Verbs using 'com' where English uses another preposition
The Portuguese preposition com usually translates directly to the English word "with". You will see it in straightforward sentences like "I am going to the park with my dog". However, prepositions almost never match up perfectly between languages. What feels natural in English might require a totally different connecting word in Portuguese.
Portuguese uses com alongside several common verbs where English relies on "about", "of", "to", "on", or even drops the preposition entirely. If you want to talk about dreaming, worrying, or getting married, you will need to get comfortable using com to show these connections.
Let us start with verbs describing romantic and social connections. In English, you marry someone or date someone. You use no preposition at all. In Portuguese, these verbs are treated as an interaction, so you must use com to introduce the other person.
The verb namorar means to date someone in a committed relationship. In Portugal, it is almost always followed by com. In Brazil, formal grammar actually prefers the verb without a preposition, but you will still hear com used constantly in everyday speech.
The same logic applies when you meet up with a friend. You use the verb encontrar-se followed by com.
Many verbs related to your thoughts and emotions also require com. While English uses "about" or "of" for these actions, Portuguese keeps things consistent with com.
When you worry about the future, get excited about a piece of news, or dream of someone, you will use preocupar-se, empolgar-se, or sonhar.
You will also see this pattern when someone is making fun of a situation using the verb gozar.
You will also spot this quirk with comparisons and everyday routines. For instance, looking like a family member requires parecer-se plus com. Counting on a friend uses contar com. Settling for less uses contentar-se.
If you move to a new city, getting used to it requires the verb acostumar-se. This verb can sometimes take the preposition a, but using com is extremely common and always correct.
Because prepositions rarely translate perfectly between languages, the best rule of thumb is to learn the preposition alongside the verb as a single unit. Treat sonhar com and casar com as fixed phrases. Memorizing the verb and its connecting word together ensures you will never have to guess which preposition to use in the moment.