B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 21

Advanced Timelines and Completed Actions

7 Règles totales
72 exemples
7 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of complex timelines to narrate your life with native-like precision and sophistication.

  • Sequence past events using pluperfect tenses.
  • Express hypothetical past regrets with conditional perfects.
  • State future completions using the future perfect.
Mastering the dimensions of time in Portuguese.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey there, language explorer! Ready to elevate your Portuguese conversations and start sounding truly native? In this exciting chapter, we're going to dive deep into some of the most intricate and useful Portuguese tenses that will make you sound incredibly sophisticated. You'll learn how to precisely sequence events that happened in the past (using tenses like the Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito and Pluperfect with tinha + participle). Imagine you're telling a story to a Portuguese friend and you want to clearly explain what happened first and what followed. These grammar points will be the magic of your narrative! Next, we'll move on to the Conditional Perfect (teria + participle), which gives you the power to express what would have happened but didn't. For example,

If I had had more time, I would have finished that task.
This skill helps you talk about regrets, missed opportunities, or any hypothetical past scenarios with ease. And finally, with the Future Perfect (terei + participle), we'll look ahead to a future where actions are already done and dusted. Picture saying,
By the end of this month, I will have finished my book.
It's perfect for planning or when you want to emphasize that something will be completed by a specific point in the future. By the time you complete this chapter, you'll be able to dance with Portuguese tenses, speaking with incredible precision and nuance. You'll tell more captivating stories, express your plans with crystal clarity, and impress everyone with your advanced command of Portuguese. Are you ready to become a master of Portuguese timelines?

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Narrate a sequence of past events using the pluperfect.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Hey there, language explorer! Ready to elevate your Portuguese conversations and start sounding truly native? In this exciting chapter, we're going to dive deep into some of the most intricate and useful Portuguese tenses that will make you sound incredibly sophisticated.
This is crucial for reaching B2 Portuguese grammar proficiency, as it allows for much greater precision in expressing complex ideas. We’ll explore advanced timelines and completed actions, which are essential for painting vivid pictures with your words.
You'll learn how to precisely sequence events that happened in the past (using tenses like the Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito and the compound Pluperfect with tinha + participle). Imagine you're telling a story to a Portuguese friend and you want to clearly explain what happened first and what followed. These grammar points will be the magic of your narrative, helping you master advanced Portuguese tenses and past event sequencing.
Next, we'll move on to the Conditional Perfect (teria + participle), which gives you the power to express what would have happened but didn't. For example,
If I had had more time, I would have finished that task.
This skill helps you talk about regrets, missed opportunities, or any hypothetical past scenarios with ease, adding depth to your Portuguese grammar understanding. And finally, with the Future Perfect (terei + participle), we'll look ahead to a future where actions are already done and dusted. Picture saying,
By the end of this month, I will have finished my book.
It's perfect for planning or when you want to emphasize that something will be completed by a specific point in the future.
By the time you complete this chapter, you'll be able to dance with Portuguese tenses, speaking with incredible precision and nuance. You'll tell more captivating stories, express your plans with crystal clarity, and impress everyone with your advanced command of Portuguese. Are you ready to become a master of Portuguese timelines?

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on completing actions across various timelines, allowing for nuanced expression in B2 Portuguese. We'll cover four key structures.
First, let's tackle The Past Before the Past (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito). This tense, also known as the simple pluperfect, indicates an action completed before another past action. It’s often found in literature or more formal speech.
For example, Quando cheguei, ela já partira (When I arrived, she had already left). The action of leaving (partira) happened before the arrival (cheguei).
More commonly in spoken Portuguese, especially in Brazil, you'll encounter The Portuguese Pluperfect: The Past of the Past (tinha feito), also known as the compound pluperfect. This construction uses the imperfect of ter (to have) or haver (to have) followed by the past participle of the main verb. It carries the same meaning as the simple pluperfect but is much more frequent.
For instance, Quando cheguei, ela já tinha partido (When I arrived, she had already left). Both partira and tinha partido convey had left, but the latter is generally preferred in everyday conversation.
Next, we have the Portuguese Conditional Perfect: 'Would Have' (teria feito), or Condicional Composto. This tense is used to talk about hypothetical actions or situations in the past that did not occur. It expresses what would have happened under different circumstances.
It's formed with the conditional of ter (to have) plus the past participle. For example, Se eu tivesse sabido, eu teria vindo mais cedo (If I had known, I would have come earlier). It’s perfect for expressing regrets or missed opportunities.
Finally, we explore the Future Perfect:
I will have finished
(Terei feito), also known as the Futuro Composto. This tense describes an action that will be completed by a specific point in the future. It's formed with the future simple of ter (to have) plus the past participle.
Consider the sentence: Até amanhã, eu terei terminado o relatório (By tomorrow, I will have finished the report). This emphasizes the completion of the action before or by a future deadline, making it crucial for precise planning in Portuguese grammar.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Quando cheguei, ele já foi.
✓ Correct:
Quando cheguei, ele já tinha ido.
(When I arrived, he had already gone.)
*Explanation:* Using the simple past (foi) incorrectly implies that his going happened *at the same time* or *after* your arrival. The compound pluperfect (tinha ido) correctly expresses that his departure occurred *before* your arrival, which is the intended meaning of had gone.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Se eu soubesse, eu faria isso.
    (If I knew, I would do that.) - *when meaning 'would have done'*
✓ Correct:
Se eu tivesse sabido, eu teria feito isso.
(If I had known, I would have done that.)
*Explanation:* The first sentence uses the imperfect subjunctive and simple conditional, implying a hypothetical situation in the present or future. To express a hypothetical situation in the *past* that didn't happen (would have done), you need the pluperfect subjunctive (tivesse sabido) and the Conditional Perfect (teria feito).
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu terei escrevido a carta até à noite.
✓ Correct:
Eu terei escrito a carta até à noite.
(I will have written the letter by night.)
*Explanation:* This mistake involves using an incorrect past participle. While many participles end in -ado/-ido, some verbs have irregular forms. Escrever (to write) has the irregular participle escrito, not *escrevido*. Always double-check irregular participles!

Real Conversations

A

A

Você já tinha visitado Portugal antes de se mudar para cá? (Had you visited Portugal before moving here?)
B

B

Sim, eu já tinha vindo uma vez, mas nunca tinha morado aqui. (Yes, I had come once, but I had never lived here.)
A

A

Se tivéssemos mais tempo, o que teríamos feito? (If we had had more time, what would we have done?)
B

B

Ah, nós teríamos explorado mais a cidade e teríamos provado mais pratos locais! (Oh, we would have explored more of the city and would have tried more local dishes!)
A

A

Você acha que, até o final do ano, já terá aprendido a tocar violão? (Do you think that, by the end of the year, you will have already learned to play the guitar?)
B

B

Espero que sim! Até lá, terei praticado muito. (I hope so! By then, I will have practiced a lot.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main difference between Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito simples and Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito composto?

The simple form (partira) is more formal and literary, while the compound form (tinha partido) is much more common in spoken Portuguese, especially in Brazil, to express an action completed before another past action.

Q

When should I use the Conditional Perfect (teria feito) instead of the simple Conditional (faria)?

Use teria feito for hypothetical actions in the past that did *not* happen (would have done). Use faria for hypothetical actions in the present or future (would do).

Q

Is the Future Perfect (terei feito) common in everyday spoken Portuguese?

While less frequent than other tenses, it is definitely used and understood, particularly when emphasizing that an action will be completed by a specific future point or deadline. It adds precision to your B2 Portuguese communication.

Q

How do I ensure correct participle agreement in these compound tenses?

With ter as the auxiliary verb (e.g., tinha partido, teria feito, terei terminado), the participle *does not* agree in gender or number with the subject or object. It remains in its masculine singular form. For example, Ela tinha ido, not *tinha ida*.

Cultural Context

In Portuguese, especially in Brazil, the Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito simples (partira) is largely relegated to formal writing, literature, and news headlines. In everyday conversation, the compound form (tinha partido) is almost universally preferred. This is a key distinction for sounding natural.
The Conditional Perfect and Future Perfect are used across all registers and regions, providing valuable tools for expressing complex past hypotheticals and future completed actions with precision and sophistication. Mastering these tenses will significantly enhance your ability to tell compelling stories and discuss intricate plans.

Exemples clés (6)

1

Eu já tinha comido quando o Uber chegou.

J'avais déjà mangé quand l'Uber est arrivé.

Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)
2

Ela postou a foto, mas eu já tinha visto no Stories.

Elle a posté la photo, mais je l'avais déjà vue en Stories.

Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)
3

Eu já tinha comido quando você me ligou.

J'avais déjà mangé quand tu m'as appelé.

Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)
4

Nós tínhamos visto esse filme na Netflix ontem.

Nous avions vu ce film sur Netflix hier.

Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)
5

Eu teria ido à festa, mas tive que estudar para o exame.

J'aurais été à la fête, mais j'ai dû réviser pour l'examen.

Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (Condicional Composto)
6

Nós teríamos chegado a tempo se o Uber não tivesse cancelado.

Nous serions arrivés à l'heure si le Uber n'avait pas annulé.

Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (Condicional Composto)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

Le truc du 'Já'

Les natifs adorent ajouter já (déjà) pour fluidifier la phrase.
Eu já tinha visto
sonne bien plus naturel que juste Eu tinha visto.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)
🎯

Le raccourci mental

Si tu utiliserais 'avais + verbe' en français, utilise 'tinha + participe' en portugais :
Eu tinha esquecido o guarda-chuva.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)
⚠️

Pas d'accord avec le sujet !

Ici, le participe passé reste figé au masculin singulier, peu importe qui parle. On dira toujours :
Ela teria ido ao cinema.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (teria feito)
💡

Le raccourci mental

Retiens juste la structure 'Teria + ado/ido'. Ça couvre 80% des verbes réguliers comme dans :
Eu teria comprado o pão.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé Portugais : "Aurais fait"

Vocabulaire clé (5)

antes before teria would have terei will have particípio participle conclusão conclusion

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Professional Planning

Review Summary

  • Root + -ara/-era/-ira
  • Tinha + Participle
  • Teria + Participle
  • Terei + Participle

Erreurs courantes

Double infinitive is incorrect. The auxiliary 'teria' is followed directly by the participle.

Wrong: Eu teria ter feito.
Correct: Eu teria feito.

The auxiliary 'tinha' must be followed by the past participle, not the simple past.

Wrong: Eu tinha fiz.
Correct: Eu tinha feito.

Always use the participle after 'terei'.

Wrong: Eu terei fiz.
Correct: Eu terei feito.

Règles dans ce chapitre (7)

1

Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)

B2
Utilise tinha + participe pour décrire le 'passé du passé' dans tes conversations quotidiennes : tinha, particípio, passado anterior.
Eu já tinha comido quando o Uber chegou.
10 exemples
2

Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)

B2
C'est ton outil pour mettre de l'ordre dans le passé en utilisant tinha feito, tinha visto ou tinha ido.
Eu já tinha comido quando você me ligou.
10 exemples
3

Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (teria feito)

B2
Utilise le conditionnel passé avec l'auxiliaire teria suivi du participe pour exprimer des regrets ou des scénarios imaginaires du passé.
Eu teria ido ao show, mas não tinha dinheiro.
10 exemples
4

Conditionnel Passé Portugais : "Aurais fait"

B2
Combine les formes de teria avec un participe passé pour parler d'événements imaginaires qui ne se sont pas produits.
Eu teria ligado, mas fiquei sem bateria.
12 exemples
5

Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (Condicional Composto)

B2
C'est le temps des regrets et des réalités alternatives ! On utilise l'auxiliaire teria pour construire ce qu'on appelle le Condicional Composto.
Eu teria ido à festa, mas tive que estudar para o...
10 exemples
6

Futur Antérieur : « J'aurai fini » (Terei feito)

B2
Utilise le Futur Antérieur pour regarder en arrière depuis le futur et confirmer que quelque chose est « fait et classé » avec les badges terei feito ou vou ter feito.
Até o ano que vem, nós teremos comprado a casa.
10 exemples
7

Futur Antérieur Portugais : 'J'aurai fait' (Futuro Composto)

B2
C'est ton outil magique pour parler de deadlines et d'actions terminées dans le futur. Garde en tête les formes terei, terá et terão pour briller.
Até amanhã à noite, eu terei terminado de assistir...
10 exemples

Next Steps

Congratulations! You have officially finished the B2 level. You are now equipped to navigate complex conversations with ease. Keep practicing!

Write a diary entry for the future.

Continue to: Polishing Your Expression

Pratique rapide (10)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du plus-que-parfait.

Eu (ter) ___ (perder) ___ meu celular quando te vi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tinha perdido
On utilise 'tinha' (imparfait de ter) + 'perdido' (participe de perder).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du conditionnel composé.

Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu ___ (comprar) aquele celular novo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: teria comprado
Pour dire 'aurais acheté', il faut le conditionnel de 'ter' (teria) + le participe passé (comprado).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (Condicional Composto)

Complète la phrase pour le sujet 'Nós'.

Nós ___ (viajar) para o Japão em 2020.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: teríamos viajado
Accorde l'auxiliaire avec 'Nós' (teríamos) et utilise le participe régulier de viajar (viajado).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (teria feito)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito.

Quando eu cheguei, eles já ___ (sair).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tinham saído
On utilise 'tinham' car le sujet 'eles' (ils) est à la troisième personne du pluriel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du conditionnel passé.

Eu ___ (comprar) o carro se tivesse o dinheiro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: teria comprado
Tu as besoin du conditionnel de 'ter' (teria) suivi du participe passé régulier de 'comprar' (comprado).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (teria feito)

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le plus-que-parfait composé ?

Choisis la version moderne et conversationnelle :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tinha falado com ela antes.
'Tinha falado' est la forme composée standard utilisée dans la conversation quotidienne.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur.

Quando você chegar, as meninas já terão saídas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quando você chegar, as meninas ya terão saído.
Le participe passé dans les temps composés avec 'ter' ne s'accorde jamais en genre ou en nombre.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Futur Antérieur Portugais : 'J'aurai fait' (Futuro Composto)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós tinha comido tudo antes da live começar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós tínhamos comido tudo antes da live começar.
Le sujet 'nós' exige que le verbe 'ter' soit conjugué en 'tínhamos'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le passé avant le passé (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur de conjugaison.

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós teria feito o trabalho se tivéssemos tempo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós teríamos faito
Le sujet 'Nós' demande l'auxiliaire 'teríamos', et 'fazer' a un participe irrégulier : 'feito'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Conditionnel Passé en Portugais : 'Aurais fait' (Condicional Composto)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur d'accord du participe.

Find and fix the mistake:

Elas tinham comidas toda a pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elas tinham comido toute la pizza.
Au plus-que-parfait composé, le participe 'comido' est invariable et ne devient pas 'comidas'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le plus-que-parfait portugais : Le passé du passé (tinha feito)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

C'est un temps du passé utilisé pour décrire une action qui s'est produite avant une autre action passée. Par exemple :
Eu tinha terminado o trabalho.
La forme simple (falara) est littéraire. La forme composée (tinha falado) est celle de la vie quotidienne : Eu tinha falado.
'Tinha feito' (Plus-que-parfait) signifie que tu l'as fait avant un autre événement passé. 'Tenho feito' (Passé composé) signifie que tu le fais régulièrement jusqu'à maintenant. Par exemple :
Eu tinha feito o bolo
contre
Eu tenho feito muito exercício
.
Non ! Dans le plus-que-parfait composé, le participe finit toujours en -o. On dit Ela tinha falado, et jamais tinha falada.
Cela se traduit littéralement par 'j'aurais fait'. On l'utilise pour une action qui était possible dans le passé mais qui n'a pas eu lieu :
Eu teria feito isso se pudesse.
En portugais moderne, utilise toujours 'ter'. Bien que haveria soit correct, c'est extrêmement formel, alors que
Eu teria dito a verdade
est beaucoup plus naturel.
Chapitre précédent
Hypotheticals and Polite Requests
Chapitre suivant
Polishing Your Expression
Retour à la feuille de route