Portuguese conjugation explanation

Spelling change: -gir → -j-

<p>In Portuguese, the pronunciation of the letter <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span> depends on the vowel that follows it:</p>

<ul>

<li>Before <strong style="font-style: italic;">e</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">i</strong>, it has a "soft" sound (<span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">/ʒ/</span>), similar to the <em>s</em> in the English word <em>plea<strong>s</strong>ure</em>.</li>

<li>Before <strong style="font-style: italic;">a</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">o</strong>, it has a "hard" sound (<span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">/g/</span>), like in <em><strong>g</strong>arden</em>.</li>

</ul>

<p>Verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic;">-ger</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">-gir</strong> (such as

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/proteger/" title="Click to see conjugations for proteger" target="_blank">proteger</a>

and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dirigir/" title="Click to see conjugations for dirigir" target="_blank">dirigir</a>

) have the soft sound in their infinitive form. To <strong>preserve this pronunciation</strong> throughout the conjugation, the spelling must change from <strong>g</strong> to <strong class="green_emphasis">j</strong> whenever the ending starts with <strong style="font-style: italic;">a</strong> or <strong style="font-style: italic;">o</strong>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">When does this happen?</div>

<p>This spelling change occurs primarily in two tenses:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/1/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

</strong>: In the first person singular (<span style="font-style: italic;">eu</span>), because the ending is <strong style="font-style: italic;">-o</strong>.</li>

<li><strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>

</strong>: In all forms, because the endings start with <strong style="font-style: italic;">-a</strong> (<em>-a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am</em>).</li>

</ul>

<p>Most forms of the <strong>Imperative</strong> are also affected because they are derived from the subjunctive.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Common Verbs</div>

<p>Here are common examples of verbs that undergo this change:</p>

<p><strong>Verbs ending in -ger:</strong></p>

<ul>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/proteger/" title="Click to see conjugations for proteger" target="_blank">proteger</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to protect</span>) &#8594; eu prote<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/eleger/" title="Click to see conjugations for eleger" target="_blank">eleger</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to elect</span>) &#8594; eu ele<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/abranger/" title="Click to see conjugations for abranger" target="_blank">abranger</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to encompass</span>) &#8594; eu abran<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

</ul>

<p><strong>Verbs ending in -gir:</strong></p>

<ul>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dirigir/" title="Click to see conjugations for dirigir" target="_blank">dirigir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to drive/direct</span>) &#8594; eu diri<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/fugir/" title="Click to see conjugations for fugir" target="_blank">fugir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to flee/run away</span>) &#8594; eu fu<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/exigir/" title="Click to see conjugations for exigir" target="_blank">exigir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to demand</span>) &#8594; eu exi<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/agir/" title="Click to see conjugations for agir" target="_blank">agir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to act</span>) &#8594; eu a<span class="in_word_highlight">j</span>o</div></li>

<li><div>Other examples:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/reagir/" title="Click to see conjugations for reagir" target="_blank">reagir</a>

,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/corrigir/" title="Click to see conjugations for corrigir" target="_blank">corrigir</a>

,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/fingir/" title="Click to see conjugations for fingir" target="_blank">fingir</a>

,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/surgir/" title="Click to see conjugations for surgir" target="_blank">surgir</a>

.</div></li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Examples in context</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Hoje eu <span class="green_emphasis">dirijo</span> o carro do meu pai. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Today I am driving my father's car.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">É importante que eles <span class="green_emphasis">reajam</span> rapidamente. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is important that they react quickly.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Não <span class="green_emphasis">finjas</span> que não sabes! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't pretend you don't know!</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eu sempre <span class="green_emphasis">protejo</span> os meus amigos. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I always protect my friends.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjugation Tables</div>

<p>In the following tables for the verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dirigir/" title="Click to see conjugations for dirigir" target="_blank">dirigir</a>

, notice how the stem changes to <strong class="green_emphasis">-j-</strong> whenever the ending is an <strong style="font-style: italic;">a</strong> or an <strong style="font-style: italic;">o</strong>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/1/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

eu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span>diriges

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ele

</span>dirige

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nós

</span>dirigimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vós

</span>dirigis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

eles

</span>dirigem

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que eu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirija<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijas<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que ele

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirija<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que nós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijamos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que vós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

que eles

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijam<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>This change also impacts the imperative forms derived from the subjunctive:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/11/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo Afirmativo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(tu)

</span>dirige

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(você)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirija<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(nós)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijamos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(vós)

</span>dirigi

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(vocês)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dirijam<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Similar spelling changes designed to preserve pronunciation can be seen in

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/portuguese_orthograpic_change_gar_gu/" target="_blank">verbs ending in -gar</a>

(g &#8594; gu) and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/portuguese_orthograpic_change_car_qu/" target="_blank">verbs ending in -car</a>

(c &#8594; qu).</p>