Verb PERGUNTAR (to ask a question)

Good news! Perguntar is a regular -ar verb. This means it follows a very predictable pattern. If you know how to conjugate falar, you are halfway there. You just change the ending based on who is asking. Portuguese verbs like to change their "outfits" for every person. It is like dressing for the weather. You identify the root of the word. Then, you attach the correct ending. It works like a Lego set. You swap one block for another. This predictability is your best friend. Even if you are nervous, the pattern remains the same. You can rely on this structure every time.

1. 1To conjugate perguntar, follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Take the infinitive form: perguntar.
3. 3Remove the -ar ending to find the stem: pergunt-.
4. 4Add the endings for the present tense:
5. 5Eu (I): Add -o -> eu pergunto.
6. 6Você/Ele/Ela (You/He/She): Add -a -> ele pergunta.
7. 7Nós (We): Add -amos -> nós perguntamos.
8. 8Vocês/Eles/Elas (You all/They): Add -am -> eles perguntam.
9. 9It is like a grammar machine. You put the stem in. You press the "person" button. Out comes the correct verb.

Use perguntar whenever you are seeking a piece of information. Think of it as the "Question Mark Verb."

• Asking for directions: Eu pergunto onde fica o metrô (I ask where the subway is).
• At a restaurant: Você pergunta se tem pratos vegetarianos? (Do you ask if there are vegetarian dishes?).
• In a classroom: Nós perguntamos ao professor (We ask the teacher).
• Meeting people: Eles perguntam o seu nome (They ask your name).

If the result of your sentence is an answer or a fact, perguntar is your guy. It is about curiosity. It is about knowledge. Use it at work during meetings. Use it at the airport for flight info. Use it when you are curious about a friend's day. It is the bridge between "I don't know" and "Now I know."

This is where things get tricky for English speakers. In English, we use "ask" for everything. In Portuguese, we are more specific. Do not use perguntar to request an object. Do not use it to ask for a favor. If you want a coffee, do not use perguntar. If you want someone to open the window, stop right there. In these cases, you need the verb pedir. Think of it like a traffic light. Perguntar is for info (Green light for answers). Pedir is for actions or things (Red light for perguntar). Using the wrong one is a classic "gringo" mistake. It won't break the world, but it might get you a confused look instead of a latte.

• The Preposition Trap: Learners often forget the preposition. You usually ask *to* someone. Use perguntar a or perguntar para. In Brazil, para is king.
• The Pedir Mix-up: This is the big one. Eu pergunto uma cerveja sounds like you are interviewing the beer. Use pedir for the drink!
• Wrong Endings: Some people say eu pergunta. That is like saying "I asks." Keep the o for yourself!
• Overcomplicating: Don't try to use complex tenses yet. Stick to the simple present. It works for 90% of your daily needs. Even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Let's look at perguntar versus questionar. Perguntar is neutral and friendly. It is what you do at the bakery. Questionar is more intense. It feels like an interrogation. You questionar a politician or a suspicious theory. It is a bit formal for a first date.

Then there is indagar. This is the fancy cousin. You will see it in books. You probably won't hear it at a football match. Stick to perguntar for now. It is the most versatile tool in your belt. It is like the "Swiss Army Knife" of curiosity.