Portuguese Grammar Guide

todo, todos, toda, todas

On this page: Description, Questions, Exercises

Description

An Overview of todo, todos, toda, todas

The words todo, todos, toda, todas have two main functions:

a) As an adjective (“all”, modifying a noun)

They agree in gender and number with the noun and are followed by a determiner:

  • Eu li toda a história.

  • Todos os dias estudo.

  • Toda a gente chegou cedo.

👉 Structure:

  • todo + determiner + noun

b) As a pronoun (“all of it/them”, replacing a noun)

They replace a previously mentioned noun:

  • Ele comeu tudo.

  • Todos vão à festa.

  • Gosto de todas.

👉 In EP, the neuter form tudo is very common for general reference.

Forms

Function Form Example
masc. sg. todo todo o tempo / todo vai bem
fem. sg. toda toda a comida / vou comê-la toda
masc. pl. todos todos os dias / todos são altos
fem. pl. todas todas as amigas / gosto de todas

⚠️ Important

  • Agreement = noun referred to or replaced

  • Adjective use requires a determiner:

    • todo o livro

    • ❌ todo livro (EP standard)

  • Pronoun use:

    • noun is not repeated

🔑 Key points

  • todo/a(s) = agrees with noun

  • tudo = neuter, very common in EP

  • Adjective → noun present

  • Pronoun → noun omitted

Questions

Questions about todo, toda, todos, todas

Q: Why is it todos os homens and NOT todo os homens?
The form of todo/a(s) must agree in gender and number with the noun:

  • homens → masculine plural → todos

  • not todo

Q: Why is it ela comprou tudo and not ela comprou toda?
When you mean “everything” in general, Portuguese uses:

  • tudo (neuter form)

👉 toda is only used when referring to a specific feminine noun:

  • toda a comida

👉 tudo does not agree with the subject, but refers to an unspecified set.

Q: Why is it Quero maçãs e vou comprar todas and NOT todos?
The pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces:

  • maçãs → feminine plural → todas

  • not todos

🔑 Key points

  • Agreement = noun referred to, not subject

  • tudo = “everything” (general, neuter)

  • todo/a(s) = agrees with specific noun

  • Plural nouns → plural forms (todos / todas)

Exercises

Write the correct form of todo/a(s) according to the context:

Eu comi a torta.
eles chegaram a tempo.
Vai ficar bem .
Quando vêm as raparigas, vão querer descansar.
Os alunos estudam o tempo.
Os computadores no laboratório estavam avariados, mas agora funcionam .

Tags: adjectives nouns h muet adverbs
Verb conjugation:
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