Portuguese Phrase
Nos centros comunitários costumam ter eventos.
Meaning
The sentence states that community centers usually hold events. It emphasizes that holding events is a regular, expected activity in these places.
When to use
Use this phrase when describing the typical programming of a neighborhood center, answering questions about what you can find there, or promoting community activities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Noscentroscomunitárioscostumamtereventos
Nos = em + os
‘Nos’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘em’ (in) with the definite article ‘os’, meaning ‘in the’.
Adjective after noun
In Portuguese, descriptive adjectives often follow the noun, so ‘centros comunitários’ (community centers).
Costumar (habitual action)
‘Costumar’ means ‘to usually/typically do’. It is conjugated here in the third‑person plural present indicative: ‘costumam’.
Infinitive after ‘costumar’
When ‘costumar’ is used, it is followed by an infinitive verb, here ‘ter’ (to have).
Plural noun ‘eventos’
‘Eventos’ is the plural of ‘evento’, matching the plural subject ‘centros’.
🗨In Conversation
O que costuma acontecer nos centros comunitários da sua rua?
What usually happens at the community centers on your street?
Nos centros comunitários costumam ter eventos, como aulas de dança, palestras e feiras de artesanato.
Community centers usually have events, like dance classes, talks, and craft fairs.
✕Common Mistakes
Nos centros comunitários tem eventos.
‘Tem’ (has) is correct grammatically, but it loses the habitual nuance that ‘costumam’ conveys.
No centros comunitários costumam ter eventos.
Using ‘nos’ without the article ‘os’ (e.g., ‘no centros…’) is incorrect; the correct contraction is ‘nos’.
Nos centros comunitários costuma ter eventos.
If you keep the noun singular, the verb must also be singular: ‘O centro comunitário costuma ter eventos.’
↔Alternatives
Os centros comunitários geralmente têm eventos.
Community centers generally have events.
Nos centros da comunidade costumam acontecer eventos.
Events usually take place in community centers.
É comum que os centros comunitários ofereçam eventos.
It is common for community centers to offer events.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, centros comunitários are hubs for local culture, offering free or low‑cost activities such as samba workshops, Portuguese literacy classes, sports tournaments, and neighborhood festivals. The word ‘evento’ can refer to anything from a small workshop to a large public celebration, so the phrase works in many contexts.