Instruímos

Instruímos is a Portuguese verb form derived from instruir, meaning to instruct, educate, or train. It is the first-person plural form of instruir in two simple tenses: the present indicative (we instruct) and the pretérito perfeito do indicativo (we instructed). Because the spelling is identical in both tenses, the intended time frame is usually determined by context.

Etymology and meaning: The verb instruir comes from Latin instruere, through Old Portuguese, with senses including to teach, to guide, or to equip someone with knowledge or skills. In modern Portuguese, instruir is used in education, training, and guidance contexts, as well as in more technical or formal registers.

Conjugation notes: In the present tense, the forms for the verb instruir include eu instruo, tu instruís, ele instrui, nós instruímos, vós instruís, eles instruem. In the pretérito perfeito do indicativo, the forms include eu instruí, tu instruíste, ele instruiu, nós instruímos, vós instruístes, eles instruíram. The form nós instruímos carries an acute accent on the i, indicating the stress; this same form is used for both present and past in the first-person plural, requiring context to distinguish time.

Usage: Instruímos appears in both Brazilian and European Portuguese. It is common in formal writing, academic discourse, training manuals, and instructional contexts. The verb can be used interchangeably with synonyms such as ensinar, orientar, or educar, depending on nuance and register.

Examples:

- Nós instruímos os participantes sobre o protocolo de segurança. (We instruct the participants about the safety protocol.)

- Ontem, nós instruímos a equipe sobre as novas regras. (We instructed the team about the new rules.)