A2 · Elemental Capítulo 7

Describing the Past & Looking Ahead

8 Reglas totales
82 ejemplos
7 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of storytelling by connecting your past memories with your future ambitions.

  • Conjugate verbs in the Imperfect tense to describe habits.
  • Identify the difference between finished past actions and ongoing descriptions.
  • Formulate future plans using the Future do Presente tense.
From yesterday's memories to tomorrow's dreams.

Lo que aprenderás

You've already got the Portuguese basics down and you're getting comfortable – now it's time to level up and speak with even more confidence! In this chapter, we're going on an exciting journey through the past and into the future. First, we'll dive into the past, but not just single, finished events. You'll learn how to talk about your old habits, like

When I was a kid, I used to play every day,
or
The weather was always good.
This part is perfect for when you want to tell a story, describe a scene, or explain what something was like previously (such as
He was a kind person
or
We had a lot of fun back then
). We'll master verbs like 'ser' (was/used to be), 'fazer' (used to do/was), and 'ver' (used to see) in the Imperfect tense, so you can paint vivid pictures of the past for your listeners. For example, when your friend talks about their last vacation, you'll be able to add details like,
We used to walk by the sea every day and drink coffee in the evenings.
After we've explored the past thoroughly, we'll hop into a time machine and head to the future! Here, you'll learn how to confidently discuss your upcoming plans. Think
I will go shopping tomorrow
or
We will visit Portugal next year.
This section will be incredibly useful when you need to explain work schedules, chat about your travel arrangements, or even make a promise to someone. You'll comfortably be able to say,
I will definitely come,
or
We will be there next year.
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to bring past memories to life, explain your old habits, and talk about future plans and events with complete assurance. Ready? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your childhood habits using the Imperfect tense.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to "Describing the Past & Looking Ahead," your next step in mastering Portuguese grammar at the A2 CEFR level! You've already built a solid foundation, and now it’s time to expand your expressive capabilities significantly. This chapter is designed to help you narrate past events with vivid detail and confidently articulate your future plans, making your Portuguese conversations much richer and more engaging.
We'll start by delving into the Portuguese Imperfect Tense, a crucial tool for talking about past habits, ongoing situations, and descriptions. Imagine being able to share stories like
When I was a child, I used to visit my grandparents every summer
or
The beach was always beautiful.
This tense allows you to paint a picture of the past, explaining what things *were like* rather than just what *happened*. You'll master verbs like ser (to be), fazer (to do/make), and ver (to see) in their imperfect forms, unlocking a new level of storytelling.
After mastering the past, we'll fast-forward to the future. This section will equip you with the Portuguese Simple Future Tense, enabling you to discuss your upcoming plans, commitments, and predictions with clarity. Whether you're planning a trip, scheduling a meeting, or simply talking about what you'll do tomorrow, this tense will ensure you communicate effectively.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to reminisce about old times and confidently map out your future in Portuguese. Let's get started!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces two powerful verb tenses: the Imperfect Tense for the past and the Simple Future for what's to come. The Imperfect Tense in Portuguese is used for actions that were habitual, ongoing, or descriptive in the past. Think used to or was/were -ing.
For Past Habits & Storytelling: The Imperfect Tense, regular -ar verbs take endings like -ava, -avas, -ava, -ávamos, -áveis, -avam. For example, falar (to speak) becomes Eu falava (I used to speak). Regular -er & -ir Verbs follow a similar pattern with endings like -ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos, -íeis, -iam.
So, comer (to eat) becomes Eu comia (I used to eat), and partir (to leave) becomes Eu partia (I used to leave).
Specific verbs: For Past Descriptions: Using 'Ser' (Era), the verb ser is highly irregular: Eu era, tu eras, ele/ela era, nós éramos, vós éreis, eles/elas eram. Example: Ele era muito amigável (He used to be very friendly / He was very friendly). For Past Habits & Weather: 'Fazer' in Imperfect, fazer becomes fazia: Fazia muito sol no verão (It used to be very sunny in the summer).
For Portuguese Past Tense: Using 'Ver' for Habits & Descriptions, ver becomes via: Nós víamos os pássaros todos os dias (We used to see the birds every day). Finally, for Portuguese Past Tense: When to use 'podia' (Imperfect), poder becomes podia: Eu podia correr rápido quando era criança (I could run fast when I was a child).
Moving to the future, the Portuguese Simple Future (Futuro do Presente) is used for definite plans and predictions. It’s formed by adding specific endings to the infinitive of the verb. For Regular -ar Verbs, -er Verbs, and -ir Verbs, the endings are the same for all conjugations: -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -eis, -ão.
For example, falar becomes Eu falarei (I will speak), comer becomes Eu comerei (I will eat), and partir becomes Eu partirei (I will leave). This straightforward conjugation makes expressing future plans incredibly simple!

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ontem, eu fui para a praia e o sol estava brilhante.
    (Yesterday, I went to the beach and the sun was shining bright.)
✓ Correct:
Ontem, eu fui para a praia e o sol estava brilhante.
(Yesterday, I went to the beach and the sun was shining bright.)
*Explanation:* While the English translation might sound similar, the first sentence implies the sun *shone* brightly as a single completed action (which would be 'brilhou' in Portuguese), rather than describing the continuous state of the sun *being* bright. The Imperfect Tense (estava) is correctly used here to describe a condition or ongoing state in the past, not a single event.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Amanhã, eu vou comer um bolo.
    (Tomorrow, I go eat a cake.)
✓ Correct:
Amanhã, eu comerei um bolo.
(Tomorrow, I will eat a cake.)
*Explanation:* While ir + infinitive (ir comer) is very common in spoken Portuguese for the future (similar to going to eat), the chapter specifically focuses on the Simple Future (comerei). Using the Simple Future is grammatically precise and often preferred in more formal contexts or when emphasizing a definite commitment.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Quando eu era criança, eu jogava futebol só uma vez.
    (When I was a child, I played soccer only once.)
✓ Correct:
Quando eu era criança, eu jogava futebol.
(When I was a child, I used to play soccer.)
*Explanation:* The Imperfect Tense (jogava) is used for *habitual* actions in the past (used to play). If you played soccer only *once*, you would use the Pretérito Perfeito (joguei), as it refers to a single, completed action in the past. The original sentence incorrectly mixes a habitual tense with a singular event.

Real Conversations

A

A

Quando eras criança, o que fazias nos verões? (When you were a child, what did you use to do in the summers?)
B

B

Ah, eu sempre ia para a casa da minha avó. Nós nadávamos no rio e comíamos muitas frutas. (Oh, I always used to go to my grandmother's house. We used to swim in the river and eat a lot of fruit.)
A

A

O que farás no próximo fim de semana? (What will you do next weekend?)
B

B

Eu visitarei uns amigos em Lisboa e talvez farei um passeio de barco. (I will visit some friends in Lisbon and maybe I will take a boat trip.)
A

A

Como era a tua escola primária? (What was your primary school like?)
B

B

Era pequena, mas os professores eram muito dedicados. Nós tínhamos aulas ao ar livre frequentemente. (It was small, but the teachers were very dedicated. We used to have outdoor classes frequently.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know when to use the Imperfect Tense versus another past tense in Portuguese?

The Imperfect Tense (e.g., eu falava) is primarily for past habits, ongoing actions, descriptions of states, or background information. If you're talking about a single, completed action, you'll likely need the Pretérito Perfeito (e.g., eu falei), which is not covered in detail here but is good to be aware of.

Q

Are there many irregular verbs in the Portuguese Simple Future?

No, the Simple Future is quite regular! The endings (-ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -eis, -ão) are generally added directly to the infinitive form of most verbs. Some common irregulars like fazer (farei), dizer (direi), and trazer (trarei) exist, but they are few compared to other tenses.

Q

Can I use ir + infinitive for future plans instead of the Simple Future?

Yes, absolutely! In everyday spoken Portuguese, especially in Brazil, ir + infinitive (Eu vou comer - I am going to eat) is extremely common and often preferred for expressing future actions. The Simple Future (Eu comerei - I will eat) gives a slightly more formal tone or emphasizes certainty.

Cultural Context

Portuguese speakers love to tell stories, and the Imperfect Tense is their best friend for painting vivid pictures of the past. It allows for a rich tapestry of descriptions and habits, making conversations about childhood, old routines, or historical events feel very natural and engaging. When discussing the future, the Simple Future is often used for more definite plans or predictions, especially in formal contexts or when making clear commitments.
In casual conversation, particularly in Brazil, the ir + infinitive construction is very prevalent for the future, but mastering the Simple Future will give you a more complete understanding and allow you to express yourself with greater precision and elegance.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

Eu viajava mucho antes da faculdade.

Yo viajaba mucho antes de la universidad.

Hábitos del pasado e historias: El Imperfecto (verbos -ar)
2

Nós morávamos em São Paulo nessa época.

Nosotros vivíamos en São Paulo en esa época.

Hábitos del pasado e historias: El Imperfecto (verbos -ar)
3

Eu vivia em São Paulo naquela época.

Yo vivía en São Paulo en esa época.

Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)
4

Nós não entendíamos a lição, então pedimos ajuda.

No entendíamos la lección, así que pedimos ayuda.

Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)
5

Antigamente, eu fazia vídeos para o YouTube.

Antiguamente, yo hacía videos para YouTube.

Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito
6

Fazia muito calor naquele dia.

Hacía mucho calor aquel día.

Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito
7

Eu via todos os episódios de Friends na Netflix.

Yo veía todos los episodios de Friends en Netflix.

Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)
8

Antigamente, a gente via as notícias no jornal de papel.

Antiguamente, veíamos las noticias en el periódico de papel.

Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)

Consejos y trucos (4)

🎯

El truco del 'solía'

Si en español dirías 'yo jugaba' o 'yo solía jugar', en portugués usas el Imperfeito: Eu jogava futebol.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos del pasado e historias: El Imperfecto (verbos -ar)
💡

Busca las 'palabras señal'

Palabras como sempre, normalmente o antigamente te avisan que necesitas el Imperfecto:
Eu sempre bebia chá de manhã.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)
💡

Piensa en 'Solía ser'

Si en español dirías 'era' o 'solía ser' para describir algo, en portugués casi siempre usarás era. Por ejemplo:
Eu era vegetariano antigamente.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descripciones Pasadas: Usando 'Ser' (Era)
💡

La regla del 'solía'

Si en español dirías 'hacía' o 'solía hacer', casi siempre necesitarás fazia en portugués:
Eu fazia natação aos sábados.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito

Vocabulario clave (5)

antigamente in the past/formerly sempre always amanhã tomorrow próximo next frequentemente frequently

Real-World Preview

coffee

Discussing Childhood

Review Summary

  • Stem + -ava, -avas, -ava, -ávamos, -avam

Errores comunes

Use the imperfect for habits, not the preterite.

Wrong: Eu andei muito quando criança.
Correcto: Eu andava muito quando criança.

While 'vou comer' is acceptable, use the synthetic future for formal clarity.

Wrong: Eu vou comer amanhã.
Correcto: Eu comerei amanhã.

Don't mix 'ser' with other verbs for habits.

Wrong: Ele era ir ao parque.
Correcto: Ele ia ao parque.

Reglas en este capítulo (8)

1

Hábitos del pasado e historias: El Imperfecto (verbos -ar)

A2
Usa las terminaciones en AVA para hablar de hábitos, descripciones y escenas del pasado que duraban un tiempo.
Eu viajava muito antes da faculdade.
10 ejemplos
2

Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)

A2
Piensa en este tiempo como el 'fondo' de tu foto: sirve para describir hábitos, escenas continuas y estados en el pasado.
Eu vivia em São Paulo naquela época.
11 ejemplos
3

Descripciones Pasadas: Usando 'Ser' (Era)

A2
Usa el Imperfecto de 'ser' (era o éramos) para describir cómo eran las personas, cosas o épocas en el pasado.
Eu era viciado nessa série.
10 ejemplos
4

Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito

A2
Usa fazia para hablar de hábitos, describir el clima o escenas pasadas, como un video en curso.
Antigamente, eu fazia vídeos para o YouTube.
10 ejemplos
5

Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)

A2
Usa la raíz 'vi-' para describir hábitos o escenas continuas en el pasado con las etiquetas hábitos, descripciones y escenarios.
Eu via todos os episódios de Friends na Netflix.
11 ejemplos
6

Pasado en Portugués: Cuándo usar 'podia' (Pretérito Imperfecto)

A2
Usa podia para hablar de habilidades pasadas, permisos antiguos o para suavizar un pedido hoy mismo. habilidades, permisos, cortesía.
Antes, eu podia comer uma pizza inteira sozinho.
10 ejemplos
7

Futuro Simple en Portugués: Verbos Regulares en -ar

A2
Pega las terminaciones del futuro directamente al verbo completo para sonar formal y seguro: falarei, estudaremos, viajarão.
Eu viajarei para Portugal no próximo ano.
10 ejemplos
8

Futuro Simple en Portugués: Verbos Regulares en -er e -ir

A2
Para hablar del futuro, solo añade -ei, «-ás», «-á», -emos o «-ão» al final del verbo completo.
Eu comerei todo o bolo sozinha!
10 ejemplos

Next Steps

You have mastered the timeline! Keep practicing these verb conjugations daily.

Write a 5-sentence story about your last vacation.

Continue to: Commands, Diminutives & Daily Expressions

Práctica rápida (10)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta del imperfecto del verbo entre paréntesis.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ (viver) em uma casa pequena.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vivia
Para estados habituales o continuos en el pasado, como dónde solías vivir, usamos el Imperfecto. La forma para 'eu' de 'viver' es 'vivia'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta de 'poder' en el imperfecto.

Antigamente, eu ___ correr 10 km sem cansar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: podia
Como es una habilidad general del pasado ('Antigamente'), usamos el imperfecto 'podia' para 'eu'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasado en Portugués: Cuándo usar 'podia' (Pretérito Imperfecto)

¿Qué frase describe el clima en el pasado?

Elige la opción correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazia sol cuando saí de casa.
'Fazia sol' prepara la escena (estaba soleado). 'Fez sol' es posible para resumir el día, pero 'Fiz sol' no tiene sentido.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito

Rellena el espacio con la forma correcta de 'ver' en imperfecto.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos animativos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: via
Usamos 'via' para un hábito de la infancia como ver dibujos animados.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)

¿Qué frase describe correctamente un hábito grupal pasado?

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós víamos o mar da nossa varanda.
'Víamos' describe un estado continuo o repetido en el pasado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)

Elige el pronombre correcto que combine con el verbo.

___ podíamos viajar mais se tivéssemos dinheiro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós
La terminación '-íamos' se usa exclusivamente con 'Nós'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasado en Portugués: Cuándo usar 'podia' (Pretérito Imperfecto)

Encuentra el error de acentuación.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós andavamos de bicicleta no parque.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós andávamos de bicicleta no parque.
La forma 'nós' en el Imperfeito SIEMPRE lleva tilde en la antepenúltima sílaba: -ávamos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos del pasado e historias: El Imperfecto (verbos -ar)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

Enquanto ela correu no parque, ela ouvia música.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Enquanto ela corria no parque, ela ouvia música.
Cuando dos acciones ocurren al mismo tiempo en el pasado ('enquanto' significa 'mientras'), ambos verbos deben estar en Imperfecto. 'Corria' es lo correcto.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos del Pasado: El Imperfecto en Portugués (Verbos -er & -ir)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta de 'fazer' para un hábito pasado.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos. (Yo hacía)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazia
Usamos 'fazia' (Imperfecto) porque se refiere a un hábito en la infancia, no a un evento de una sola vez.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hábitos y Clima: 'Fazer' en Imperfeito

Encuentra el error en esta frase sobre una acción continua interrumpida.

Eles vêem o filme quando a luz caiu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles viam o filme cuando a luz caiu.
Para describir una acción que estaba en progreso cuando fue interrumpida, usa el imperfecto 'viam'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pasado en Portugués: Usando 'Ver' para Hábitos y Descripciones (via, viam)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

'Falei' es algo que pasó una vez y terminó. 'Falava' es algo que hacías seguido o que estabas haciendo, como:
Eu falava com ela todo dia.
Casi siempre. 'Yo caminaba' se dice Eu caminhava, y es mucho más natural que usar formas largas.
El Imperfecto describe acciones habituales o sin un final claro (Eu comia). El Pretérito es para acciones terminadas en un momento específico (Eu comi).
¡Sí! Para verbos regulares son idénticas. Por ejemplo, eu vendia (de vender) y eu abria (de abrir) usan la misma terminación -ia.
Generalmente no. Para ubicación usamos estar (estava).
Eu estava em casa
(Yo estaba en casa). Usa era para descripciones de *qué* o *cómo* eran las cosas.
Foi es para eventos terminados o momentos específicos. Era es para estados continuos o descripciones. Piensa en una foto (foi) vs un video (era).
A festa foi boa
(La fiesta terminó y estuvo bien).
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