapeeta-engs), captains,
• cães (ka-engs), dogs.
• am, as:
• amparo (ang-paro), protection.
• an, as:
• andar (ang-dar), to go.
• ão (bad orthogr. aõ, am, an), as:
• captião, captain.
• em, ẽe, ẽem, as:
• lem or lẽem (lay-eng), they read,
• bem, good.
• im, as:
• fim (fing), the end.
• õe (oem, oen), as:
• põe (pong-eng),
• nações (nahs-so-engs).
• om, as:
• bom (bong), good.
• um, un, as:
• mundo (moong-do), the world.
• The Portuguese have also syllables of three vowels such, as:
• eei,
• éio,
• eão,
• ião,
• as:
• eia, hallo!
• meia, half
• ideia, idea
• rodeão, they surround
• vivião, they lived.

PART I.

1.

Exercises.

O pai. A mãi. O irmão. A irmãa. O pai he bom, e a mãi he boa. O bom pai, a boa mãi. O bom irmão, a boa irmãa. O irmão he bom, a irmãa he boa.

2.

• meu, minha, my
• alto, great
• pequeno, little.

The sister is good. The father and the good brother. The good mother and the little sister. The great brother. My brother is little. My little brother. My mother and my good sister. My father and my mother. My good mother and my little sister.

3.
Declension of the definite Article.

Declension of the indefinite Article.

4.
Vocabulary.

• moça, girl
• bonito, pretty
• cavallo, horse
• agulha, needle
• faca, knife
• leão, lion
• tigre, tiger
• leopardo, leopard
• são, are (from ser)
• animal, aes, animal
• feroz, wild
• estado, situation
• no (em o), in, Dat.
• miseravel, miserable
• em, in
• que, which
• elle, he
• está, is (from estar)
• ella, she
• na (em a), in the
• rua, street
• garfo, fork
• estão, are (from estar)
• nas (em as), in, Acc.
• gaveta, drawer
• tenho, I have
• lido, read
• isso, this
• nos (em os), in, Acc.
• livro, book
• passeio, I go
• pelo (por o), through the
• entrou, he came
• pela (por a), through
• porta, gate
• boi, ox
• vaca, cow.

Exercises.

O pai he alto. A mãi he pequena. A moça he bonita. O cavallo do pai. A agulha da irmãa. A faca do irmão. O leão, o tigre e o leopardo são animaes ferozes. No estado miseravel em que elle está. Ella está na rua. Os garfos estão nas gavetas. Tenho lido isso nos livros do C. Passeio pelo campo. Elle entrou pela porta. Um boi. Uma vaca.

5.
Vocabulary.

• noticia, the news
• muíto, very
• nobre, noble
• cão, dog
• labrão, bark
• rosa, rose
• mais bello, more beautiful
• do que, than
• tulipa, tulip
• verão, summer
• quente, hot
• inverno, winter
• rigoroso, severe
• passaro, bird
• cantão, sing
• aguia, eagle
• açor, hawk
• ave de rapina, bird of prey
• ignorancia, ignorance
• erro, error
• superstição, superstition
• deixei, I left behind
• tia, aunt
• cama, bed
• menino, criança, child, baby
• o braço, the arm
• carta, letter
• mão, hand
• secretario, secretary
• saltar, to jump
• janella, window.

The news is good. The horse is a very noble animal. The dogs bark. The roses are more beautiful than the tulips. The summers are hot and the winters severe. The birds sing. The eagle and the hawk are birds of prey. Ignorance is the mother of error, of superstition, and of prejudice. I left my hat in the carriage. The aunt is in bed. She had her child in her arms. He gave the letter into the hands of the secretary. He jumped out of (pela) the window. I see a man and a woman. A garden and a house.

Contractions of the Article with the Prepositions.

The Portuguese contract the Article and Preposition in the following way:

6.
On the Gender.

Masculine

The names of all masculine persons, animals, and the occupations of men.

Vocabulary.

• Imperador, emperor
• foi, was (from ser)
• morto, killed
• Rei, king
• chegou, he arrived
• hontem, yesterday
• jesuita, the Jesuit
• forão, they were
• expulsado, expelled
• homem, man
• não ama senão, only loves
• a si mesmo, himself
• Carlos, Charles
• foi, was
• Frederico, Frederick
• ambicioso, ambitious
• ferreiro, the smith
• diligente, diligent
• alfaiate, tailor
• preguiçoso, lazy
• gordo, fat
• gallo, the cock
• mais forte, stronger
• de que, than
• gallinha, hen.

O Imperador Paulo foi morto. El-Rei chegou hontem. Os jesuitas forão expulsados. O homem não ama senão a si mesmo. Carlos foi grande e Frederico ambicioso. O ferreiro he diligente e o alfaiate preguiçoso. O boi he muito gordo. O leão he muito feroz. O gallo he mais forte do que a gallinha.

7.
Vocabulary.

The Duke of Bragança was proclaimed king. The hereditary prince died. The joiner and the carpenter work. Lewis was brave, and Henry powerful. The bull was killed. The watchful dog. The beautiful horse. The tiger is very bloodthirsty. The husband of this woman is very ill. The uncle went out. The grandfather, the father, the cousin and the son took a walk.

8.
Feminine Substantive.

The names of all feminine persons, animals and the occupations of women are feminine.

Vocabulary.

• Imperatriz, empress
• Rainha, queen
• estavão, they were
• igreja, church
• duqueza, duchess
• banho, bath
• alfaiata, sempstress
• concerta, mends
• vestido, dress
• filha, daughter
• tia, aunt
• avó, grandmother
• neta, granddaughter
• jardim, garden
• rapariga, little girl
• feia, ugly
• mulher, woman
• obsequioso, good
• vaca, cow
• dá, gives
• leite, milk
• chocando, hatching.

A Imperatriz e a Rainha estavão na igreja. A duqueza está no banho. A alfaiata concerta um vestido. A mãi e a filha, a tia e a prima, a avó e a neta estão no jardim. A rapariga não he feia. A mulher he muito obsequiosa. A vaca dá leite. A gallinha está chocando.

9.
Vocabulary.

The abbess spoke with the nuns of the convent. The princess was on the point of departing. The countess was not at home. The needlewoman hems my pockethandkerchief. The wife of the merchant. The women are often very capricious. The servant sweeps the kitchen. The goat is a domestic animal. The cat plays with the young female dog. My cousin (fem.) and my sister were at the theatre. The lioness has no mane. This mare is more beautiful than that stallion. Mary is not so diligent as Maryanne. Elisabeth of England was a wise sovereign. The cook went to market.

In Portuguese some of the names of animals are occasionally masculine and feminine; to denote the gender the words macho, male, or femea, female, are used, as:

• elephante macho, the male elephant,
• elephante femea, the female elephant.

Those Substantives ending in a and ãa are feminine.

10.
Exercises.

Esta casa[1] tem uma boa[2] apparencia[3]. A rosa[4] he muito bella. A boca[5], a orelha[6], a cabeça[7], a testa[8] e a barba[9] são partes[10] do corpo[11] humano[12]. A janella[13] está aberta[14]. Esta agulha[15] he fina de mais[16]. Esta tinta não presta para nada. Quero aparar[17] uma penna[18]. Tenho[19] que escrever[20] uma carta[21]. Faça-me o favor[22] de-me emprestar[23] una folha de papel[24]. A garrafa[25] está na mesa[26]. Esta cerejeira[27] carrega[28] muito. Esta uva[29] está madura[30]. Esta vinha[31] está em optima[32] exposição[33].

11.

The butter[34] is fresh[35]. With your permission[36]. The cup[37] is not washed[38]. I have the honour[39]. The beer[40] is excellent[41]. The oyster[42] is fresh. Bring me[43] a wafer[44]. —We have a beautiful[45] morning[46]. The door[47] is locked[48]. Spring[49] is the most agreeable[50] time of the year[51]. The harvest[52] will be[53] abundant[54].

12.
Exceptions.

The following Substantives ending in a are masculine:

Those Nouns ending in e, are generally masculine, except:

Nouns ending in i, y, o, u as well as those ending in l, m, r, s and z are with few exceptions all masculine.

Those ending in ão, are both masculine and feminine.

13.
Formation of the Plural.

Nouns ending in a, e, i, y, o, u and ãa form their plural by adding an s to the singular. As:

• a rosa, as rosas;
• a arte, as artes;
• o filho, os filhos.

Examples.

As rosas são mais bellas que as tulipas. Os rios correm[55] por terras despovoadas[56]. As arvores são muito frondosas[57]. As villas são ornadas[58] de duas igrejas. Eu não vi os pentes[59]. Os habitantes[60] destas comarcas[61] são Indios[62]. Elles tem maçãas. Novos reis, novas leis. Deixei os bahús nos coches. Os ribeiros[63], algumas lagôas[64] e mesmo certos rios ficão em secco[65].

14.

These houses please me more than those edifices[66]. The villages[67] and towns in this district[68] are not very numerous[69]. The oxen[70], cows, goats, sheep[71] and cats[72] are domestic animals. There are[73] many wild boars[74], deer[75] and hares[76] in these forests[77]. The cranes[78] and storks[79] are birds of passage[80]. The huts[81] are made[82] of the trunks of trees[83].

15.

Substantives ending in ão, form their plural in ões, as:

a condição, condition, as condições.

Exceptions are:

• Allemão, the German, Allemães
• Catalão, the Catalonian, Catalães
• cão, dog, cães
• pão, bread, pães
• capitão, captain, capitães
• tabellião, notary, tabelliães.

The following only add an s in the Plural:

16.

Examples.

Elle abrio[84] communições entre as cidades e os sertões[85]. Os serões[86] são cumpridos. O districto he proprio[87] para todas as producções agricolas[88]. As terras são plantadas[89] e semeadas[90] de feijões[91] e melões[92]. Os Allemães fizerão[93] muitas invenções[94] uteis[95]. Os capitães não querem obedecer[96] ao general. Aqui[97] estão tres pães[98]. Os Cortezãos lisonjão[99] ao principe[100]. Os primeiros orgãos forão construidos[101] por um Allemão em 1312. Eis aqui[102] os dous[103] villãos. As casas são ornadas de balcões[104] de ferro. Aos orphãos mandase[105] aprender[106] um officio[107].

17.

The passions[108] of women are often very violent[109]. The navigation[110] extended[111], at the beginning[112], only along the coast. Many revolutions[113] have broken out[114] in Europe in recent times[115]. The conditions[116] were rejected[117]. These places[118] are situated in the interior of the country[119]. The hunters[120] took[121] the dogs to the chase[122]. The Catalonians inhabit an important[123] province of Spain[124]. The notaries[125] protest[126] the bills of exchange[127]. His brothers were not at home[128]. The first Christians were much persecuted[129]. The heathens are still very numerous[130]. The radishes are very dear.

18.

• Substantives ending in:
• al, ol, ul change l into es, as: a sinal, as sinaes
• el change l into is, as: annel, anneis
• il change l into s, as: o funil, os funis.

Examples.

As aguas contem differentes saes. Os animaes domesticos. Os generaes mandavão aos furrieis. Os coroneis estavão no conselho de guerra. Os varios sinaes de sua amizade. Não se encontra muitos caracoes nesta primavera. Os males terrestres são muitas vezes quasi insupportaveis. Os papeis estão na mesa. Os funis estão ao pé dos barris. O imperador mandou pôr pharoes.

19.

The poignards[131] are ground[132]. These fishing rods[133] are good for nothing[134]. The goldsmith brought the rings[135]. The painter[136] has many brushes. Three consuls governed[137] France in 1803. The barrels[138] are full[139]. The officers[140] were very much dissatisfied[141]. There are[142] different chalks[143]. I like[144] pies[145].—They will discover[146] your tricks[147].

20.

• Substantives ending in m, change their plural into ns, as:
• bem, the treasure, bens
• viagem, the journey, viagens.
• Those ending in r, s and z, add es to the singular, as:
• a colher, the spoon, as colheres
• ar, the air, ares
• deos, a God, deoses
• perdiz, the partridge, perdizes;
• except:
• ourives, the goldsmith, ourives
• caliz, the chalice, calices
• alferes, the ensign, alferes.

Examples.

As margens[148] verdejão[149] com a relva[150] dos prados[151]. Elle fez[152] muitas viagens. Elle possue[153] muitos bens de raiz[154] na cidade e fóra della[155]. Todos os homens são mortaes[156]. Os sons dos instrumentos musicos. Os jejuns[157] não engordão[158]. O ceo[159] se cobre[160] de nuvens[161]. Os moradores[162] commercião[163] em[164] madeiras de construcção[165]. Comprei[166] duas colheres de prata. As Imperatrizes de Russia e d’Austria chegárão[167]. Atire[168] a esse bando[169] de perdizes. Os Deoses se ajuntão[170] no Olympo. Quasi[171] todos os freguezes[172] são Indios. Ha quatro calices na igreja. Os piratas[173] infestavão os mares.

21.

I hear[174] sounds[175]. The sun[176] hides[177] itself behind[178] thick[179] clouds[180]. We have four ducks[181]. The passages[182] are locked[183]. The pictures[184] of Saints in this church are very numerous. Our baggage[185] is still in the vessel. I offer[186] you my congratulations[187]. The air (pl.) is always[188] pure[189] in this Country. I have eaten[190] four[191] quails[192]. He showed[193] me the scars[194] of his wounds[195]. In a battalion[196] there are eight ensigns. The goldsmiths came together. The chalices of the flowers. I was many times[197] in your house. The belligerent[198] powers.

22.
Declension of Substantives.

23.

Examples.

• chapéo, the hat
• offerecer, to offer
• batalha, the battle
• inimigo, enemy
• jardim, garden
• luva, glove
• conde, count
• deixar, to leave
• mordomo, steward
• adular, to flatter
• lisongeiro, the flatterer
• de sorte, in such a manner
• igualar, to compare
• deo, gave (from dar)
• grande, sound, great
• bofetada, box on the ear
• calçado, paved
• fizerão, they made
• cruel, cruel
• guerra, war
• comprar, to buy
• livro, book
• livreiro, bookseller
• rancor, the rancor, enmity.

O pai não está em casa. O chapéo do irmão. O general offereceo batalha ao inimigo. A mai ama a seu filho. A irmãa está no jardim. As luvas da mãi. O conde nada deixou ao seu mordomo. Adulando um lisongeiro ao Imperador Sigismundo, de sorte que o igualava a Deos, o Imperador deo ao lisongeiro uma grande bofetada. As ruas são calçadas. Os Portuguezes fizerão cruel guerra aos Indios. A mulher comprou o livro do livreiro. O rancor dos Francezes contra os Inglezes.

24.

Exercises.

The father loves[199] his daughter[200]. Mary loves her friend[201] (fem.). The eyes of Caroline equal[202] two[203] stars[204]. He gave the money to the woman, and paid the tailor[205] at the same time[206]. Two streams[207] of the province are designated[208] by this name[209]. Various estates[210] are touched[211] by this river. These offers[212] have been made to the Colonists[213]. He delivered[214] the letter[215] to the secretary[216]. The Madeira is the most important[217] tributary[218] of the Amazon river[219]. The name of the Islands. The town is situated[220] on the left bank[221] of the river. The harbour[222] of Rio de Janeiro is the most beautiful ornament[223] of the city.

25.

On the Augmentatives
and Diminutives.

The Portuguese language has the peculiarity of the Italian and Spanish languages in making Substantives and Adjectives, by the addition of a syllable augmentative or diminutive.

• I. Augmentativos.
• homem, a man
• homemzarão, a large, powerful man
• tolo, a fool
• toleirão, a great fool
• mulher, the woman
• mulherona, a large masculine woman
• tola, the foolish woman
• toleirona, a very foolish woman.
• II. Diminutivos
• are formed by changing the final vowel into “inho”:
• casa, the house
• casinha, a pretty little house
• homem, a man
• homemzinho, a little man
• bicho, a worm
• bichinho, a little worm
• coitado, a poor man
• coitadinho, a poor little fellow
• bonito, pretty
• bonitinho, rather pretty;
• others are formed by adding: zinho, zinha or sinho, inha, as:
• coração, the heart
• coraçãozinho, dear little heart
• cão, the dog
• cãozinho, pretty little dog
• irmão, the brother
• irmãozinho, dear little brother
• cabeça, the head
• cabeçinha, pretty little head
• mão, the hand
• mãozinha, pretty little hand.

26.
The Adjective.

The Adjectives in Portuguese agree with the Substantives in gender and number.

1. Adjectives ending in e, l and z, remain unchanged in the feminine, as:

• forte, strong;
• grande, great;
• cruel, cruel;
• amavel, amiable.

2. Adjectives ending in o change the feminine into a, as:

o bonito, the pretty, a bonita.

3. Those ending in ú, m and r, add an a in the feminine, as:

• crú, raw, crúa
• nú, nude, núa
• um, a, uma
• nenhum, none, nenhuma
• traidor, traitorous, traidora
• protector, protectora.

4. Adjectives ending in ão change to ãa in the feminine, as:

• lução, brilliant, luçãa
• são, healthy, sàa.

27.
The Plurals of Adjectives

are formed in the same manner as the plural of Nouns, as:

Observations.

1. The following add s to the plural:

• meão, mediocre
• temporão, timely
• são, healthy
• villão, bad.

2. The following change il into eis in the plural, as:

• agil, swift
• aquatil, aquatic
• debil, weak
• difficil, difficult
• docil, docile
• ductil, pliant
• esteril, sterile
• facil, easy
• fertil, fertile
• fossil, fossil
• fragil, fragile
• futil, futile
• habil, clever
• ignobil, disgraceful
• immobil, immoveable
• indocil, stupid
• inhabil, awkward
• inutil, useless
• inverosimil, unlikely
• portatil, portable
• reptil, reptile
• util, useful
• verosimil, probable
• versatil, changeable
• volatil, volatile
• volubil, voluble.

3. Simplez, single, forms its plural in simplez and simplices.

28.
Examples.

A rua principal. As ruas principaes são calçadas. A igreja nova. A nova igreja. O homem velho[224]. A mulher velha. Os Indios atemorisados[225]. As mulheres Indias. A bella e grande cidade. O sobrinho[226] moribundo[227]. A victoria gloriosa. Este homem he mui villão e aquella mulher mui villãa. As mulheres são amaveis, os homens mui crueis. Um moço nú e uma criança nua. O homem he affavel e a mulher he tambem affavel. O genio contraditor e a observação contraditora. A filha he gorda e o filho he gordo. Os homens estão sãos e as mulheres sãas. O povo tranquillo e soffredor[228]. A sombria raiva[229] do Philippe. Os velhos bandos hespanhões[230]. Algumas[231] embarcações[232] que tinhão servido de piquetes[233]. Uma satisfacção inexplicavel. A igreja he uma das mais bellas do reino[234]. As aguas mineraes. O termino he fertil. O filho unico. A religão christãa. Um cavalheiro[235] christão[236]. A igreja de Santo Antonio he dedicada ao santo do seu nome. A margem[237] direita. A guarda[238] nacional. O sobredito[239] districto. As grandes plantações[240] de cannas[241]. A pequena[242] aldèa[243]. Santos he uma cidade maritima a mercantil. As autoridades militares e civis. O rio aurifero.

29.
Exercises.

The rich[244] man and the poor[245] woman. The pretty house. The large church[246]. The fertile fields[247]. The shoemaker is very industrious. The leafy[248] trees[249]. The wounded[250] soldier[251]. The beautiful bridges[252]. The numerous[253] products. The old uncle[254] and the fat aunt[255]. The horses are very handsome. The day is very bright[256]. The climate is very agreeable[257]. The winter[258] in Siberia[259] is very rigorous[260]. The geographical[261] and historical[262] Institute[263]. The tall man and the little woman. The above named[264] royal decree[265]. The generous[266] feelings[267]. The enormous[268] forests[269]. Some[270] sombre and broad[271] rivers. The only[272] ornament. The warlike[273] Indians. The preceding[274] article[275]. The sea is very rough[276]. The following[277] day. The following days. He is silent[278] and grave[279]. The deep[280] love[281].

30.
The Comparison of Adjectives.

The Comparative is formed by placing mais (more) or menos (less) before the Positive, as:

• bello, beautiful,
• mais bello, more beautiful.

Obs. “Than” following the Comparative is rendered by que, como, or: tão—como, as—as; não tão—como, not so—as; before the particle que the word do is often prefixed, as:

• he mais prudente do que parece,
• he is wiser than it appears.

The Superlative is formed

1. by placing the article before the Comparative, as:

• o mais douto, the most learned
• o mais bello, the most beautiful;

2. by adding to the Positive issimo (masc.) and issima (fem.), as:

• bello, beautiful, bellissimo, bellissima.

Exceptions are:

• acre, harsh, acerrimo
• amigo, friendly, amicissimo
• antigo, old, antiquissimo
• aspero, rough, asperrimo
• bom, good, bonissimo
• capaz, capable, capacissimo
• celebre, celebrated, celeberrimo
• chão, flat, chanissimo
• feliz, happy, felicissimo
• fiel, faithful, fidelissimo
• frio, cold, frigidissimo
• humilde, humble, humilissimo, humillimo
• máo, bad, malissimo
• nobre, noble, nobilissimo
• prospero, prosperous, prosperrimo
• rico, rich, riquissimo
• sabio, wise, sapientissimo
• sagrado, sacred, sacratissimo
• salubre, salutary, saluberrimo
• simples, simple, simplicissimo
• valente, brave, valentissimo.

31.
Irregular Comparisons.

Obs. The Positive and Comparative can be strengthened by placing before it:

• muito, very
• assaz, enough
• demasiado, too, too much.

32.
Declension of the Adjective.

33.
Examples.

A Asia he mais grande que a Europa. A Africa he menos povoado[282] que a Europa. A rosa he mais bella que a viola. A viola[283] he menos bella que a rosa. Pedro he mais feliz do que João. O filho não he tão liberal como seu pai. A historia he tão util como agradavel. O dia he mais agradavel que a noite[284]. O seu amante he mais bello, mais moço[285] e mais rico que ella. Eu acho-o agora menos lindo[286] do que quando o comprei[287]. O meu livro he tão barato[288] como o vosso. Elle he muito mais grande. Ella he pouco mais grande. Caesar he muito mais estimado[289] que Pompeo. Pompeo foi muito menos feliz que Caesar. Elle he o mais douto[290] dos homens. Elle he o menos douto dos homens. Ella he a mais bella das mulheres. Ella he muito amavel. Estas cadeiras[291] são feitas[292] de optima madeira[293]. Esta mulher he boa, o marido he melhor e o filho he o optimo. Elle he o felicissimo dos mortaes. O clima he saluberrimo. He homem valentissimo. O filho he rico, o pai he riquissimo. O neto[294] he máo, o primo[295] he ainda peior e o tio he o pessimo. Na margem do rio ha optimos pastos[296].

34.
Exercises.

Mariana is more industrious[297] than her sister[298]. Europe is not so large as America. The wife is handsomer than her husband[299]. This horse is very beautiful, more beautiful than yours. The most fertile fields. His cousin is very rich, his uncle is still richer, and his father is the richest. The man is very bad[300], the woman is worse, and the son is the worst. This wine is good, but that one is better. She is much taller than her friend[301]. The tulip[302] is not so beautiful as the rose. The son is little, but the daughter is very little indeed (pequenissimo). Our house is not so large as yours. Amelia is smaller than her brother. The best ship[303]. The worst man. The bravest knight. The simplest[304] man in the world[305]. This[306] man is very wise, and that[307] one is the wisest of all. The climate of Siberia is very cold. The summer[308] is in that country hotter and the winter[309] more rigid[310]. A great part[311] and the greater part. The turf[312] is very green[313], but the trees[314] are still greener. I do not write so well as he. This man speaks[315] as well as Cicero[316]. The English[317] horses are better than the French. Arabia has the best horses. It is commendable[318] to recommend virtue[319], but it is better to practise[320] it.

35.
The Numbers
(Vos Numeral).

1. The Cardinal Numbers
(Numerales cardinaes).

Obs. Before a Noun “cem” is used, before a number “cento”, as: cem soldados, hundred soldiers; cento e um, a hundred and one. The Portuguese use the Cardinal Numbers to express the date, as: chegou a quatro de Maio, he arrived on the fourth of May.

36.

2. The Ordinal Numbers.

37.

3. Fractional Numbers.

38.

4. Proportional Numbers.

39.

5. Collective Numbers.

40.
Examples.

Elle viveo[321] noventa annos[322]. Ella tem vinto e cinco annos de idade[323]. O exercito[324] he composto[325] de noventa mil e seiscentos homens. Dous mil cincocentos e trinta e quatro homens forão mortos[326] neste encontro[327]. Cem homens ficarão[328] prisioneiros[329]. Ha nesta povoação[330] mil e setecentas almas[331]. Ha mil quinhentas casas na nossa freguezia[332]. A sua carta[333] he datada[334] de vinte e dous de Abril de mil oitocentos e cincoenta e sete. Nosso tio ha de chegar[335] a treze do mez que vem. O comprimento[336] desta rua tem o dobro do da outra. Eu fiz duas vezes a volta[337] da villa a cavallo. Um terremoto[338] destruio[339] a metade da cidade. Este theatro foi queimado[340] tres vezes. Se cultivar a sua herdade[341], ella se elevará[342] em valor ao centuplo.

41.
Exercises.

The company[343] consists of one hundred men and the regiment[344] has six thousand men. There were collected[345] two hundred men and nearly[346] seventy women. He was the first who arrived[347]. The second was thy brother. The third man I have not seen. The French army consists of 600,000 men. Within[348] eight days. He had one sister and two cousins[349] with him. This house would be worth a hundred times more. Once I have told him, but twice he has forgotten it. The first time that I had the knife ground[350]. A thousand men were killed in this battle[351]. The first day of the year[352]. To-day is the first, the second, the third, the fourth of the month[353]. Twenty eggs[354]. He arrived on the fifth of July. The nineteenth century[355]. The year has 365 days. He has three sons[356] and five daughters[357].

42.
Pronouns.

1. Personal Pronouns.

Obs. If the Pronouns mim, ti, si, nós, vós, are accompanied by the Preposition com, they are contracted thus:

Me is generally translated by me, as:

• speak to me, fallai-me
• he told me, elle disse-me
• tell me, dizei-me
• write me, escrevei-me.

The reflective Pronoun “si”.

It is generally united to the Pronoun: mesmo or mesma, as: de si mesmo, of one’s self:

o homem não ama senão a si mesmo,
the man loves only himself.

The Portuguese also join mesmo, to the personal Pronouns, as:

43.

2. Conjunctive Pronouns.

The following are always used in connexion with Verbs: