The Desire Within: A Comprehensive Guide to the Conjugation of the Portuguese Verb 'Querer'

In the realm of the Portuguese language, the verb “querer” (to want) takes center stage as a powerful verb that encapsulates desires, wishes, and preferences. Understanding the conjugations of “querer” is essential for expressing personal inclinations and communicating effectively. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the conjugation of “querer” across various tenses and moods, accompanied by example sentences to demonstrate their practical use. By mastering the conjugations of “querer,” you will unlock the ability to express your desires and preferences with confidence in Portuguese.

• Present Indicative Tense
• Imperfect Indicative Tense
• Preterite Indicative Tense
• Future Indicative Tense
• Conditional Mood
• Subjunctive Mood
  • Present Subjunctive Tense
  • Imperfect Subjunctive Tense
• Imperative Mood
• Conclusion

Present Indicative Tense

1. Eu quero - I want
   • Eu quero um café bem quente pela manhã. (I want a hot cup of coffee in the morning.)
2. Tu queres - You want (informal singular)
   • Tu queres ir ao cinema hoje à noite? (Do you want to go to the movies tonight?)
3. Ele/Ela/Você quer - He/She/You want (formal singular)
   • Ele quer comprar um novo carro. (He wants to buy a new car.)
4. Nós queremos - We want
   • Nós queremos passar as férias na praia. (We want to spend the vacation at the beach.)
5. Vós quereis - You want (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós quereis experimentar essa nova receita? (Do you want to try this new recipe?)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês querem - They/You want (plural)
   • Eles querem viajar pelo mundo. (They want to travel the world.)

Imperfect Indicative Tense

1. Eu queria - I wanted
   • Eu queria ser astronauta quando era criança. (I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a child.)
2. Tu querias - You wanted (informal singular)
   • Tu querias um presente especial de aniversário. (You wanted a special birthday present.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você queria - He/She/You wanted (formal singular)
   • Ele queria estudar medicina na universidade. (He wanted to study medicine at the university.)
4. Nós queríamos - We wanted
   • Nós queríamos ganhar o jogo de futebol. (We wanted to win the soccer match.)
5. Vós queríeis - You wanted (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós queríeis uma nova oportunidade. (You wanted a new opportunity.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês queriam - They/You wanted (plural)
   • Eles queriam passar mais tempo juntos. (They wanted to spend more time together.)

Preterite Indicative Tense

1. Eu quis - I wanted
   • Eu quis aprender a tocar violão. (I wanted to learn how to play the guitar.)
2. Tu quiseste - You wanted (informal singular)
   • Tu quiseste viajar pelo mundo inteiro. (You wanted to travel the whole world.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você quis - He/She/You wanted (formal singular)
   • Ele quis comprar uma casa nova. (He wanted to buy a new house.)
4. Nós quisemos - We wanted
   • Nós quisemos comemorar o aniversário em grande estilo. (We wanted to celebrate the birthday in style.)
5. Vós quisestes - You wanted (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós quisestes participar do concurso de dança. (You wanted to participate in the dance contest.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês quiseram - They/You wanted (plural)
   • Eles quiseram estudar no exterior. (They wanted to study abroad.)

Future Indicative Tense

1. Eu quererei - I will want
   • Eu quererei ser bem-sucedido na minha carreira. (I will want to be successful in my career.)
2. Tu quererás - You will want (informal singular)
   • Tu quererás viajar para lugares exóticos. (You will want to travel to exotic places.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você quererá - He/She/You will want (formal singular)
   • Ele quererá se casar e formar uma família. (He will want to get married and start a family.)
4. Nós quereremos - We will want
   • Nós quereremos alcançar grandes conquistas. (We will want to achieve great accomplishments.)
5. Vós querereis - You will want (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós querereis aproveitar cada momento da vida. (You will want to seize every moment of life.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês quererão - They/You will want (plural)
   • Eles quererão fazer a diferença no mundo. (They will want to make a difference in the world.)

Conditional Mood

1. Eu quereria - I would want
   • Eu quereria passar mais tempo com a minha família. (I would want to spend more time with my family.)
2. Tu quererias - You would want (informal singular)
   • Tu quererias ser famoso? (Would you want to be famous?)
3. Ele/Ela/Você quereria - He/She/You would want (formal singular)
   • Ele quereria viajar pelo tempo se fosse possível. (He would want to travel through time if it were possible.)
4. Nós quereríamos - We would want
   • Nós quereríamos viver uma vida cheia de aventuras. (We would want to live a life full of adventures.)
5. Vós quereríeis - You would want (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós quereríeis experimentar diferentes culturas. (Would you want to experience different cultures?)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês quereriam - They/You would want (plural)
   • Eles quereriam ajudar as pessoas necessitadas. (They would want to help people in need.)

Subjunctive Mood

Present Subjunctive Tense

1. Que eu queira - That I want
   • É importante que eu queira aprender coisas novas todos os dias. (It is important that I want to learn new things every day.)
2. Que tu queiras - That you want (informal singular)
   • Espero que tu queiras seguir os teus sonhos. (I hope you want to pursue your dreams.)
3. Que ele/ela/você queira - That he/she/you want (formal singular)
   • É essencial que ele queira ser uma pessoa melhor. (It is essential that he wants to be a better person.)
4. Que nós queiramos - That we want
   • É fundamental que nós queiramos um mundo mais justo. (It is crucial that we want a fairer world.)
5. Que vós queirais - That you want (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Não é justo que vós queirais tudo para vós mesmos. (It is not fair that you want everything for yourselves.)
6. Que eles/elas/vocês queiram - That they/you want (plural)
   • É recomendável que eles queiram se superar a cada dia. (It is advisable that they want to surpass themselves every day.)

Imperfect Subjunctive Tense

1. Que eu quisesse - That I wanted
   • Eu gostaria que eu quisesse mais do que apenas sucesso material. (I would like it if I wanted more than just material success.)
2. Que tu quisesses - That you wanted (informal singular)
   • Seria bom que tu quisesses explorar novas oportunidades. (It would be good if you wanted to explore new opportunities.)
3. Que ele/ela/você quisesse - That he/she/you wanted (formal singular)
   • Era importante que ele quisesse compartilhar suas experiências. (It was important that he wanted to share his experiences.)
4. Que nós quiséssemos - That we wanted
   • Eu preferiria que nós quiséssemos ajudar mais as pessoas ao nosso redor. (I would prefer if we wanted to help people around us more.)
5. Que vós quisésseis - That you wanted (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Eu desejava que vós quisésseis conhecer diferentes culturas. (I wished that you wanted to experience different cultures.)
6. Que eles/elas/vocês quisessem - That they/you wanted (plural)
   • Seria bom que eles quisessem preservar o meio ambiente. (It would be good if they wanted to preserve the environment.)

Imperative Mood

1. Quer - Want (informal singular)
   • Quer ser feliz, siga seu coração. (If you want to be happy, follow your heart.)
2. Queira - Want (formal singular)
   • Queira aceitar nossas sinceras desculpas. (Please accept our sincere apologies.)
3. Queiramos - Let’s want
   • Queiramos ser agentes de mudança positiva. (Let’s want to be agents of positive change.)
4. Querei - Want (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Querei ser sempre honestos consigo mesmos. (Want to always be honest with yourselves.)
5. Queiram - Want (formal plural)
   • Queiram realizar seus sonhos e objetivos. (Want to achieve your dreams and goals.)

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugations of the verb “querer” is essential for expressing desires, preferences, and wishes in Portuguese. Through its versatile range of conjugations across various tenses and moods, “querer” allows us to communicate what we want and aspire to. By understanding and practicing the conjugations provided in this guide, you will be equipped to confidently express your desires and preferences in the Portuguese language. So, embrace the power of “querer” and let your voice be heard as you navigate the realm of desires in Portuguese.