Lembrar vs. Esquecer: When Does Portuguese Use ‘De’ — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use a direct object for the thing remembered or forgotten
In common Brazilian usage, lembrar algo and esquecer algo take the remembered item directly: lembrar o nome (remember the name), esquecer a chave (forget the key).
You may also hear lembrar-se de and esquecer-se de, especially in careful or written language. The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject: me lembro, se esqueceu.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Lembro o nome dela, mas esqueci o sobrenome. | I remember her first name, but I forgot her last name. |
| Você lembra o endereço? | Do you remember the address? |
| Ele se esqueceu do ingresso. | He forgot the ticket. |
Use de before an action you need to remember or forgot
When the next idea is an infinitive action, de is common: lembrar de ligar (remember to call), esquecer de responder (forget to reply). The same phrase can introduce a topic after lembrar-se or esquecer-se.
In spontaneous speech, forms vary. Learn both the direct-object pattern and the de pattern so you can recognize the range you will hear.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Lembra de me mandar a foto. | Remember to send me the photo. |
| Esqueci de comprar pão. | I forgot to buy bread. |
| Ela se lembrou de fechar a janela. | She remembered to close the window. |
Remember: A thing can follow lembrar or esquecer directly; an action commonly appears as de + infinitive. Reflexive forms with de are also widely used.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
I remember her first name, but I forgot her last name.
Show a Portuguese answer
Lembro o nome dela, mas esqueci o sobrenome.
Do you remember the address?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você lembra o endereço?
He forgot the ticket.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ele se esqueceu do ingresso.
Remember to send me the photo.
Show a Portuguese answer
Lembra de me mandar a foto.
I forgot to buy bread.
Show a Portuguese answer
Esqueci de comprar pão.
She remembered to close the window.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela se lembrou de fechar a janela.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
A thing can follow lembrar or esquecer directly; an action commonly appears as de + infinitive. Reflexive forms with de are also widely used.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Lembrar vs. Esquecer: When Does Portuguese Use ‘De’? lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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