Portuguese conjugation explanation
Spelling change: -car → -qu-
<p>The spelling of some verb forms changes in order <strong>to preserve the pronunciation</strong> of the infinitive. In verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic">-car</strong>, the <span style="font-style: italic">c</span> is pronounced <span style="font-style: italic">/k/</span>. When <span style="font-style: italic">c</span> is followed by <span style="font-style: italic">e</span> or <span style="font-style: italic">i</span>, the pronunciation changes to <span style="font-style: italic">/s/</span>. So, to preserve the <span style="font-style: italic">/k/</span> sound, we have to replace the <span style="font-style: italic">c</span> with <span style="font-style: italic">qu</span>.</p>
<p>Common verbs affected by this spelling change are: <span style="font-style: italic"><strong>ficar, colocar, significar, tocar, marcar, atacar, buscar, brincar, explicar, trocar</strong></span>, etc.</p>
<p>In the following conjugation tables, the affected verb forms of <span style="font-style: italic">tocar</span> are highlighted:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/2/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito Perfeito</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toquei<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tu
</span>tocaste
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ele
</span>tocou
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nós
</span>tocamos <img src="/static/main/images/flags/brazil.png" title="Brazilian"></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nós
</span>tocámos <img src="/static/main/images/flags/portugal.png" title="European"></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vós
</span>tocastes
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
eles
</span>tocaram
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toque<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toques<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toque<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toquemos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toqueis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toquem<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/11/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo Afirmativo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tu)
</span>toca
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(você)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toque<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nós)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toquemos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vós)
</span>tocai
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vocês)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">toquem<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>