A2 · Élémentaire Chapitre 7

Describing the Past & Looking Ahead

8 Règles totales
82 exemples
7 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

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.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

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.

Guide du chapitre

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.

Exemples clés (4)

1

Antigamente, eu fazia vídeos para o YouTube.

Autrefois, je faisais des vidéos pour YouTube.

Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait
2

Fazia muito calor naquele dia.

Il faisait très chaud ce jour-là.

Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait
3

Eu via todos os episódios de Friends na Netflix.

Je regardais tous les épisodes de Friends sur Netflix.

Passé en Portugais : Utiliser 'Ver' pour les Habitudes et Descriptions (via, viam)
4

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

Autrefois, on regardait les infos dans le journal papier.

Passé en Portugais : Utiliser 'Ver' pour les Habitudes et Descriptions (via, viam)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

L'astuce du 'C'était avant'

Si tu peux dire 'j'avais l'habitude de' ou 'j'étais en train de' en français, fonce sur l'imparfait : Eu estudava muito.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes passées et récits : L'Imparfait (verbes en -ar)
💡

Repère les mots magiques

Si tu vois sempre (toujours) ou todos os dias (tous les jours), c'est l'imparfait direct :
Eu sempre bebia café de manhã.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes Passées : L'Imparfait en Portugais (Verbes en -er & -ir)
💡

Pense à 'J'étais' ou 'J'avais l'habitude d'être'

Si tu décris un état qui durait dans le temps, tu voudras presque toujours utiliser era en portugais.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descriptions Passées : Utiliser 'Ser' (Era)
💡

La règle de l'habitude

Si tu peux dire 'j'avais l'habitude de' en français, tu dois utiliser fazia en portugais.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait

Vocabulaire clé (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

Erreurs courantes

Use the imperfect for habits, not the preterite.

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

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

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

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

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

Règles dans ce chapitre (8)

1

Habitudes passées et récits : L'Imparfait (verbes en -ar)

A2
Utilise les terminaisons en AVA pour tes habitudes, tes descriptions et tes souvenirs, comme un film qui défile dans le passé.
Eu viajava muito antes da faculdade.
10 exemples
2

Habitudes Passées : L'Imparfait en Portugais (Verbes en -er & -ir)

A2
L'imparfait, c'est le temps des souvenirs ! Il sert pour tes hábitos, tes descrições et tout ce qui durava dans le passé.
Eu vivia em São Paulo naquela época.
11 exemples
3

Descriptions Passées : Utiliser 'Ser' (Era)

A2
Utilise l'imparfait de 'ser' (era ou éramos) pour décrire comment étaient les gens, les choses ou l'ambiance autrefois.
Eu era viciado nessa série.
10 exemples
4

Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait

A2
Utilise fazia pour dire 'je faisais', décrire la météo ou tes anciennes habitudes, contrairement au fini fiz.
Antigamente, eu fazia vídeos para o YouTube.
10 exemples
5

Passé en Portugais : Utiliser 'Ver' pour les Habitudes et Descriptions (via, viam)

A2
Utilise le radical vi- pour décrire tes habitudes ou des décors passés avec via, viam et víamos.
Eu via todos os episódios de Friends na Netflix.
11 exemples
6

Passé Portugais : Quand utiliser 'podia' (Imparfait)

A2
Utilise podia pour parler de tes capacités passées, des règles d'autrefois, ou pour être super poli avec podia, podíamos et podiam.
Antes, eu podia comer uma pizza inteira sozinho.
10 exemples
7

Le futur simple en portugais : verbes réguliers en -ar

A2
Colle les terminaisons directement sur le verbe à l'infinitif pour sonner pro et sûr de tes projets avec falarei, estudaremos ou viajarão.
Eu viajarei para Portugal no próximo ano.
10 exemples
8

Futur Simple en Portugais : Verbes réguliers en -er et -ir

A2
Pour parler du futur, ajoute simplement les terminaisons -ei, «-ás», «-á», -emos, «-ão» directement après l'infinitif du verbe.
Eu comerei todo o bolo sozinha!
10 exemples

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

Pratique rapide (10)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur de temps.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ontem às 3h, eu fazia um café e bebi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ontem às 3h, eu fiz um café e bebi.
Comme l'action est précise (3h) et terminée avant la suivante, on utilise le passé simple 'fiz'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait

Complète avec la bonne forme de 'ser'

Quando eu ___ criança, eu gostava de brincar na rua.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: era
On utilise 'era' car on parle d'une période continue dans le passé (l'enfance).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descriptions Passées : Utiliser 'Ser' (Era)

Quelle phrase décrit la météo dans le passé ?

Choisis la bonne option :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazia sol quando saí de casa.
'Fazia sol' plante le décor au moment où tu es sorti. 'Fiz sol' n'a aucun sens.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait

Complète la phrase avec la bonne forme de l'imparfait.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ (brincar) na rua.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: brincava
Comme on parle de l'enfance (une période), on utilise l'imparfait 'brincava'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes passées et récits : L'Imparfait (verbes en -ar)

Identifie la phrase qui décrit une habitude passée.

Quelle phrase indique une habitude quotidienne ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu nadava todo dia.
'Nadava' combiné avec 'todo dia' montre clairement une habitude répétée.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes passées et récits : L'Imparfait (verbes en -ar)

Complète avec la bonne forme de 'fazer' pour une habitude passée.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos. (Je faisais)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazia
On utilise 'fazia' car c'est une habitude d'enfance, pas une action unique.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Habitudes et Météo : 'Fazer' à l'Imparfait

Trouve l'erreur

Find and fix the mistake:

Nós eramos muito amigos na faculdade.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós éramos muito amigos na faculdade.
Il ne faut pas oublier l'accent sur 'éramos' pour la prononciation correcte.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descriptions Passées : Utiliser 'Ser' (Era)

Quelle phrase décrit correctement une habitude de groupe dans le passé ?

Choisis la bonne phrase :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós víamos o mar da nossa varanda.
'Víamos' décrit un état continu ou répété dans le passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé en Portugais : Utiliser 'Ver' pour les Habitudes et Descriptions (via, viam)

Quelle phrase est une description au passé ?

Choisis la bonne option :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A casa era azul.
'Era' décrit une caractéristique durable dans le passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Descriptions Passées : Utiliser 'Ser' (Era)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte de 'ver' à l'imparfait.

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos animativos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: via
On utilise 'via' pour une habitude passée comme regarder des dessins animés enfant.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé en Portugais : Utiliser 'Ver' pour les Habitudes et Descriptions (via, viam)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

'Falei' c'est une fois, c'est fini. 'Falava' c'est une habitude ou une action qui durait. Eu falava muito (Je parlais tout le temps) vs Eu falei ontem (J'ai parlé hier).
Presque toujours ! Eu caminhava est très naturel pour dire 'J'étais en train de marcher'.
L'Imparfait sert pour les habitudes ou les actions sans fin précise. Le Prétérit, c'est pour une action terminée d'un coup. Exemple :
Eu comia pizza todos os dias
(habitude) vs
Eu comi pizza ontem
(une fois).
Oui, c'est magique ! Pour les verbes réguliers, c'est la même chose. Exemple :
Eu vendia pão e eu abria a loja
utilisent tous les deux -ia.
En général, non. Pour la localisation, on utilise estar (estava). Par exemple :
Eu estava em casa
. Utilise era pour décrire *ce que* les choses étaient.
Foi est pour un événement fini. Era est pour une habitude ou une description. Pense à un flash contre une vidéo : Foi bom (C'était bien, l'événement est fini).
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