Portuguese Phrase
Precisamos controlar bem os gastos.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We need to control the expenses well.’ It stresses the importance of careful budgeting, whether in a household, a company, or a personal finance plan.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing budgets, financial planning, or cost‑cutting measures. It works in both formal meetings (e.g., a business boardroom) and informal conversations (e.g., a family talking about monthly bills).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Precisamoscontrolarbemosgastos.
Precisamos (verbo precisar)
‘Precisamos’ is the first‑person plural present of ‘precisar’ (to need). It agrees with the subject ‘nós’ even when the pronoun is omitted.
Controlar (infinitivo)
After ‘precisar’, the verb that follows stays in the infinitive form, just like ‘to need to control’ in English.
Bem (advérbio)
‘Bem’ modifies the verb ‘controlar’, indicating that the control should be done well or properly.
Os gastos (substantivo + artigo)
‘Gastos’ is a masculine plural noun meaning ‘expenses’; it takes the definite article ‘os’ when speaking about known or general expenses.
🗨In Conversation
Os custos do projeto estão subindo muito.
The project costs are rising a lot.
Precisamos controlar bem os gastos para não ultrapassar o orçamento.
We need to control the expenses well so we don’t exceed the budget.
✕Common Mistakes
Precisa controlar bem os gastos.
‘Precisa’ is singular (he/she/it needs). The sentence refers to ‘we’, so the correct form is ‘precisamos’.
Precisamos controlar bem o gasto.
‘Gasto’ is singular; the phrase talks about multiple expenses, so use the plural ‘gastos’.
Precisamos controlar mal os gastos.
‘Mal’ means ‘badly’; the intended meaning is ‘well’, which is ‘bem’.
↔Alternatives
Precisamos gerenciar bem os gastos.
We need to manage the expenses well.
É preciso controlar bem os gastos.
It is necessary to control the expenses well.
Devemos controlar os gastos com cuidado.
We should control the expenses carefully.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, talking about ‘gastos’ is common in both personal and corporate contexts. When you mention budgeting, people often ask for concrete numbers, so be ready to specify categories (e.g., ‘gastos com alimentação’, ‘gastos com transporte’). Using the adverb ‘bem’ signals that you’re not just cutting costs, but doing it responsibly, which is viewed positively in professional settings.