Personal Infinitives After Impersonal

Impersonal expressions start with é plus an adjective. Examples include é bom, é difícil, or é necessário. Usually, these phrases introduce a general truth. If I say é bom correr, I mean running is good for everyone. But what if I want to say it is good for *us* to run? That is where the personal infinitive steps in. You take the base verb and add a specific ending. This ending tells us exactly who the subject is. You don't need to change the é part. You only change the second verb. It is like a relay race. The impersonal expression starts the sentence. The personal infinitive crosses the finish line with the subject. It is elegant and efficient. Even native speakers find it handy for avoiding long sentences. Just remember: if there is a specific person involved, conjugate that verb!

1. 1Conjugating the personal infinitive is surprisingly easy. It looks almost exactly like the regular infinitive. For many forms, you just add a small suffix to the end of the verb. Here is how you do it:
2. 2Start with the base infinitive (e.g., falar, comer, abrir).
3. 3For eu, keep it the same as the base. No change needed!
4. 4For tu, add -es to the end (e.g., falares).
5. 5For ele/ela/você, keep it the same as the base. Easy, right?
6. 6For nós, add -mos to the end (e.g., falarmos).
7. 7For eles/elas/vocês, add -en (wait, no, it's -em!) to the end (e.g., falarem).
8. 8Notice a pattern? The eu and ele forms are identical to the impersonal infinitive. You only really need to learn three endings: -es, -mos, and -em. It is much simpler than the present tense or the subjunctive. No irregular stems to memorize here! Even irregular verbs like ir or ser follow this exact pattern. It is the one time Portuguese grammar actually plays fair.

You use this pattern when an impersonal expression refers to a specific subject. Imagine you are at a job interview. You might hear: É essencial vocês chegarem a horas. The recruiter isn't talking about everyone in the world. They are talking specifically about *you* and the other candidates. Here are some common scenarios:

• Giving specific advice: É melhor tu comeres agora. (It is better for you to eat now).
• Setting conditions in a group: É fundamental nós terminarmos o projeto. (It is fundamental that we finish the project).
• Expressing necessity for others: É preciso eles saberem a verdade. (It is necessary for them to know the truth).
• Professional settings: É importante o senhor assinar este documento. (It is important for you (formal) to sign this document).

If you can identify a clear "who" for the second verb, use the personal infinitive. It adds clarity without the weight of a que clause. It feels modern and direct. Think of it like a grammar shortcut that actually makes you look smarter.

Don't get too excited and use it everywhere! If the statement is truly general, stay with the impersonal infinitive. If you are talking about a universal truth, don't conjugate. For example: É proibido fumar. This applies to everyone, not just a specific group. If you said É proibido fumarem, you would be telling a specific group they can't smoke. That sounds a bit weird in a general sign! Also, avoid it if the subject of the first verb is the same as the second. But wait—impersonal expressions don't have subjects! That makes this rule easier. However, if you use a que (conjunction), you must use the subjunctive instead. É importante que nós falemos (Subjunctive) vs É importante falarmos (Personal Infinitive). You can't mix them. It is one or the other. Choose the personal infinitive to sound more sophisticated and concise.

The biggest trap is over-conjugating. Don't add endings when the subject is general. É bom estudarmos means it is good for *us* to study. É bom estudar means studying is good in general. Another classic mistake is using the wrong endings. Many learners accidentally use the present tense endings. Remember: it is nós falarmos, not nós falamos. That extra r is vital! Also, watch out for the eles form. It ends in -em, not -am. Falarem, not falaram. If you use -am, you are talking about the past! That would be a very confusing conversation. Finally, don't use the personal infinitive after que. If you see que, your brain should immediately switch to the subjunctive. It is like a grammar traffic light. Que means stop and change gears.

How does this differ from the Subjunctive? Both can express necessity. É preciso que tu vás (Subjunctive) and É preciso tu ires (Personal Infinitive) mean the same thing. The personal infinitive is often shorter. It feels more direct in spoken Portuguese. In Portugal, the personal infinitive is extremely common. In Brazil, it is used more in writing or formal speech. However, both regions understand and use it. Compared to the impersonal infinitive, the personal version is all about the "who". The impersonal version is all about the "what". If you want to point a finger (politely!) at someone, use the personal infinitive. If you are just making a broad observation, keep it impersonal. It's the difference between saying "Exercise is good" and "It's good for you to exercise."