Fazer Questão de: Insist or Make a Point of Something — Practice

Use fazer questão de when you make a point of doing something

Fazer questão de means that someone considers an action important, makes a point of doing it, or insists on it. Follow questão de with a noun or an infinitive: fazer questão da presença de alguém (insist on someone’s presence) or fazer questão de agradecer (make a point of thanking).

The expression often communicates intention rather than obligation. A person who faz questão de cumprimentar everyone is choosing to make that greeting a priority.

Notice the different tone of não faço questão

With a negative, não faço questão de can mean that something is not especially important to you or that you do not insist on it. Depending on tone, it can sound relaxed or dismissive, so add para mim or explain your preference when you want to keep the answer warm.

Do not confuse fazer questão de with ter que. The first shows importance, preference, or insistence; ter que expresses a necessity or obligation.

Remember: Fazer questão de shows that an action or choice matters to you. Não faço questão de often signals that you do not insist or have no strong preference.

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.

1. I make a point of thanking them in person.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Faço questão de agradecer pessoalmente.

2. She makes a point of including everyone.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela faz questão de incluir todo mundo.

3. They insisted on helping.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eles fizeram questão de ajudar.

4. I don’t mind choosing the restaurant; you can decide.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não faço questão de escolher o restaurante; você pode decidir.

5. I don’t particularly care whether I sit by the window.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Para mim, não faço questão de sentar perto da janela.

6. I have to leave at six.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho que sair às seis.

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.

Fazer questão de shows that an action or choice matters to you. Não faço questão de often signals that you do not insist or have no strong preference.

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 Fazer Questão de: Insist or Make a Point of Something? 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.