Yes/No Questions

In English, we use words like "do," "does," or "is" to start a question. We say, "Do you like coffee?" In Portuguese, you do not need any of that extra baggage. The structure of the sentence stays exactly the same as a statement. The magic happens in your voice. It is all about intonation. You start the sentence at a normal pitch and then raise the pitch on the very last syllable. It is similar to how we sound surprised in English. If you say "You're going?" with a rising tone, you are doing exactly what Portuguese speakers do every day. It is like a grammar traffic light; the words stay the same, but the "color" of your voice changes the meaning from "stop and listen" to "go and answer."

1. 1Creating these questions follows a very predictable three-step process. You do not need a degree in linguistics to master this!
2. 2Start with a basic statement. For example: Você fala inglês (You speak English).
3. 3Keep the word order exactly as it is. Do not move the subject or the verb.
4. 4Add a question mark at the end when writing: Você fala inglês?
5. 5When speaking, raise the pitch of your voice at the end of the sentence.
6. 6That is it! You have just transformed a fact into a question. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes by forgetting the rising tone, which can lead to some funny blank stares. Just imagine telling someone "You are married" instead of asking "Are you married?" at a party. Awkward, right? So, keep that pitch high at the end!

Use Yes/No questions whenever you need a quick confirmation or a simple piece of information. They are perfect for real-world scenarios.

• Ordering Food: You can ask the waiter Tem café? (Is there coffee?) or O prato é grande? (Is the dish big?).
• Asking Directions: If you see a bus, you might ask the driver Este ônibus vai para o centro? (Does this bus go to the center?).
• Socializing: When meeting someone new, ask Você mora aqui? (Do you live here?) or Você gosta de música? (Do you like music?).
• Job Interviews: Even in formal settings, you might ask A empresa é no Rio? (Is the company in Rio?).

These questions are the bread and butter of daily life. They help you navigate the world without needing a 500-page dictionary in your pocket.

Do not use this pattern when you need specific details. If you want to know *why*, *where*, or *when*, you need question words (like onde or por que). A Yes/No question will only get you a "yes" or a "no" (or a repeated verb). For example, if you ask Você vai à festa? (Are you going to the party?), the answer is simple. But if you want to know *who* is going, this pattern won't work. Also, avoid using this if you are trying to give an order. Você limpa o quarto? sounds like a polite request or a question about a habit, not a command to clean the room right now.

The biggest trap for English speakers is trying to translate the word "Do" or "Does." You might be tempted to look for a Portuguese equivalent to start your question. Resist the urge! There is no "Do" in Portuguese questions. If you say "Do você fala?", people will look at you like you just tried to put pineapple on a traditional pizza—confused and slightly hurt. Another mistake is forgetting the rising intonation. If your voice stays flat, people will think you are just stating a fact. It is like a verbal high-five; if you don't lift your hand, the other person doesn't know what to do.

In English, we often flip the subject and the verb: "Are you happy?" vs. "You are happy." In Portuguese, you almost never have to do this for simple questions. While some formal Portuguese (especially in Portugal) might occasionally use different structures, the standard A1 way is to keep it simple. Compared to Spanish, Portuguese is very similar, but the intonation curve can be slightly different. In Portuguese, the rise happens right at the very end, whereas in some Spanish dialects, it starts a bit earlier. Think of Portuguese as the more laid-back cousin who doesn't want to move any furniture (words) just to ask a question.