Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes

Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin September 13, 2007 Duration: 10:24
asset title: Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes filename: tafalado_gra_14.mp3 track number: 40/46 time: 10:24 size: 7.32 MB bitrate: 96 kbps OK, so you are driving down the freeway and you see a semi going 70 mph and there is a mobile home being pulled along. Well, yes, I do see why that would seem rather shocking to a Brazilian. Thanks go to Valdo and Michelle for making that observation. Grammar-wise, we are also going to talk about dropping direct object pronouns. Better to drop pronouns than mobile homes from semis! Dialog Portuguese Michelle: Você viu aquele caminhão levando aquela casa inteirinha? Valdo: Vi sim. Que coisa, né? Michelle: Pois é, a primeira vez que vi tomei um susto. Você compraria aquela casa pra você? Valdo: Não, não compraria não. Prefiro a minha casa de concreto no Brasil que está bem presa ao chão. E você transportaria sua casa assim com tudo dentro? Michelle: Transportaria sim. Por que? Você não gosta desse sistema não? Valdo: Não gosto muito não. Como já te disse, prefiro minha casa bem presa ao chão. Spanish Michelle: ¿Viste tú aquel camión llevando aquella casa entera? Valdo: Sí lo vi. Qué cosa, ¿verdad? Michelle: Pues, la primera vez que lo vi, me asusté. ¿Comprarías tú aquella casa? Valdo: No, no la compraría. Prefiero que mi casa en Brasil sea de concreto y que esté bien fijada en el suelo. ¿Transportarías tú la casa así con todo adentro? Michelle: Sí, la transportaría. ¿Por qué? ¿A ti no te gusta el sistema? Valdo: No me gusta mucho. Como ya te dije, prefiero una casa que esté en el suelo. English Michelle: Did you see that truck carrying that whole house? Valdo: I did see it. How weird, huh? Michelle: Yeah, the first time that I saw one it surprised me. Would you ever buy that house for you? Valdo: No, I wouldn't buy it. I prefer a concrete home in Brazil that is well attached to the ground. And would you transport your house like that with every thing in it? Michelle: Yes, I would transport it. Why? Don't you like the system here? Valdo: No, I don't like it a lot. As I already told you, I prefer my house to be stuck to the ground.

For anyone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn the distinct sounds of Brazilian Portuguese, Tá Falado is a focused and practical resource. This podcast comes from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and it’s built on a simple, effective idea: your existing knowledge of Spanish is a powerful starting point. Each episode deliberately contrasts the two languages, breaking down specific pronunciation challenges like vowel sounds, nasal consonants, and intonation patterns that often trip up Spanish speakers. You’ll hear clear comparisons and practice examples that highlight these differences directly. Beyond the mechanics of speech, the podcast naturally weaves in cultural notes and real-life scenarios, offering glimpses into daily life and social interactions in Brazil compared to common experiences in the United States. It’s this combination of linguistic precision and cultural context that makes the lessons stick. As part of the broader Brazilpod project, Tá Falado is academically informed but entirely approachable, turning a potentially difficult learning curve into a series of manageable, insightful steps. The goal isn’t just to be understood, but to sound more authentic and confident when speaking.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:29
asset title: Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American filename: tafalado_gra_09.mp3 track number: 35/46 time: 12:29 size: 8.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Who would have ever guessed that Valdo and Mi…
Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:22
asset title: Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance filename: tafalado_gra_08.mp3 track number: 34/46 time: 13:22 size: 9.40 MB bitrate: 96 kbps So why is the plural of alemão alemães, but he p…
Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
asset title: Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés filename: tafalado_gra_06.mp3 track number: 32/46 time: 11:11 size: 7.87 MB bitrate: 96 kbps In this lesson Orlando dreams about being able to use the ve…
Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:39
asset title: Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons filename: tafalado_gra_05.mp3 track number: 31/46 time: 9:39 size: 6.79 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Here's a trick question for Spanish speakers: Would…
Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:55
asset title: Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants filename: tafalado_gra_04.mp3 track number: 30/46 time: 13:55 size: 9.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps When you go, you will buy a soda. If you buy a s…
Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
asset title: Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations filename: tafalado_gra_03.mp3 track number: 29/46 time: 13:15 size: 9.31 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The plural of Brazil, if there were two of them, would be 'Brasis…
Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:20
asset title: Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine filename: tafalado_gra_02.mp3 track number: 28/46 time: 12:20 size: 8.67 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Can you believe how many contractions Portuguese has…
Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar,  Sitting on the Grass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:49
asset title: Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar, Sitting on the Grass filename: tafalado_gra_01.mp3 track number: 27/46 time: 10:49 size: 7.61 MB bitrate: 96 kbps We've made a switch. Welcome back to all who have previo…
Supplementary Lesson 2: Portuguese Consonant Sounds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:33
asset title: Supplementary Lesson 2: Portuguese Consonant Sounds filename: tafalado_suppl_02.mp3 track number: 26/46 time: 5:33 size: 3.90 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Unlike the regular podcast lessons, we've included some other…