VerboDar2.jpg
The use of the verb Dar to give with the alternate meaning to be possible is ubiquitous in Brazil.

Using dar in this manner is different from using poder; dar indicates possibility and likelihood of an occurrence in an impersonal way. Poder serves to specify literal ability: he can complete the task, it is believable, ‘I can get from here to there by bike’ and so forth. Dar is better used to say it will work, it will be possible, ‘this will work with my plans’, ‘there will be enough time’ etc.

Examples:
Vai dar pra você reunir um pouquinho mais tarde? Can you meet a little later?
Dá para ele comprar mais duas? Can he buy two more?

Note that the sentiment in these examples is not ‘is it physically possible’ but rather ‘is it going to be a possibility’ or ‘is there the option to…?’ In the second example, the question is not ‘is he physically capable of buying two more?’ but rather it implies something like ‘are there any more to buy?’ or ‘does he have enough money to buy to more?’ or even ‘does he have time to buy two more?’

See the difference?


Here’s some further clarification; let’s look at the following sentences both translating as Can you let me know this afternoon?
Pode me avisar hoje na tarde?
Dá pra você me avisar hoje na tarde?

In the first, using poder the meaning is just like the English translation and informally has the subtext Hey, do you mind letting me know this afternoon? I’d appreciate it as opposed to the second sentence, which implies that there is some doubt as to the possibility of letting the person know. It would therefore mean either Is it going to be possible for you to get this information today by the close of business? or Will you have time to give me a call with this information later?

The verb dar is extremely useful, as you can see, and as I stated earlier is used with overwhelming frequency in everyday life. Some forms of the verb are irregular, so let me list a couple here for your clarity of use:

Eu dou. I give (1st person singular, present tense)
Ele dá . He gives (3rd person singular, present tense)
The subjunctive of is highly irregular and I plan on doing another post about those forms.

The past participle of dar, ‘dado’ is quite common and when simply used as an adjective means given, as in os fatos dados the given facts.

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