Pertencem

Pertencem is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Portuguese verb pertencer, meaning "they belong." It is used to indicate that subjects are members of or part of a group, organization, place, or property. The related verb pertencer expresses the sense of belonging or being associated with something.

Etymology and sense: pertencer comes from Latin pertinere, meaning to pertain or belong. In modern Portuguese, pertencer is intransitive and commonly used with the preposition a to mark the owner or group, often with a definite article, as in pertence ao grupo or pertencem às instituições.

Usage notes: Pertencer is typically followed by a noun phrase introduced by a or a contracted form such as ao, à, aos, or às to show belonging to a person, organization, or entity. Examples: Eles pertencem ao grupo de pesquisa. Estas peças pertencem à coleção do museu. The verb can also describe belonging in a broader sense, such as a characteristic or part of a category.

Conjugation context: The form pertencem agrees with a plural subject. The full present indicative paradigm of pertencer includes eu pertenço, tu pertences, ele pertence, nós pertencemos, vós pertenceis, eles pertencem.

Related terms include pertencer a, pertencer a uma instituição, and expressions like ser parte de or fazer parte de, which convey similar ideas of membership or inclusion. Pertencem is a common, neutral form used in everyday and formal Portuguese to express belonging.