{"id":7741,"date":"2017-10-25T13:36:31","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T13:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/?p=7741"},"modified":"2017-10-23T18:26:16","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T18:26:16","slug":"the-verbs-acostumar-and-costumar-in-portuguese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/the-verbs-acostumar-and-costumar-in-portuguese\/","title":{"rendered":"The verbs ‘acostumar’ and ‘costumar’ in Portuguese"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ei, pessoal! Hi, guys!<\/span><\/p>\n

Voc\u00eas costumam estudar Portugu\u00eas com frequ\u00eancia? Do you usually study Portuguese often?<\/span><\/p>\n

Today we will learn about two verbs that are frequently used in Portuguese:<\/span> acostumar<\/b> e <\/span>costumar<\/b>. Although they look practically the same and have very similar functions, they actually have slightly different meaning, in addition to being used in different constructions<\/span><\/p>\n

But first, check out their conjugation in the present tense: <\/span><\/p>\n

COSTUMAR<\/b><\/h3>\n

eu<\/b> costumo<\/span><\/h3>\n

voc\u00ea<\/b> costuma<\/span><\/h3>\n

ele<\/b> costuma<\/span><\/h3>\n

n\u00f3s<\/b> costumamos<\/span><\/h3>\n

voc\u00eas<\/b> \u00a0costumam<\/span><\/h3>\n

eles<\/b> costumam<\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

ACOSTUMAR<\/b><\/h3>\n

eu<\/b> acostumo<\/span><\/h3>\n

voc\u00ea<\/b> acostuma<\/span><\/h3>\n

ele<\/b> acostuma<\/span><\/h3>\n

n\u00f3s<\/b> acostumamos<\/span><\/h3>\n

voc\u00eas<\/b> acostumam<\/span><\/h3>\n

eles<\/b> acostumam<\/span><\/h3>\n

Both derive from the word <\/span>costume<\/span><\/i>, meaning custom. So, we use <\/span>acostumar<\/b> and <\/span>costumar<\/b> to talk about our habits.\u00a0And there is also the collocation \u2018estar acostumado\u2019 (to be used to). The distinction is that <\/span>acostumar <\/b>refers to a habit that we progressively acquire, something that we obtain over time whereas <\/span>costumar <\/b>is a constant practice, a repetitive action that is part of our routine. Therefore:<\/span><\/p>\n

ACOSTUMAR-SE – to acquire a habit over time<\/span><\/h3>\n

COSTUMAR – an already established habit<\/span><\/h3>\n

So take a look at the difference:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Minha m\u00e3e <\/span>costuma<\/b> ler o jornal todas as manh\u00e3s | My mom<\/span> usually<\/span><\/i> reads the newspaper every morning<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Minha m\u00e3e <\/span>acostumou-se<\/b> a ler o jornal todas as manh\u00e3s | My mom <\/span>got used to<\/span><\/i> reading the newspaper every morning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the first example, I am affirming that my mother is – and has been, for a long period of time – in the habit of reading the newspaper. In the second sentence, however, I am saying that my mother didn\u2019t have this habit, but gained it over time. <\/span><\/p>\n

    So, the most appropriate translation for each verb would normally be the structure <\/span>be\/get used to<\/span><\/i> for <\/span>acostumar<\/b> and the adverb <\/span>usually<\/span><\/i> to express <\/span>costumar <\/b>in the present. <\/span><\/p>\n

    And how do we form sentences with <\/span>acostumar<\/b> and <\/span>costumar<\/b>? Look:<\/span><\/p>\n

    COSTUMAR + verb in the infinitive <\/span><\/h3>\n

    ACOSTUMAR + a\/ com<\/span><\/h3>\n

    See the examples below:<\/span><\/p>\n