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This course is for intermediate learners.
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You’ll get the most out of this course if you can already hold everyday conversations in Portuguese — even if you still make small mistakes or get stuck sometimes.
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The course is entirely in Portuguese — from the story to the explanations and exercises. But don’t worry: key examples are also shown in English, so you can clearly see how the two languages differ and understand why certain mistakes happen.
Tackle Verb–Preposition Combos in Portuguese through a Story-Based Approach
Get the hang of 25 everyday verbs in Portuguese — and the prepositions that come with them. Who says grammar has to be scary or boring? Learn through story-based lessons, real-life examples, and hands-on practice — all working together to finally make everything click. Perfect for intermediate learners.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- You say “sobre”, they say it’s “com”… but in English it’s “about,” not “with.”
- You’ve come a long way — but friends still correct you, and it’s frustrating.
- You say it how you’d say it in English — but it doesn’t land right in Portuguese.
Here’s what’s going on
Using prepositions in another language is tricky — because literal translations don’t work. I face this same challenge when speaking English.
For example, in English we say “I’m worried about you,” but in Portuguese it’s “Estou preocupada com você.”
Same idea, different preposition.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Sometimes Portuguese needs a preposition where English doesn’t — and vice-versa.
And sometimes, the verb that follows the preposition is used in a different verb tense.
It’s not for the faint of heart 😂 — but I’ve got you. I’ll break it down clearly, show you exactly where things go wrong, and how to fix them.
You’re already doing so well.
This will help everything flow more naturally.
Understand exactly why you’re using the wrong preposition — and learn how to fix it
You’ll stop repeating the same mistakes and start saying things the right way, without needing to think twice.
Learn the right combinations — and they’ll start to stick
Instead of wondering if it’s com, sobre, de, or em, you’ll start remembering the right one through practice, examples, and context.
Grow your vocabulary and pick up natural expressions
Each lesson introduces practical new words and colloquial phrases — the kind of language we Brazilians actually use every day.
You’ll notice things start clicking — and your Portuguese feels smoother
You’ll get fewer corrections from friends, and you’ll finally speak in a way that feels smooth, clear, and satisfying — like the language is finally working with you.
This isn’t just grammar.
It’s a story. It’s practice. It’s progress.
And yes — it’s fun.
Introducing
Bootcamp de Verbos e Preposições em Português
This course gives you everything you need to finally get 25 key verb + preposition combinations right. You’ll follow a short story, work with real-life examples, and practice in context — so you can spot what’s been throwing you off and start using the right structures with confidence.
But 25 verbs don’t seem like a lot…
Sure — I could hand you a list of dozens of Portuguese verbs with all the prepositions they take. Some verbs even take more than one, and that can change what you’re saying.
Would you suddenly be able to use them all correctly? Probably not.
Instead, we zoom in on practical, real-life verbs — the ones you actually use in everyday conversations, both personal and professional.
You’ll practice them in context, get them right, and start speaking with more flow and confidence.
“Even though I already knew a lot, I still learned something new — and the way you lined up English and Portuguese helped me finally understand why I keep making these mistakes.”
David C.
Advanced speaker
What’s inside the Bootcamp — chapter by chapter
Follow Anna, a foreigner preparing for her first trip to Brazil. As she plans, travels, and builds her life there, you’ll learn 25 everyday verb + preposition combinations in real-life context — along with useful vocabulary and natural expressions.
The course is entirely in Portuguese, with clear examples showing Portuguese and English side by side to highlight the differences in structure.
Course Content
Anna is about to make her dream of visiting Brazil come true! 🎉
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use key verbs that show up all the time in everyday conversations — both in personal life and at work: começar, confiar, precisar, preocupar-se, and sonhar.
You’ll also expand your travel vocabulary as you follow Anna’s first steps toward Brazil — planning, preparing, and dreaming big.
Anna is putting the final touches on her plans for Brazil.
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use everyday verbs that often cause confusion — even for intermediate learners: agradecer, ajudar, comprometer-se, contar, pensar, and querer.
You’ll also review some verbs from Chapter 1 and keep expanding your travel vocabulary as Anna gets closer to takeoff.
Anna explores Rio de Janeiro, learns to dance samba, tries new foods, and makes new friends along the way.
In this chapter, you’ll learn to use common verbs that show up in everyday experiences — from emotions to learning moments: amar, apaixonar-se, aprender, ensinar, and experimentar.
You’ll also review verbs from earlier chapters and pick up 6 wonderful expressions to make your Portuguese sound even more natural 🤩
Anna decides to try building a life in Brazil — and starts searching for a job 💼
In this chapter, you’ll work with high-frequency verbs related to decisions, obstacles, and personal effort:
deixar, desistir, lutar, parar, reclamar, and tentar.
You’ll also review previously studied verbs and learn 8 great expressions to help your conversations sound more fluent and natural.
Anna is preparing her résumé in Portuguese, shopping for work clothes, and getting ready for job interviews.
Since you’ve already learned a lot, this chapter introduces just three new verbs — but they’re powerful for everyday conversations and work life:
adorar, esforçar-se, and lidar.
You’ll also review previously studied verbs, learn work-related vocabulary, and pick up 5 new awesome expressions to bring even more Brazilian flair to your Portuguese 🇧🇷
Anna overcomes challenges in Brazil and turns her journey into a positive, enriching experience.
This chapter doesn’t introduce new verbs — instead, it gives you the chance to review and reinforce what you’ve already learned.
Review is essential for building real fluency. It’s how you turn knowledge into habit and start using verb–preposition combos automatically.
With practice, you’ll feel more confident using these structures in any conversation.
Now that you’ve completed the full story, you’ll find the entire narrative available here in audio format — one chapter at a time.
Use it to sharpen your listening skills, reinforce what you’ve learned, and keep the Portuguese flowing in your ears (and brain).
It’s a great way to review vocabulary, internalize structures, and enjoy the story all over again — this time with no subtitles.
You also get:
- Lifetime access to the course so you can review the lessons and redo the exercises any time you need a refresher — because no one remembers everything the first time.
- Access to a private student community where I personally answer your questions
- A certificate of completion to celebrate your progress!
Designed for learners who already speak some Portuguese
"This Bootcamp de Verbos e Preposições course ....rocks!!"
David F.
Intermediate Portuguese speaker living in Brazil
David C.
Advanced speaker
You explain everything so clearly, and the comparisons with English are extremely helpful. They’ve made me realize that when I speak (without enough time to think), I often make these kinds of mistakes. I’ve been watching the course videos over and over. Some programs seem to cover topics superficially and then move on. You offer so much that I find myself reviewing multiple times. Congratulations! I’m looking forward to more.
David F.
Intermediate speaker
Thanks, I needed that! Professora Luciana and "StreetSmart Brazil" rule!! With this course Professora Luciana, once again, demonstrates her commitment to highly informative content, delivered with exceptional skill - both personally and technically. The road to the achievement of our goal to become serious, fluent speakers of Portuguese runs directly through the carefully crafted and elegantly produced courses of StreetSmart Brazil! Ponto final!
Keith
Intermediate Speaker
A big help at the right time.
This course helped me to understand the correct preposition(s) to use with popular verbs (some not needing a preposition at all), how to avoid common mistakes, and even some handy sayings that I was not aware of beforehand. And of course I also learned some new verbs along the way. It is a lot of information to take in, and thus will of course require additional time, practice, and repetition.
This course helped me to understand the correct preposition(s) to use with popular verbs (some not needing a preposition at all), how to avoid common mistakes, and even some handy sayings that I was not aware of beforehand. And of course I also learned some new verbs along the way. It is a lot of information to take in, and thus will of course require additional time, practice, and repetition.
Go from almost right to just right 🤩
Sure, using the wrong preposition won’t always stop the conversation — people usually get what you mean.
But imagine your Brazilian friend said, “I’m worried with you” or “You can count with me.”
You’d understand them, right? But it sounds a little off, doesn’t it?
This course helps you fix that.
Conheça Sua Professora de Português
Luciana Lage
Olá 👋 Tudo bem?
I’ve been teaching Brazilian Portuguese for nearly 20 years — including at UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco.
What I love most is helping learners reach that moment when everything clicks — when they say, “I finally get this!”
That moment of clarity, when their eyes light up — that’s why I do this.
I see Portuguese like a sculpture: by the time you’re an intermediate speaker, the shape is already there — the form exists.
Now it’s time to refine the details, smooth out the edges, and bring the language to life with clarity and precision.
That’s exactly what this course helps you do.
And I get it — not just as a teacher, but as a learner too.
I’m fluent in English, but I know what it’s like to feel fluent and still make those small mistakes. They don’t stop communication. But they make us feel off.
And when a language is part of your life — your family, your friendships, your identity — you want to get it right.
You want to belong. You want to feel like yourself. Like an adult. In Portuguese.
That’s what this Bootcamp is for.
I’ve been teaching Brazilian Portuguese for nearly 20 years — including at UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco.
What I love most is helping learners reach that moment when everything clicks — when they say, “I finally get this!”
That moment of clarity, when their eyes light up — that’s why I do this.
I see Portuguese like a sculpture: by the time you’re an intermediate speaker, the shape is already there — the form exists.
Now it’s time to refine the details, smooth out the edges, and bring the language to life with clarity and precision.
That’s exactly what this course helps you do.
And I get it — not just as a teacher, but as a learner too.
I’m fluent in English, but I know what it’s like to feel fluent and still make those small mistakes. They don’t stop communication. But they make us feel off.
And when a language is part of your life — your family, your friendships, your identity — you want to get it right.
You want to belong. You want to feel like yourself. Like an adult. In Portuguese.
That’s what this Bootcamp is for.
Make your Portuguese even more beautiful
All of this is within your reach — even if prepositions have always felt confusing or impossible to get right.
As an intermediate speaker, you already have the foundation. Now it’s time to build clarity, confidence, and real ease.
And I can’t wait to help you get there.
- Get those tricky combinations right — like pensar em, contar com, parar de and many others
- Understand exactly what’s going wrong and why — and how to fix it
- Speak smoother and more natural Portuguese — and get fewer corrections from friends and family.
Try the Bootcamp — No Stress, No Risk
I get it — you want to make sure the course is right for you.
That’s why I offer a 5-day refund guarantee. If you join the Bootcamp and realize it’s not a good fit, just send me a message within 5 days of your purchase, and I’ll refund your payment. No stress, no hard feelings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of Portuguese do I need for this course?
This course is designed for intermediate learners — ideally around B2 level.
The short story, the lesson videos, the explanations, and the exercises are all in Portuguese.
If you’re comfortable having everyday conversations and you’re ready to fix those small mistakes that still show up when you speak — you’ll get a lot from this course.
If you’re still in the early stages of learning, it might be better to come back to it a little later — it’ll be here when you’re ready.
Is this course only about grammar?
While grammar is a key focus, the course also helps you build vocabulary, pick up useful expressions, and practice real-life Portuguese through story and context. It’s about speaking more naturally.
How much time will I need to dedicate to this course?
This is a short, story-based, hands-on course. You could finish all six modules in a single day — but I don’t recommend it, because it’s packed with valuable content.
Each lesson introduces several verb–preposition combinations, vocabulary, useful expressions — and real learning happens through practice and review.
I encourage you to take your time with the course: study the material, practice using what you’ve learned in everyday situations, and review the lessons until it all comes naturally during your conversations in Portuguese.
No one remembers everything after just one round — and that’s totally normal.
Is the content in English or Portuguese?
The short story, video lessons, explanations, and exercises are all in Portuguese. But the examples are shown side by side with English, so you can clearly see how the two languages differ — and understand exactly what’s going wrong and how to say it right.
Do I get support if I have questions?
Yes! You’ll have access to a private student community where you can ask questions about the lessons or Portuguese in general. I personally answer all questions — I’m here to help you succeed.
How long do I have access to the course?
You get lifetime access to the course and the student community (as long as the program is active). It’s self-paced, so you can learn when it works for you — and revisit the lessons anytime.
Can I access the course on my phone or tablet?
Yes, the course is mobile-friendly. You can watch the videos, do the practice exercises, and access all materials through your mobile browser.