Portuguese Phrase
Você pode fazer perguntas ao autor.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone that they have the ability or permission to ask questions directed at the author. It is a polite, neutral way to invite interaction, often used in Q&A sessions, interviews, or classroom discussions.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give someone the green light to ask the author about a text, a lecture, a book, or any work they produced. It works well in formal settings (conferences, webinars) and also in informal study groups.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vocêpodefazerperguntasaoautor.
Você (pronoun)
Second‑person singular subject pronoun, often optional in informal speech but used here for clarity.
pode (modal verb)
Present indicative of poder, expresses ability or permission.
fazer (infinitive)
Infinitive verb that follows a modal verb; means “to do” or “to make,” here part of the construction “fazer perguntas.”
perguntas (noun)
Plural of pergunta, “questions.”
ao (contraction)
Contraction of a + o, meaning “to the.”
autor (noun)
The person who wrote a text, book, article, etc.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode fazer perguntas ao autor?
Can you ask questions to the author?
Claro, eu já preparei duas dúvidas.
Sure, I already prepared two questions.
✕Common Mistakes
pode fazer perguntas ao autor.
Missing the subject pronoun makes the sentence sound incomplete in written Portuguese; add ‘Você’ or use a context where the subject is clear.
Você pode fazer pergunta ao autor.
‘Pergunta’ is singular; the phrase implies multiple questions, so use the plural ‘perguntas’.
Você pode fazer perguntas ao autor?
When stating permission, a period is preferred; a question mark changes the meaning to a request for confirmation.
↔Alternatives
Você tem permissão para questionar o autor.
You have permission to question the author.
Pode fazer perguntas ao autor.
You may ask the author questions.
Sinta‑se à vontade para perguntar ao autor.
Feel free to ask the author.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, “fazer perguntas ao” is the most common way to talk about asking several questions, while “perguntar ao” is used for a single question. The formal tone of “pode fazer perguntas ao autor” makes it suitable for academic or professional contexts, but you can drop the subject pronoun (Você) in casual conversation.