Advanced phrasal verbs

Advanced Phrasal Verbs in Portuguese

Unlike English, Portuguese does not have traditional phrasal verbs (verb + particle). Instead, it has locuções verbais (verbal phrases) — multi-word expressions where the meaning cannot be deduced from individual words.

Common Patterns

Verb + preposition + noun:

• Pôr em causa — to call into question (not simply "to put in cause")
• Dar azo a — to give rise to (literary, very C1)
• Fazer face a — to cope with / face up to

Reflexive + preposition:

• Dar-se conta de — to realize (more formal than perceber)
• Dar-se ao trabalho de — to take the trouble to

Register Differences

Many of these expressions have simpler alternatives, but using the phrasal version signals C1 mastery:

• perceber → dar-se conta de (to realize)
• questionar → pôr em causa (to question)
• fazer → levar a cabo (to carry out)
• aparecer → vir a lume (to come to light)

Usage Notes

• Dar azo a is particularly literary — use it in writing or formal speeches
• Passar ao lado de can be literal (to pass by) or figurative (to miss/overlook) — context determines meaning
• Ter em conta vs ter em consideração: both mean "to consider" but ter em conta is slightly more common in speech