Vamos sair?
Chapter Overview
This chapter opens Unit III by giving you the tools to talk about the future: making plans, inviting someone to do something, accepting or declining, and discussing the weather and weekend leisure. The central pattern is ir + infinitivo — the same verb ir you already use for movement (Capítulo 8) now points toward something you are going to do. You will also meet vamos as an invitation form, connect ideas with porque, and learn to recognize the Brazilian progressive (estar + gerúndio) when other people use it to talk about what is happening right now.
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- State future plans using ir + infinitivo.
- Invite someone to do something using vamos + infinitivo.
- Accept and decline invitations appropriately, and give a reason using porque.
- Talk about the weather and typical weekend or leisure activities.
- Recognize the Brazilian progressive (estar + gerúndio) when it describes an action happening right now.
- Combine these systems into a short spoken and written exchange about weekend plans.
Communication Scenario
A friend calls or messages to ask about weekend plans. The two of you decide what to do together, check the weather, and confirm a time and place — recycling the routine, food, location, and shopping language from Unit II.
- This chapter activates ir + infinitivo, vamos, future time expressions, and porque for the first time.
- The Brazilian progressive (estar + gerúndio) appears only as a recognition item in this chapter; you do not need to produce it yourself yet.
- You may invent your own plans, weather, and activities if you prefer not to describe a real weekend.
Core Vocabulary
The following vocabulary supports making plans, inviting, and talking about weather and leisure. Continue using the food, routine, location, and shopping vocabulary from Chapters 6–9 as needed.
| Portuguese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| o fim de semana | the weekend | masculine noun |
| amanhã | tomorrow | time expression |
| depois de amanhã | the day after tomorrow | time expression |
| esta semana / semana que vem | this week / next week | time expressions |
| sair | to go out | regular -ir verb, active since Cap. 7 |
| convidar | to invite | regular -ar verb |
| o convite | the invitation | masculine noun |
| aceitar | to accept | regular -ar verb |
| recusar | to decline | regular -ar verb |
| o cinema, a praia, o parque, o show | the movies, the beach, the park, the show | leisure places |
| o tempo | the weather | false-friend caution: also means "time" |
| faz sol, faz calor, faz frio, está chovendo | it's sunny, it's hot, it's cold, it's raining | formulaic weather expressions; está chovendo is progressive, recognition only |
| talvez | maybe | useful for softening plans |
| claro que sim / infelizmente não posso | of course / unfortunately I can't | formulaic accept/decline formulas |
All nouns are listed with gender information where relevant. Diacritics must be preserved in every written use of this vocabulary.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
Use this pattern to say what you or someone else is going to do, without conjugating a second verb.
- Nós vamos sair no sábado. We are going to go out on Saturday. ir (nós) + sair (infinitive)
- Você vai trabalhar no fim de semana? Are you going to work this weekend? ir (você) + trabalhar (infinitive)
- Eles vão comer no restaurante novo. They are going to eat at the new restaurant. ir (eles) + comer (infinitive)
Vamos is the nós form of ir, but on its own it also works as "Let's," inviting someone to join an activity.
- Vamos ao cinema hoje à noite? Shall we go to the movies tonight?
- Vamos comer alguma coisa! Let's eat something!
Compare: Nós vamos ao cinema (a plain statement, "We are going to the movies") versus Vamos ao cinema? (an invitation, "Shall we go to the movies?"). Rising intonation or a question mark signals the invitation reading.
Use porque to explain why you accept, decline, or make a particular plan.
- Não posso sair hoje porque preciso trabalhar. I can't go out today because I need to work.
- Vamos ao parque porque faz sol. Let's go to the park because it's sunny.
Distinguish porque (because, joining a reason to a statement) from por que (why, used in questions). Only porque is activated for production in this chapter.
Brazilian Portuguese has a separate way of saying that something is happening right now: estar + gerúndio (the -ando/-endo/-indo form). You will meet it in this chapter only as a recognition item — for example, in the weather expression está chovendo ("it's raining") or in a friend's message saying Estou fazendo planos ("I'm making plans"). You are not expected to produce these forms independently yet; the progressive becomes an active productive system beginning in Chapter 12.
Model Dialogue
Note está chovendo in Marina's message: a progressive form for recognition only. Everything else in this exchange uses systems activated in this chapter or earlier.
Guided Practice
- Reread the model dialogue and underline every example of ir + infinitivo.
- Complete each sentence with the correct form of ir: Eu ______ sair no sábado. / Nós ______ ao parque amanhã. / Eles ______ comer no restaurante.
- Turn each statement into an invitation using Vamos...?: Nós vamos ao cinema. → ______? / Nós vamos comer pizza. → ______?
- Join each pair of sentences with porque: Eu não posso sair hoje. Eu preciso trabalhar. / Vamos ao parque. Faz sol.
Listening Task
If no audio recording is available, ask a partner, instructor, or text-to-speech tool to read the script below aloud, or read it aloud to yourself slowly.
- Why is the speaker going to the market on Saturday morning?
- Why is the speaker going to the beach?
- What is the speaker going to do on Sunday, and why?
Speaking Task
Prática controlada — Controlled practice: three sentences
Say each sentence aloud about your own weekend: Eu vou ______. (a plan); Vamos ______? (an invitation to a partner); Eu não posso ______ porque ______. (a decline with a reason)
Tarefa comunicativa — Communicative task: plan a weekend together
With a partner, invite each other to at least two activities using Vamos...?. Accept at least one invitation and decline at least one with a reason using porque. Mention the weather at least once.
Prática individual — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your plans for the next three days, using ir + infinitivo and at least one future time expression such as amanhã or semana que vem.
Reading Task
Uma mensagem de Rafael
Oi, Camila! Como você está? Estou pensando no fim de semana. Você quer sair no sábado? Podemos ir ao parque, porque faz sol e calor esta semana. Se chover, vamos ao cinema. Eu estou trabalhando muito esta semana, mas no sábado eu estou livre o dia todo. Depois do parque, vamos comer alguma coisa perto da praça? Me avise se você pode!
Notice estou pensando, estou trabalhando, and estou livre in this message. The progressive forms are for recognition only; estou livre uses estar with an adjective, already active since Capítulo 4.
Tarefa de leitura — Reading task:
- What does Rafael suggest doing on Saturday, and why?
- What is the backup plan if it rains?
- What does Rafael suggest doing after the park?
Writing Task
Complete the following linked writing tasks in order to build a short message inviting a friend to do something this weekend.
Tarefa 1 — Plan: Write one sentence stating a plan using ir + infinitivo and a future time expression.
Tarefa 2 — Invitation: Write one invitation using Vamos...?.
Tarefa 3 — Reason and decline: Write one sentence declining an invitation and explaining why with porque.
Tarefa 4 — Full message: Combine Tarefas 1–3 into one short message of five to six sentences inviting a friend to do something this weekend, following the model of Rafael's message in the Reading Task.
- Draft each section separately. Write the plan, invitation, and decline-with-reason sentences one at a time before combining them.
- Combine the sections into one message. Add a greeting at the start, recycled from Chapter 1.
- Check the ir + infinitivo pattern. Confirm that ir agrees with the subject and the second verb stays in the infinitive.
- Check porque. Confirm it introduces a reason and is spelled as one word, distinct from por que.
- Check diacritics. Confirm that forms such as vamos, às vezes, and até keep their correct spelling.
Lista de revisão — Editing checklist:
- The message includes a greeting, a stated plan, an invitation, and a decline with a reason.
- ir + infinitivo is used correctly, with subject agreement only on ir.
- vamos is used correctly as an invitation where intended.
- porque is used correctly to give a reason.
- All diacritics are preserved.
Culture and Communication
Among many Brazilian friend groups, weekend plans are often confirmed close to the day itself rather than scheduled far in advance, and messaging apps are a common way to coordinate. Weather frequently shapes plans, since outdoor activities such as the beach or a park are popular whenever the forecast allows, though this varies by city, region, and personal preference.
Weather patterns and popular weekend activities differ across Brazil's regions and across other Lusophone countries — for example, beach culture is far more central in coastal cities than in inland ones. This chapter continues the Brazilian production model established earlier in the volume; other regional patterns remain recognition only unless a later chapter labels and activates them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: Saying Eu vou como pizza, conjugating both verbs.
Correction: Only ir agrees with the subject; the second verb stays in the infinitive: Eu vou comer pizza.
Error: Writing Por que preciso trabalhar to mean "because I need to work."
Correction: Use porque (one word) for "because": Não posso sair porque preciso trabalhar. Por que (two words) is reserved for asking "why."
Error: Attempting to build new estar + gerúndio sentences from scratch, such as inventing Eu estou planejando um viagem without guidance.
Correction: In this chapter, recognize the progressive when you read or hear it, such as in está chovendo, but rely on ir + infinitivo for your own plans. Independent progressive production begins in Chapter 12.
Chapter Summary
O que você praticou — What you practiced
This chapter activated ir + infinitivo for stating future plans, vamos as an invitation form, porque for giving reasons, and future time expressions, while introducing the Brazilian progressive as a recognition-only item. You practiced these systems by inviting, accepting, declining, and discussing weather and leisure across listening, speaking, reading, and writing tasks.
Chapter Review
Parte A — Compreensão (Comprehension)
1. Return to the Model Dialogue, and answer these short questions.
- What does Thiago say he might do this weekend?
- Why can't Thiago talk about plans right at that moment?
Parte B — Escrita (Writing)
1. Write one sentence with ir + infinitivo and one invitation with vamos.
2. Write one sentence declining an invitation with porque.
Parte C — Leitura (Reading)
1. Return to the Uma mensagem de Rafael passage in the Reading Task, and list the two possible plans Rafael mentions for Saturday.
Parte D — Fala (Speaking)
1. Tell a partner about two plans for next week, using ir + infinitivo for each.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 11 Practical Check
Vamos sair? Making Weekend Plans
Complete the following connected tasks, in order, as one integrated performance.
- Read the Uma mensagem de Rafael passage. Answer the comprehension questions above before continuing.
- State a plan. Use ir + infinitivo with a future time expression.
- Invite someone. Use Vamos...?.
- Accept or decline. Give a reason using porque if you decline.
- Mention the weather. Use a formulaic weather expression such as faz sol or faz frio.
- Combine all five into one spoken and written exchange about weekend plans, applying the editing checklist from the Writing Task.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Future plans | The learner uses ir + infinitivo correctly, with agreement only on ir. |
| Invitations | The learner uses vamos correctly as an invitation form. |
| Reasons | The learner uses porque correctly to explain an accept or decline. |
| Weather and leisure | The learner uses weather and leisure vocabulary accurately and appropriately. |
| Diacritics and spelling | The learner preserves diacritics throughout, including vamos, até, and às vezes. |
This checkpoint uses only material activated through Chapter 11. The Brazilian progressive remains recognition only in this chapter and is not assessed for production.
Answer Key
Guided Practice
- Sample: vai fazer, vou estudar, vou à praia, Vamos também, vamos combinar — other correct identifications from the dialogue are also acceptable.
- vou / vamos / vão
- Vamos ao cinema? / Vamos comer pizza?
- Eu não posso sair hoje porque preciso trabalhar. / Vamos ao parque porque faz sol.
Listening Task — Comprehension
- The speaker goes to the market because they need to buy fruit (precisa comprar frutas).
- The speaker goes to the beach because it's sunny and hot (faz sol e calor).
- The speaker is going to rest at home on Sunday because they think it's going to rain (acho que vai chover).
Reading Task
- Rafael suggests going to the park because it's sunny and hot; if it rains, they will go to the movies instead. After the park, he suggests eating something near the square.
Chapter Review
- Thiago says he might study this weekend (talvez eu vá estudar); he can't talk about plans right now because he needs to work.
- Sample: Eu vou viajar semana que vem. / Vamos ao parque amanhã? (other accurate sentences following the same patterns are also correct)
- Sample: Não posso ir porque preciso estudar. (other accurate porque sentences are also correct)
- The park (o parque) and the movies (o cinema).
Looking Ahead
O que você já sabe fazer — What you can do now
You can state future plans, invite someone to join you, accept or decline with a reason, and talk about weather and weekend leisure — while recognizing the Brazilian progressive when others use it to describe what is happening right now.