Ficar: virar, permanecer, localizar-se
Ficar: virar, permanecer, localizar-se means “ficar is a third copula: become, stay, and be located”. Portuguese has a third linking verb alongside ser and estar, and it does three distinct jobs. Formation: ficar + adjetivo (mudança) · ficar + lugar (permanência) · ficar + em/na/no (localização)
ficar is a third copula: become, stay, and be located
A2Formation
ficar + adjetivo (mudança) · ficar + lugar (permanência) · ficar + em/na/no (localização)
Explanation
Portuguese has a third linking verb alongside ser and estar, and it does three distinct jobs. With an adjective it marks a CHANGE of state: Ela ficou brava, Vou ficar rico. With a place it means STAY: Fica aqui, Ficamos em casa o fim de semana. With a location it means BE SITUATED, and this is the normal choice for buildings, streets, cities and countries: O Brasil fica na América do Sul, Onde fica o banheiro? A fourth use is ficar com, meaning keep: Pode ficar com o troco. Grammatically the place phrase after ficar is a subject complement, not an adverbial — Portuguese school grammar files ficar under verbos de ligação, in the mudança de estado group together with tornar-se and virar.
Examples
Note
⚠ For the "be located" reading the subject must be immovable. Ele ficou na sala can only mean "he STAYED in the room", never "he is located in the room".
FAQ
Ficar: virar, permanecer, localizar-se — what does it mean and how is it used?
ficar is a third copula: become, stay, and be located. Portuguese has a third linking verb alongside ser and estar, and it does three distinct jobs. With an adjective it marks a CHANGE of state: Ela ficou brava, Vou ficar rico. With a place it means STAY: Fica aqui, Ficamos em casa o fim de semana. With a location it means BE SITUATED, and this is the normal choice for buildings, streets, cities and countries: O Brasil fica na América do Sul, Onde fica o banheiro? A fourth use is ficar com, meaning keep: Pode ficar com o troco. Grammatically the place phrase after ficar is a subject complement, not an adverbial — Portuguese school grammar files ficar under verbos de ligação, in the mudança de estado group together with tornar-se and virar.
Ficar: virar, permanecer, localizar-se — how do you form it?
ficar + adjetivo (mudança) · ficar + lugar (permanência) · ficar + em/na/no (localização)
Ficar: virar, permanecer, localizar-se — any usage notes?
⚠ For the "be located" reading the subject must be immovable. Ele ficou na sala can only mean "he STAYED in the room", never "he is located in the room".