Defective verbs are verbs with incomplete conjugation. For instance, Portuguese defective verbs are only conjugated in the third 3-person (singular or plural).
Some defective verbs are commonplace, so you want to learn how to use them. But before we look at a few examples, I want you to be aware of something.
“Normal” verbs, in opposition to “defective” verbs, not only have complete conjugation but can also accommodate subject and object:
O Rafael come a sopa.
Rafael eats the soup.
In the example above, Rafael is the subject (with agency), comer is the verb (action), and sopa is the object (recipient of the action performed by the subject).
As you’ll soon see, we use defective verbs when there’s no subject or agent (like Rafael above). Instead, something will happen to someone – the person involved is the recipient, not the agent.
Thus, in the examples below, we’ll be using object pronouns (-me, -te, -lhe, -nos, -vos, -lhes) instead of subject pronouns (eu, tu, ela, nós, vocês, elas).
It’s always easier with concrete examples. Read on.
Apetecer
This is how we say that we fancy something or we are in the mood to do something:
A: Apetece–te um gelado?
B: Nem por isso. Apetece–me mais um sumo de laranja.
A: Do you fancy an ice cream?
B: Not really. I’m more in the mood for orange juice.
Calhar
Calhar bem is Portuguese for ‘come in handy’. Calhar mal is the opposite:
A: Não vai haver jogo de futebol este sábado.
B: Calha-nos bem porque este fds não estamos cá.
A: There’s no soccer match this Saturday.
B: That’s actually good because we’re not here this weekend.
Acontecer
Things happen to people… and so people are recipients of what happens to them.
A: Sabes o que nos aconteceu?
B: Não. O que é que vos aconteceu?
A: Do you know what happened to us?
B: No. What happened to you?
Doer
In English you say, My throat aches as if you and your throat have agency and choose to be in pain. But in Portuguese, we and our throats just fall victim to pain:
A: Dói-me a garganta.
B: Toma este xarope e vais ver que ficas melhor.
A: My throat hurts.
B: Take this syrup and you’ll feel better.
Custar
We are also in an object position when we use the verb custar:
A: Quanto lhes custou a casa?
B: Custou-lhes uma fortuna.
A: How much did the house cost them?
B: It cost them a fortune.
Vir
Some verbs are usually “normal” – they accommodate subject, verb, and object. Depending on the context, however, they can be used defectively. Vir is one such verb:
A: Tens alguma ideia?
B: Não me vem nada à cabeça
A: Do you have any ideas?
B: Nothing comes to mind
