Learning Portuguese can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to verb tenses. But don’t worry! You don’t need to memorize every tense to start speaking fluently.
In this guide, I’ll show you the most important verb tenses to focus on, so you can communicate effectively in Portuguese without unnecessary confusion.
💡 Want to learn Portuguese with a native tutor? Book a class with me on Preply and start speaking confidently today!
Why Are Verb Tenses Important?
Verb tenses help express time in Portuguese, just like in English. They indicate whether an action happens in the past, present, or future.
Portuguese has many verb tenses, but don’t worry—you only need a few key ones to start speaking and understanding conversations.
Let’s break them down!
The Most Important Portuguese Verb Tenses
1. Present Tense (Presente do Indicativo)
Used for actions happening now or routines.
✅ Examples:
- Eu falo português. (I speak Portuguese.)
- Ela trabalha em um escritório. (She works in an office.)
- Nós estudamos todos os dias. (We study every day.)
📌 Why learn it? You’ll use this tense in most daily conversations!
2. Simple Past (Pretérito Perfeito do Indicativo)
Used for actions that happened once and are completed.
✅ Examples:
- Ontem eu viajei para o Brasil. (Yesterday, I traveled to Brazil.)
- Ele comprou um livro. (He bought a book.)
- Nós jantamos às 8h. (We had dinner at 8 PM.)
📌 Why learn it? You need this tense to talk about past events.
3. Imperfect Past (Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo)
Used for past habits or ongoing past actions.
✅ Examples:
- Quando eu era criança, brincava muito. (When I was a child, I used to play a lot.)
- Ele sempre chegava atrasado. (He always arrived late.)
- Nós morávamos em Portugal. (We used to live in Portugal.)
📌 Why learn it? This tense helps you describe memories and routines in the past.
4. Future Tense (Futuro do Indicativo)
Used for future plans and predictions.
✅ Examples:
- Amanhã eu viajarei para Lisboa. (Tomorrow, I will travel to Lisbon.)
- Você aprenderá português rapidamente! (You will learn Portuguese quickly!)
- Eles vão estudar para a prova. (They will study for the test.)
📌 Why learn it? You’ll use this when making plans or talking about the future.
5. Future in the Past / Conditional (Futuro do Passado / Condicional)
Used to talk about hypothetical actions, possibilities, or polite requests.
✅ Examples:
- Eu compraria esse carro se tivesse dinheiro. (I would buy this car if I had money.)
- Nós viajaríamos mais se tivéssemos tempo. (We would travel more if we had time.)
- Você poderia me ajudar? (Could you help me?)
📌 Why learn it? This tense is essential for expressing hypothetical situations and for being polite in Portuguese.
Important Subjunctive Verb Tenses
The subjunctive mood is used for possibilities, doubts, and hypothetical situations. It’s essential for speaking naturally in Portuguese!
6. Present Subjunctive (Presente do Subjuntivo)
Used for wishes, doubts, and recommendations.
✅ Examples:
- Espero que você goste do curso. (I hope you like the course.)
- É importante que ele estude. (It’s important that he studies.)
📌 Why learn it? It’s commonly used in opinions and polite speech.
7. Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)
Used for hypothetical situations in the past.
✅ Examples:
- Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria mais. (If I had money, I would travel more.)
- Se ele estudasse mais, passaria na prova. (If he studied more, he would pass the test.)
📌 Why learn it? You’ll use this tense for “what if” situations.
8. Future Subjunctive (Futuro do Subjuntivo)
Used for possibilities and future conditions.
✅ Examples:
- Se você vier ao Brasil, me avise! (If you come to Brazil, let me know!)
- Quando eu tiver tempo, viajarei. (When I have time, I will travel.)
📌 Why learn it? It’s very common in spoken Portuguese—especially in Brazil!
How to Learn Portuguese Verb Tenses Faster?
🚀 The best way to master verb tenses is by practicing with a native speaker! 🚀
I offer personalized online lessons to help you:
✅ Understand verb tenses in real-life conversations.
✅ Practice speaking naturally and confidently.
✅ Get personalized feedback to improve faster.
👉 Book a lesson with me on Preply now!
Final Thoughts: Which Verb Tenses Should You Focus On?
If you’re just starting, focus on:
✔ Present Tense (for everyday conversations)
✔ Past Tenses (Pretérito Perfeito & Imperfeito)
✔ Future Tense (for making plans)
✔ Conditional / Futuro do Passado (for polite and hypothetical speech)
Once you feel comfortable, start learning:
✔ Subjunctive Tenses (for expressing wishes, doubts, and conditions)
💡 Need a step-by-step guide to learning Portuguese? My online course will help you go from beginner to fluent with structured lessons and real-life examples.
📅 Don’t wait—start speaking Portuguese today!
Book your first lesson with me on Preply!