Reference Sections

Portuguese : Verb Tense Usage

The Portuguese verb reflects a semi-common Romance principle of inflection rather than word improvisation (compare virei to I shall come). The most troublesome parts for the learner tend to be the preterite tense and the subjunctive tenses either due to high numbers of irregularities (especially   the preterite) or because of a seemingly large lack of parallelism to any English tenses (notably the imperfect, present, and future subjunctive). Remember that the inflected indicative is a unique tense to Portuguese, and must be carefully observed. Lastly, and perhaps the most basic quality of the verb to note, the verb never takes a pronoun subject unless for reasons of stress or clarification. See the complete listing of verb terminations.

Tense or Form Definition of Usage Portuguese and English Examples
Present Infinitive The most basic verb form which either complements a conjugated verb or stands alone to reflect no person in particular. fazer = to do
Inflected Present Infinitive No exact English equivalent exists. It tends to serve one of three purposes: 1) to preserve the verb as a polite indicator (as não fazer rather than não faça), 2) to show that the infinitive has some relation to the speaker or a subject (vamos para ires), 3) to show that an action may take place, will take place, or is taking place,  thus leaving room for interpretation (vamos para ires denotes a bit of we go so that you might go; best translated we go for you to go). eu fazer = I do, I might do, (that) I do
Present Indicative Denotes an action taking place in the present time frame. faço = I do, I am doing
Present Subjunctive Mood The verbal action attributed in the present to an action that is desired, suggested, needed, expected, or gives a vague description of something or someone that may exist or happen. (...que) faça = (...that) I [might] do
Present Imperative Mood Commands that something be done. faz = do!
Past Historic or Preterit Denotes a one-time action that occured in the past. fiz = I did
Imperfect Indicative Denotes a habitual action, consistent circumstance, or surrounding factors in the past (fazia frio por isso fechei a janela). fazia = I used to do, I was doing
Imperfect Subjunctive Mainly coupled with se and the conditional tense, it expresses a past action that could or might have happened, and often relates how that would effect the future. (se) fizesse = (if) I did, had done
Pluperfect Indicative An old literary and poetic tense that has gone out of style, the pluperfect remains limited in use and precedence given to the more simplistic ter + past participle. fizera = I have done
Future Indicative Expresses actions that are a complete certainty in the future. farei = I will do
Simple Future Gives an action the quality of being done in the near future or even started in the present, its English parallel is to be going to. vou fazer = I am going to do
Future Conditional Expresses a completely uncertain action in the future that reflects on complete possibility. The exact English equivalent is the word would. faria = I would do
Future Subjunctive Mood Denotes an expected future action that is not yet completely certain, it is usually expressed in English with the present indicative (When I [might] arrive in Paris... = Quando chegar a Paris...). Note that this tense is mainly confined to certain expressions that show an expected but uncertain past aspect (adverbial clauses), and even then only sometimes (unless..., when..., after..., etc.) fizer = I might do, I will do
Present Perfect This tense consists of ter (in the imperfect)+ past participle and denotes an action taking place prior to the speaker's words. tenho fieto = I had done
Past Perfect The ever popular ter + past participle, but used with ter in the imperfect. It expresses an action that has been done prior to a past speaker's words. tinha feito = I had done
Future Perfect Ter + past participle; this time with ter in the future indicative tense. This expresses an action prior to the speaker's words in the future. terei feito = I will have done
Present Participle or Gerund This is a word functioning as a verb complement to express present action; otherwise it serves as a noun (gerund). When preceded by estar, it acts as an indicator of the present progressive tense (action taking place at the exact time of the speaker's words). fazendo = doing; estou fazendo = I am doing
Past Participle This is a word functioning as a verb complement to express past action; otherwise it serves as an adjective. feito = done

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