Portuguese Phrase
Que materiais precisamos?
Meaning
Literally, 'What materials do we need?'. The sentence is used to inquire about the items or resources required for a task, project, or event.
When to use
Use this question when planning a group activity, preparing a presentation, organizing a workshop, or any situation where a team must decide which supplies are necessary.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quemateriaisprecisamos?
Que (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' or 'which' about a noun; when the noun is plural, 'Quais' is often preferred but 'Que' is still acceptable in informal speech.
materiais (noun, plural)
A masculine plural noun meaning 'materials' or 'supplies'.
precisamos (verb)
First‑person plural present of 'precisar' meaning 'we need' or 'we must'.
🗨In Conversation
Que materiais precisamos para a apresentação de amanhã?
What materials do we need for tomorrow's presentation?
Precisamos de projetor, marcadores, papel A4 e alguns adesivos.
We need a projector, markers, A4 paper, and some stickers.
✕Common Mistakes
Que materiais precisamos?
For plural nouns, native speakers often use 'Quais' instead of 'Que' to avoid ambiguity.
Que material precisamos?
The noun must agree in number with the question; 'material' is singular, but the context asks for multiple items.
Que materiais preciso?
Use the first‑person plural form 'precisamos' when speaking for a group; 'preciso' is singular.
↔Alternatives
Quais materiais precisamos?
Which materials do we need?
De que materiais precisamos?
Of which materials do we need?
O que precisamos?
What do we need?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, 'precisar' is the go‑to verb for expressing necessity. In formal contexts you might hear 'necessitar', but 'precisar' is more common in everyday speech. When addressing a group, using the first‑person plural (precisamos) signals shared responsibility. Also, while 'Que' is understood, many native speakers prefer 'Quais' with plural nouns for clarity.