English Exam Tips for Portuguese Speakers
Portuguese speakers find much familiar in English, but these specific differences need attention for exam success.
Common Challenges for Portuguese Speakers
- False Friends: Similar words with different meanings Example: pretend ≠ pretender (use "intend"); push ≠ puxar (push = empurrar)
- Subject Pronouns: English always requires subject pronouns Example: "I am going" not just "Am going"
- Prepositions: Preposition usage differs significantly Example: "Depend on" not "depend of"; "married to" not "married with"
- Progressive Tenses: English uses "be + -ing"; Portuguese uses "estar + gerund" differently Example: "I am working" for now; "I work" for general habits
Grammar Tips for Portuguese Speakers
- Articles: Don't use articles before possessives: "my book" not "the my book"
- Present Perfect: Different from Portuguese: "I have worked here for 5 years" (still working)
- Conditionals: If-clause doesn't use "will": "If it rains" not "If it will rain"
- Question Tags: English uses complex tag questions: "You like coffee, don't you?"
Vocabulary Advice
- Many cognates help, but watch for false friends
- Learn phrasal verbs - they're more common than in Portuguese
- Build collocations: "make a decision" not "take a decision"
- Study words that look similar but have different meanings
Exam Strategies
- Include subject pronouns in every sentence
- Check preposition use carefully in writing
- For speaking, practice the "th" sound
- Use varied vocabulary to show range
Você consegue! Sua base em português vai ajudar muito no aprendizado do inglês.