Mastering Portuguese Verb Conjugation

Mastering verb conjugations is a crucial step in learning Portuguese. This fundamental aspect of the language allows speakers to express time, mood, and the relationship between subjects and actions accurately. While Portuguese verb conjugation may seem daunting at first, understanding the underlying patterns and rules can greatly simplify the learning process. This guide will walk you through the essential elements of Portuguese verb conjugation, from regular patterns to irregular verbs, tenses, moods, and unique features like the personal infinitive. By breaking down these components, we aim to provide a clear and comprehensive overview that will help learners build a strong foundation in Portuguese grammar.

Regular Verb Conjugation Patterns

Portuguese verbs are divided into three main conjugation groups based on their infinitive endings:

• -ar verbs (e.g. falar, cantar, estudar)
• -er verbs (e.g. comer, beber, vender)
• -ir verbs (e.g. partir, dormir, abrir)

Each group follows distinct conjugation patterns across different tenses and moods. For example, in the present tense:

• -ar verbs: Eu falo, tu falas, ele/ela fala, nós falamos, vós falais, eles/elas falam
• -er verbs: Eu como, tu comes, ele/ela come, nós comemos, vós comeis, eles/elas comem
• -ir verbs: Eu parto, tu partes, ele/ela parte, nós partimos, vós partis, eles/elas partem

Irregular Verbs

Portuguese has many common irregular verbs that don’t follow the standard conjugation patterns. Some of the most frequently used irregular verbs include:

• Ser (to be)
• Estar (to be)
• Ir (to go)
• Ter (to have)
• Fazer (to do/make)
• Dizer (to say)

These verbs have unique conjugations that must be memorized separately.

Tenses and Moods

Portuguese has a rich system of tenses and moods, including:

• Present (Presente)
• Preterite (Pretérito Perfeito)
• Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfeito)
• Pluperfect (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)
• Future (Futuro do Presente)
• Conditional (Condicional)
• Subjunctive (Subjuntivo)
• Imperative (Imperativo)

Each of these tenses and moods has its own conjugation patterns for regular and irregular verbs.

Personal Infinitive

A unique feature of Portuguese is the personal infinitive (infinitivo pessoal). This is a conjugated form of the infinitive that changes according to the subject. For example:

• É importante eu falar (It’s important for me to speak)
• É importante tu falares (It’s important for you to speak)
• É importante ele/ela falar (It’s important for him/her to speak)

This form allows for more precise expression in certain contexts.

Compound Tenses

Portuguese also uses compound tenses formed with auxiliary verbs. The most common auxiliary verbs are:

• Ter (to have)
• Haver (to have - less common)
• Estar (to be)

These are used to form tenses like the present perfect (pretérito perfeito composto) and the past perfect (pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto).

Reflexive Verbs

Many Portuguese verbs can be used reflexively by adding reflexive pronouns. These pronouns change based on the subject:

• Eu me lavo (I wash myself)
• Tu te lavas (You wash yourself)
• Ele/Ela se lava (He/She washes himself/herself)

Reflexive verbs often express actions done to oneself or reciprocal actions.

By understanding these aspects of Portuguese conjugation, learners can gain a solid foundation for mastering the language’s verb system.

Present Tense (Presente) in Portuguese

The Present Tense in Portuguese is used to express actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths. It’s one of the most frequently used tenses and serves as a foundation for learning other tenses.

Regular Verb Conjugation

In Portuguese, regular verbs are divided into three groups based on their infinitive endings:

1. -ar verbs (e.g., falar - to speak)
2. -er verbs (e.g., comer - to eat)
3. -ir verbs (e.g., abrir - to open)

Here’s how these verbs are conjugated in the Present Tense:

Key Points

1. Eu form: For all regular verbs, the “Eu” (I) form in the Present Tense ends in -o.

2. Tu vs. Você: While “Tu” is used in some regions, “Você” is more common in Brazil. “Você” uses the same conjugation as “Ele/Ela”.

3. Nós vs. A gente: In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, “A gente” (meaning “we”) is often used instead of “Nós”. It takes the same conjugation as “Ele/Ela”.

Uses of the Present Tense

1. Current actions: “Eu falo português” (I speak Portuguese)
2. Habitual actions: “Ele come pizza toda sexta-feira” (He eats pizza every Friday)
3. General truths: “A Terra gira em torno do Sol” (The Earth revolves around the Sun)
4. Near future: “Eu vou ao cinema amanhã” (I’m going to the cinema tomorrow)

Present Continuous

In Portuguese, the Present Continuous is formed differently in European (PT-PT) and Brazilian (PT-BR) Portuguese:

• PT-PT: Estar (conjugated) + a + infinitive Example: “Estou a falar” (I am speaking)

• PT-BR: Estar (conjugated) + gerund Example: “Estou falando” (I am speaking)

Irregular Verbs

Some of the most common verbs in Portuguese are irregular in the Present Tense. For example:

• Ser (to be): Eu sou, tu és, ele/ela é, nós somos, vós sois, eles/elas são
• Ter (to have): Eu tenho, tu tens, ele/ela tem, nós temos, vós tendes, eles/elas têm
• Ir (to go): Eu vou, tu vais, ele/ela vai, nós vamos, vós ides, eles/elas vão

Mastering the Present Tense is crucial for building a strong foundation in Portuguese. It’s used frequently in everyday conversation and serves as a stepping stone for learning more complex tenses and aspects of the language.

Preterite (Pretérito Perfeito)

The Preterite tense in Portuguese is used to express completed actions in the past. It’s equivalent to the simple past tense in English.

Regular Verb Conjugation

For regular verbs, the conjugation patterns are as follows:

Examples:

• Falar (to speak): Eu falei, tu falaste, ele falou, nós falámos, eles falaram
• Comer (to eat): Eu comi, tu comeste, ele comeu, nós comemos, eles comeram
• Partir (to leave): Eu parti, tu partiste, ele partiu, nós partimos, eles partiram

Key Points

1. Stress on -ámos: In the “nós” form of -ar verbs, the stress falls on the “á” to distinguish it from the present tense.

2. -er and -ir similarities: Note that -er and -ir verbs have identical conjugations in the “eu” form (both end in -i).

3. Vowel changes: Some verbs undergo vowel changes in their stems when conjugated. For example, “dormir” (to sleep) becomes “dormi, dormiste, dormiu, dormimos, dormiram”.

Irregular Verbs

Several common verbs have irregular conjugations in the Preterite:

1. Ser and Ir (to be and to go): Eu fui, tu foste, ele foi, nós fomos, eles foram

2. Ter (to have): Eu tive, tu tiveste, ele teve, nós tivemos, eles tiveram

3. Estar (to be): Eu estive, tu estiveste, ele esteve, nós estivemos, eles estiveram

4. Fazer (to do/make): Eu fiz, tu fizeste, ele fez, nós fizemos, eles fizeram

5. Vir (to come): Eu vim, tu vieste, ele veio, nós viemos, eles vieram

Usage

The Preterite is used to express:

1. Completed actions: “Ontem, eu comi pizza” (Yesterday, I ate pizza)
2. Specific moments in the past: “Ele nasceu em 1990” (He was born in 1990)
3. Sequential actions: “Cheguei em casa, tomei banho e fui dormir” (I arrived home, took a shower, and went to sleep)

Contrasts with Imperfect

While the Preterite expresses completed actions, the Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfeito) is used for ongoing or habitual past actions. For example:

• Preterite: “Eu falei com ela ontem” (I spoke with her yesterday)
• Imperfect: “Eu falava com ela todos os dias” (I used to speak with her every day)

Understanding the Preterite tense is crucial for expressing past actions in Portuguese. Its usage, combined with other past tenses like the Imperfect, allows for nuanced expression of past events and actions.

Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfeito)

The Imperfect tense in Portuguese is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the scene for other past events. It’s often translated to English as “used to” or “was/were + -ing”.

Regular Verb Conjugation

The Imperfect tense has very regular conjugation patterns across all three verb groups:

Examples:

• Falar (to speak): Eu falava, tu falavas, ele falava, nós falávamos, eles falavam
• Comer (to eat): Eu comia, tu comias, ele comia, nós comíamos, eles comiam
• Partir (to leave): Eu partia, tu partias, ele partia, nós partíamos, eles partiam

Key Points

1. Regularity: The Imperfect is one of the most regular tenses in Portuguese. Even many irregular verbs follow these patterns in the Imperfect.

2. Stress: In the “nós” and “vós” forms, the stress falls on the “á” for -ar verbs and on the “í” for -er and -ir verbs.

3. -er and -ir similarity: Note that -er and -ir verbs have identical conjugations in the Imperfect.

Irregular Verbs

There are only three irregular verbs in the Imperfect tense:

1. Ser (to be): Eu era, tu eras, ele era, nós éramos, eles eram

2. Ter (to have): Eu tinha, tu tinhas, ele tinha, nós tínhamos, eles tinham

3. Pôr (to put): Eu punha, tu punhas, ele punha, nós púnhamos, eles punham

Usage

The Imperfect is used to express:

1. Habitual actions in the past: “Eu ia à praia todos os verões” (I used to go to the beach every summer)

2. Ongoing actions in the past: “Enquanto eu estudava, o telefone tocou” (While I was studying, the phone rang)

3. Descriptions of past situations or states: “A casa era grande e tinha um jardim bonito” (The house was big and had a beautiful garden)

4. Age or time in the past: “Quando eu tinha dez anos, morava em Lisboa” (When I was ten years old, I lived in Lisbon)

5. Polite requests: “Eu queria um café, por favor” (I would like a coffee, please)

Contrasts with Preterite

The choice between Imperfect and Preterite can change the meaning of a sentence:

• Imperfect: “Eu falava com ela” (I used to speak with her / I was speaking with her)
• Preterite: “Eu falei com ela” (I spoke with her)

The Imperfect suggests an ongoing or repeated action, while the Preterite indicates a completed action.

In Conditional Sentences

The Imperfect is often used in the “if” clause of conditional sentences: “Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajava pelo mundo” (If I had money, I would travel the world)

Understanding the Imperfect tense is crucial for expressing nuanced past actions and states in Portuguese. Its interplay with other past tenses, particularly the Preterite, allows for rich and precise descriptions of past events and situations.

Pluperfect (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)

The Pluperfect tense in Portuguese is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action. It’s equivalent to the past perfect tense in English (e.g., “had done”).

In Portuguese, there are two forms of the Pluperfect: the simple form and the compound form.

Simple Pluperfect

The simple form is rarely used in spoken Portuguese but is still found in formal writing.

Regular Verb Conjugation

Examples:

• Falar (to speak): Eu falara, tu falaras, ele falara, nós faláramos, eles falaram
• Comer (to eat): Eu comera, tu comeras, ele comera, nós comêramos, eles comeram
• Partir (to leave): Eu partira, tu partiras, ele partira, nós partíramos, eles partiram

Compound Pluperfect

The compound form is much more common in modern Portuguese, both in speaking and writing.

It’s formed using the auxiliary verb “ter” (to have) in the Imperfect tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb:

ter (Imperfect) + past participle

Examples:

• Eu tinha falado (I had spoken)
• Tu tinhas comido (You had eaten)
• Ele/Ela tinha partido (He/She had left)
• Nós tínhamos estudado (We had studied)
• Eles/Elas tinham chegado (They had arrived)

Key Points

1. Auxiliary verb: In European Portuguese, “haver” can also be used as an auxiliary verb instead of “ter”, but this is less common.

2. Past participles: Regular past participles end in -ado for -ar verbs and -ido for -er and -ir verbs. However, many common verbs have irregular past participles.

3. Usage preference: The compound form is overwhelmingly preferred in everyday speech and most writing.

Irregular Verbs

Some common irregular verbs in the simple Pluperfect:

1. Ser/Ir (to be/to go): Eu fora, tu foras, ele fora, nós fôramos, eles foram

2. Ter (to have): Eu tivera, tu tiveras, ele tivera, nós tivéramos, eles tiveram

3. Estar (to be): Eu estivera, tu estiveras, ele estivera, nós estivéramos, eles estiveram

Usage

The Pluperfect is used to express:

1. Actions completed before another past action: “Quando cheguei à festa, ela já tinha ido embora” (When I arrived at the party, she had already left)

2. Past actions with consequences in another past moment: “Ele não pôde entrar porque tinha perdido a chave” (He couldn’t enter because he had lost the key)

3. Hypothetical situations in the past (often with “se”): “Se eu tivesse estudado mais, teria passado no exame” (If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam)

In Literature

The simple Pluperfect is occasionally used in literature for stylistic effect, often to convey a sense of formality or to emphasize the remoteness of a past action.

Understanding the Pluperfect tense allows for more precise expression of the sequence of past events in Portuguese. While the simple form is important to recognize in formal writing, mastering the compound form is essential for both comprehension and production in modern Portuguese.

Future (Futuro do Presente)

The Future tense in Portuguese is used to express actions that will happen in the future. There are two main ways to express the future in Portuguese: the simple future and the compound future.

Simple Future

The simple future is formed by adding specific endings to the infinitive form of the verb. This form is more common in formal writing and speech.

Regular Verb Conjugation

Examples:

• Falar (to speak): Eu falarei, tu falarás, ele falará, nós falaremos, eles falarão
• Comer (to eat): Eu comerei, tu comerás, ele comerá, nós comeremos, eles comerão
• Partir (to leave): Eu partirei, tu partirás, ele partirá, nós partiremos, eles partirão

Key Points

1. Regularity: This conjugation is highly regular, with the same endings used for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.

2. Stress: The stress always falls on the future tense ending.

3. Mesoclisis: In formal Portuguese, object pronouns can be inserted in the middle of the future form, splitting the verb. For example: “Dar-te-ei” (I will give you) instead of “Te darei”.

Irregular Verbs

Some common verbs have irregular stems in the future tense:

1. Dizer (to say): Eu direi, tu dirás, ele dirá…
2. Fazer (to do/make): Eu farei, tu farás, ele fará…
3. Trazer (to bring): Eu trarei, tu trarás, ele trará…

Compound Future

The compound future, which is more common in spoken Portuguese, is formed using the verb “ir” (to go) in the present tense followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

Structure: ir (present tense) + infinitive

Examples:

• Eu vou falar (I’m going to speak)
• Você vai comer (You’re going to eat)
• Eles vão partir (They’re going to leave)

Usage

1. Predictions or forecasts: “Amanhã choverá” (It will rain tomorrow) or “Amanhã vai chover”

2. Future plans or intentions: “Estudarei medicina” (I will study medicine) or “Vou estudar medicina”

3. Promises or commitments: “Eu te ajudarei” (I will help you) or “Eu vou te ajudar”

4. Assumptions about the future: “Ele estará em casa agora” (He will be at home now)

Differences between Simple and Compound Future

• The simple future is more formal and common in writing.
• The compound future with “ir” is more informal and prevalent in spoken Portuguese.
• The simple future can sometimes imply less certainty than the compound future.

Future with “Haver de”

There’s also a less common future construction using “haver de” + infinitive, which implies a strong intention or inevitability: “Hei de conseguir” (I will manage to do it / I am determined to do it)

Understanding and using the Future tense correctly allows for more precise expression of future events, intentions, and predictions in Portuguese. While the simple future is important for formal contexts and writing, mastering the compound future with “ir” is crucial for everyday communication in Portuguese.

Conditional (Condicional)

The Conditional in Portuguese is used to express hypothetical situations, polite requests, and actions that depend on certain conditions. It’s similar to the conditional tense in English (would + verb).

Formation

The Conditional is formed by adding specific endings to the infinitive form of the verb, similar to the Future tense.

Regular Verb Conjugation

Examples:

• Falar (to speak): Eu falaria, tu falarias, ele falaria, nós falaríamos, eles falariam
• Comer (to eat): Eu comeria, tu comerias, ele comeria, nós comeríamos, eles comeriam
• Partir (to leave): Eu partiria, tu partirias, ele partiria, nós partiríamos, eles partiriam

Key Points

1. Regularity: Like the Future tense, the Conditional is highly regular, with the same endings used for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.

2. Stress: The stress always falls on the -ia syllable.

3. Similarity to Imperfect: The Conditional endings are similar to those of the Imperfect tense of -er and -ir verbs.

Irregular Verbs

Some common verbs have irregular stems in the Conditional, mirroring their irregularities in the Future tense:

1. Dizer (to say): Eu diria, tu dirias, ele diria…
2. Fazer (to do/make): Eu faria, tu farias, ele faria…
3. Trazer (to bring): Eu traria, tu trarias, ele traria…

Usage

1. Hypothetical situations: “Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria pelo mundo” (If I had money, I would travel the world)

2. Polite requests or suggestions: “Poderia me passar o sal, por favor?” (Could you pass me the salt, please?)

3. Expressing uncertainty: “Ele teria uns 30 anos” (He would be about 30 years old)

4. Reported speech in the past: “Ela disse que viria” (She said she would come)

5. Expressing desires or wishes: “Eu gostaria de aprender português” (I would like to learn Portuguese)

Conditional Perfect

There’s also a compound form of the Conditional, called the Conditional Perfect. It’s formed with the conditional of “ter” (to have) + past participle:

• Eu teria falado (I would have spoken)
• Nós teríamos comido (We would have eaten)

This form is used for hypothetical situations in the past: “Se eu tivesse estudado mais, teria passado no exame” (If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam)

Conditional vs. Imperfect Subjunctive

In conditional sentences, European Portuguese often uses the Conditional in the main clause and the Imperfect Subjunctive in the if-clause: “Se eu pudesse, viajaria mais” (If I could, I would travel more)

However, in Brazilian Portuguese, it’s common to use the Imperfect in place of the Conditional: “Se eu pudesse, viajava mais”

Mesoclisis

As with the Future tense, in very formal Portuguese, object pronouns can be inserted in the middle of the Conditional form: “Dar-lhe-ia o livro” (I would give him/her the book) instead of “Daria-lhe o livro”

Understanding the Conditional is crucial for expressing hypothetical situations, making polite requests, and discussing possibilities in Portuguese. Its usage allows for nuanced expression of potential actions and their consequences, adding depth and sophistication to communication in Portuguese.

Subjunctive (Subjuntivo)

The Subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, suggestions, and hypothetical situations. It’s more commonly used in Portuguese than in English, making it a challenging but essential aspect for learners.

Three Main Tenses of the Subjunctive

1. Present Subjunctive (Presente do Subjuntivo)
2. Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)
3. Future Subjunctive (Futuro do Subjuntivo)

Let’s look at each of these in more detail:

1. Present Subjunctive (Presente do Subjuntivo)

Formation

For regular verbs, replace the -o of the first person singular (eu) in the present indicative with these endings:

• -ar verbs: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -eis, -em
• -er/-ir verbs: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am

Examples:

• Falar: Que eu fale, que tu fales, que ele fale…
• Comer: Que eu coma, que tu comas, que ele coma…
• Partir: Que eu parta, que tu partas, que ele parta…

Usage

• Expressing wishes or hopes: “Espero que ele venha” (I hope he comes)
• After certain conjunctions: “Embora seja difícil…” (Although it may be difficult…)
• With impersonal expressions: “É importante que você estude” (It’s important that you study)

2. Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)

Formation

Derived from the third-person plural of the preterite indicative. Remove the -ram and add: -sse, -sses, -sse, -ssemos, -sseis, -ssem

Examples:

• Falar (falaram): Que eu falasse, que tu falasses, que ele falasse…
• Comer (comeram): Que eu comesse, que tu comesses, que ele comesse…
• Partir (partiram): Que eu partisse, que tu partisses, que ele partisse…

Usage

• In conditional sentences: “Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria” (If I had money, I would travel)
• Expressing past wishes: “Eu queria que você estivesse aqui” (I wished you were here)

3. Future Subjunctive (Futuro do Subjuntivo)

Formation

For regular verbs, it’s identical to the personal infinitive. For irregular verbs, it’s based on the preterite stem.

Examples:

• Falar: Quando eu falar, quando tu falares, quando ele falar…
• Fazer (irregular): Quando eu fizer, quando tu fizeres, quando ele fizer…

Usage

• With temporal conjunctions referring to the future: “Quando eu chegar, te ligo” (When I arrive, I’ll call you)
• In conditional sentences referring to the future: “Se chover, ficaremos em casa” (If it rains, we’ll stay home)

Key Points About the Subjunctive

1. Triggers: Certain words and phrases often trigger the use of the subjunctive, such as “talvez” (maybe), “esperar que” (to hope that), “querer que” (to want that).

2. Irregulars: Many common verbs are irregular in the subjunctive, including ser, estar, ir, ter, and fazer.

3. Compound Tenses: There are also compound forms of the subjunctive using auxiliary verbs, like the Present Perfect Subjunctive (e.g., “Espero que ele tenha chegado” - I hope he has arrived).

4. Indicative vs. Subjunctive: The choice between indicative and subjunctive can change the meaning of a sentence:

   • “Penso que ela está doente” (I think she is sick - more certain)
   • “Penso que ela esteja doente” (I think she might be sick - less certain)

5. Regional Differences: The use of the subjunctive can vary between European and Brazilian Portuguese, with Brazilian Portuguese sometimes using the indicative where European Portuguese would use the subjunctive.

Mastering the subjunctive is crucial for advanced Portuguese proficiency. It allows for more nuanced expression of uncertainty, possibility, and hypothetical situations, adding depth and sophistication to one’s Portuguese communication.

Imperative (Imperativo)

The Imperative mood in Portuguese is used to give commands, make requests, offer advice, or provide instructions. It’s a direct way of telling someone to do something.

Key Characteristics

1. No first-person singular: There’s no imperative form for “eu” (I).
2. Two forms: Affirmative and negative imperatives.
3. Informal and formal: Different forms for tu (informal) and você (formal).

Formation of the Imperative

Affirmative Imperative

1. For tu (informal):

   • Take the present indicative form
   • Remove the final -s Example: Falar (to speak) → Tu falas → Fala!

2. For você/vocês (formal):

   • Use the present subjunctive form Example: Falar → Que você fale → Fale!

3. For nós:

   • Use the present subjunctive form Example: Falar → Que nós falemos → Falemos!

Negative Imperative

For all forms, use the present subjunctive:

• Não fales! (tu)
• Não fale! (você)
• Não falemos! (nós)
• Não falem! (vocês)

Regular Verb Conjugations

Irregular Verbs

Some common irregular verbs in the imperative:

1. Ser (to be): Sê (tu), Seja (você), Sejamos (nós), Sejam (vocês)

2. Ir (to go): Vai (tu), Vá (você), Vamos (nós), Vão (vocês)

3. Ter (to have): Tem (tu), Tenha (você), Tenhamos (nós), Tenham (vocês)

Usage and Examples

1. Commands: “Fecha a porta!” (Close the door!)

2. Requests: “Por favor, fale mais devagar.” (Please speak more slowly.)

3. Advice: “Estude mais para o exame.” (Study more for the exam.)

4. Instructions: “Adicione dois ovos à mistura.” (Add two eggs to the mixture.)

5. Invitations: “Venha jantar conosco!” (Come have dinner with us!)

Special Considerations

1. Reflexive verbs: Place the reflexive pronoun after the verb in affirmative commands and before the verb in negative commands.

   • “Senta-te!” (Sit down! - tu form)
   • “Não te sentes!” (Don’t sit down! - tu form)

2. Object pronouns: Similar to reflexive pronouns, they come after the verb in affirmative commands and before in negative.

   • “Dá-me o livro!” (Give me the book!)
   • “Não me dês o livro!” (Don’t give me the book!)

3. Nós form: Often replaced by “vamos + infinitive” in everyday speech.

   • “Vamos comer!” instead of “Comamos!” (Let’s eat!)

4. Regional variations: In Brazil, the tu form is less common, and the você form is often used even in informal situations.

5. Politeness: Adding “por favor” can soften a command into a polite request.

Mastering the imperative mood is crucial for effective communication in Portuguese, allowing you to give clear instructions, make requests, and offer advice in various social contexts.