Tem vs. Têm: When Does Portuguese Use the Circumflex — 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.
Write tem for a singular subject
Tem is the present form of ter for você, ele, or ela. It is written without an accent. Brazilian Portuguese also uses tem to mean ‘there is/are’ in everyday speech, even when the noun that follows is plural.
When ter belongs to a specific plural subject such as eles, use têm with a circumflex. The subject—not the number of the object after ter—determines the spelling.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ela tem uma pergunta. | She has a question. |
| Você tem tempo hoje? | Do you have time today? |
| Tem muitas opções no cardápio. | There are many options on the menu. (common Brazilian usage) |
Write têm for a plural subject
Têm is the third-person plural form of ter for eles, elas, and vocês. The circumflex distinguishes the plural verb from singular tem. The pronunciation also signals the plural in careful speech, though the written accent is the visible reminder.
Compare ele tem with eles têm and você tem with vocês têm. Keep the same rule when the verb appears in a longer sentence.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Eles têm duas filhas. | They have two daughters. |
| Vocês têm alguma dúvida? | Do you all have any questions? |
| As lojas têm horários diferentes. | The stores have different hours. |
Remember: Use tem for a singular third-person subject and têm for a plural one. In the existential use ‘there is/are,’ Brazilian Portuguese commonly writes tem.
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.
She has a question.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela tem uma pergunta.
Do you have time today?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você tem tempo hoje?
There are many options on the menu. (common Brazilian usage)
Show a Portuguese answer
Tem muitas opções no cardápio.
They have two daughters.
Show a Portuguese answer
Eles têm duas filhas.
Do you all have any questions?
Show a Portuguese answer
Vocês têm alguma dúvida?
The stores have different hours.
Show a Portuguese answer
As lojas têm horários diferentes.
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.
Use tem for a singular third-person subject and têm for a plural one. In the existential use ‘there is/are,’ Brazilian Portuguese commonly writes tem.
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 Tem vs. Têm: When Does Portuguese Use the Circumflex? 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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