Introduction

Relevance of the theme

Imagine that each word we use is like an incredible toy capable of creating stories, describing the world around us, and sharing our thoughts and feelings. Among these special toys, verbs are like the superheroes of words! They bring sentences to life, showing action, events, and even states and conditions. That is why verbs are fundamental in the study of the Portuguese language. Without them, it would be impossible to tell an exciting adventure, report an amazing day, or even express what we wish for the future. Verbs provide movement and energy to communication, allowing us to share not only what we do but also what we feel and think.

Contextualization

Within the vast universe that is the Portuguese language, verbs hold a prominent place and are studied from the early years in school. As we progress in our educational journey, it becomes essential to understand more deeply how verbs work and how to use them correctly. Verbs are like pieces of a puzzle; when fitted correctly, they help form a clear and understandable picture of what we want to convey. Therefore, this chapter is an important step in the Portuguese curriculum of the early years, as by understanding verbs, their functions, and how to flex them in different tenses, we are building a solid foundation for effective communication and the deepening of more complex knowledge in the future.

Theory

Examples and cases

Let's start with a little word treasure hunt! Imagine you found a magical diary where each day tells a new adventure. On one page, it says 'I run in the park.' On another, 'I ran on the beach.' And on a third one, 'I will run in the forest.' Did you notice something different in each of these sentences? They all talk about running, but at different times. These variations show us that verbs can tell stories of yesterday, today, or tomorrow! And through these stories, you have already begun to understand verb tenses without even realizing it!

Components

What is a Verb?

Verbs are magical words that express actions, states, or natural phenomena. They are the beating heart of any sentence because without them, no action could be performed or narrated. If we think of a play, verbs would be the actors, always ready to enter the stage and bring the sentences' spectacle to life.

For example, 'to jump,' 'to eat,' 'to be,' and 'to rain' are all verbs that tell us what is happening. They can change according to who is performing the action and when that action takes place. Therefore, verbs flex in person (who does), number (how many do), but also in tense (when does), mood (how does), and even voice (who receives the action).

When thinking about verbs, always imagine the idea of movement and change, as they are dynamic and transform to tell different parts of our story. If a word answers the question 'What is happening?', then most likely, it is a verb you have found.

Verb Tenses: Present, Past, and Future

Verb tenses are like different outfits that a verb can wear to tell us when something happened, is happening, or will happen. If we imagine a timeline, verbs in the present tense would be right here, in the now, as if they were waving at us. Verbs in the past would be like old photos showing what has already happened, and verbs in the future would be like a telescope pointing to adventures that are yet to come.

A clear example of this is the verb 'to play.' In the present, we say 'I play.' In the past, we change it to 'I played.' And in the future, we transform it into 'I will play.' Each form is telling a story of a different time, even if the action is the same. It's amazing how, just by changing the verb form, we can time travel with words!

It is important to realize that for each person in the discourse (I, you, he/she...), the verb will change in a specific way, and this conjugation helps identify clearly who is performing the action and at what moment it occurs.

Deepening the theme

Now that you know that verbs are the superheroes of words and that verb tenses allow us to time travel, let's explore a bit more! Verbs not only tell us what happens but also how and when it happens. They have the incredible ability to adapt to the context, changing shape to fit the person performing the action and the moment the action takes place. It's as if verbs were talented artists, capable of transforming into different characters to tell various stories.

Notice how the sentences 'I always study at night' and 'Yesterday I studied until late' talk about the same action, but one is in the present and the other in the past. This completely changes the meaning of the sentence, showing the power of verbs to shape our understanding of time and action.

Key terms

Verb: A word that indicates action, state, or natural phenomenon and is essential for constructing meaningful sentences.

Verb Tenses: Variations of verbs that indicate the moment when the action, state, or phenomenon expressed by the verb occurs - past, present, or future.

Conjugation: The process of altering the verb form to agree with the person, number, tense, mood, and voice of the sentence.

Practice

Reflection on the theme

Imagine how it would be if we couldn't tell people what we did over the weekend, what we are doing now, or what our plans are for the next vacation. How would we feel if we couldn't express whether we have finished our homework, are in the process of finishing it, or haven't started yet? Verbs are essential because they help us share our story and communicate with each other clearly and precisely. They are the key to understanding not only what someone is doing but also when and how they are doing it, connecting us with our own experiences and those of others.

Introductory exercises

Identify the verb in the sentence and say if it is in the present, past, or future: 'Tomorrow I will go to the cinema with my friends.'

Conjugate the verb 'to jump' in the present for all persons in the discourse (I, you, he/she, we, you, they).

Change the sentence 'They sing in the school choir' to the past and to the future.

Create a sentence using the verb 'to study' in the present, another in the past, and another in the future.

Draw three comics: in the first one, show someone performing an action in the present, in the second, the same action in the past, and in the third, in the future. Write the corresponding sentence below each comic.

Think of an action you enjoy doing. Now, write three sentences about this action, one in each verb tense: present, past, and future.

Projects and Research

Verb Diary Project: Create a small diary where, for each day of the week, you will write down an activity you did (past), are doing (present), or will do (future). At the end of the week, share with the class some of your sentences and observe how your classmates used verbs differently.

Expanding

Verbs not only tell what happens but can also show how we feel about these actions. Words like 'loved,' 'like,' and 'will like' express our feelings and are verbs as well. Moreover, verbs can be used to ask questions ('Did you play in the park?'), give orders ('Study now!'), or make invitations ('Come play!'). Understanding how verbs fit into these different situations helps us grasp their power and importance in everyday communication.

Conclusion

Conclusions

We have reached the end of our adventure through verbs, and now we know how important they are in constructing meaningful sentences. We have discovered that verbs are the superheroes of words because without them, sentences lose action, movement, and life. With verbs, we can tell not only what we do but also when and how we do it. We have learned to time travel with verb tenses, using the present to talk about now, the past to recount what we have already experienced, and the future to dream and plan what we will still experience.

Understanding verbs also means recognizing the magic of conjugation, which is like a special trick that changes the verb form to match the different moments and people involved in the story. Each of us can be a word magician, knowing how to conjugate verbs correctly. And, like any good magician, we need to practice to perfect our tricks, meaning we must practice verb conjugation in different tenses to communicate our ideas clearly.

Finally, verbs do more than just tell actions; they also express our feelings and help us interact with others through questions, orders, and invitations. Thus, we realize that by mastering the use of verbs, we become better storytellers, communicators, and creators of connections with the people around us. Remember, every time you use a verb, you are giving life to your sentences and sharing a bit of your world with others!