Regência nominal
Regência nominal means “Noun/adjective government: the fixed preposition a noun or adjective requires”. Just as verbs govern prepositions, so do many nouns and adjectives, and each one demands a fixed preposition you must memorize one by one. Formation: substantivo/adjetivo + preposição fixa (medo DE, capaz DE, responsável POR, favorável A)
Noun/adjective government: the fixed preposition a noun or adjective requires
C1Formation
substantivo/adjetivo + preposição fixa (medo DE, capaz DE, responsável POR, favorável A)
Explanation
Just as verbs govern prepositions, so do many nouns and adjectives, and each one demands a fixed preposition you must memorize one by one. Nouns often take DE (medo de, certeza de, necessidade de, vontade de), while others take EM, A or POR (interesse em/por, respeito a, amor a/por). Adjectives follow the same logic: capaz DE, responsável POR, favorável A, acostumado A/COM, orgulhoso DE, satisfeito COM, parecido COM. In the cultured norm the DE is kept before a clause (Tenho certeza DE que vai chover); dropping it (Tenho certeza que) is common in speech but avoided in careful writing (queísmo), while adding DE where it does not belong is the opposite error (dequeísmo). The preposition also merges with articles into contractions: medo DO escuro, responsável PELO projeto, capaz DE tudo. Watch the Spanish trap: Spanish says responsable DE, but Portuguese requires responsável POR.
Examples
Note
Cultured writing keeps 'de que' (tenho certeza DE que); dropping it is queísmo, adding it where unwanted is dequeísmo. Beware: Spanish 'responsable de' but Portuguese 'responsável POR'.
FAQ
Regência nominal — what does it mean and how is it used?
Noun/adjective government: the fixed preposition a noun or adjective requires. Just as verbs govern prepositions, so do many nouns and adjectives, and each one demands a fixed preposition you must memorize one by one. Nouns often take DE (medo de, certeza de, necessidade de, vontade de), while others take EM, A or POR (interesse em/por, respeito a, amor a/por). Adjectives follow the same logic: capaz DE, responsável POR, favorável A, acostumado A/COM, orgulhoso DE, satisfeito COM, parecido COM. In the cultured norm the DE is kept before a clause (Tenho certeza DE que vai chover); dropping it (Tenho certeza que) is common in speech but avoided in careful writing (queísmo), while adding DE where it does not belong is the opposite error (dequeísmo). The preposition also merges with articles into contractions: medo DO escuro, responsável PELO projeto, capaz DE tudo. Watch the Spanish trap: Spanish says responsable DE, but Portuguese requires responsável POR.
Regência nominal — how do you form it?
substantivo/adjetivo + preposição fixa (medo DE, capaz DE, responsável POR, favorável A)
Regência nominal — any usage notes?
Cultured writing keeps 'de que' (tenho certeza DE que); dropping it is queísmo, adding it where unwanted is dequeísmo. Beware: Spanish 'responsable de' but Portuguese 'responsável POR'.