B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 1

Talking About Recent Habits

4 Règles totales
43 exemples
6 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of describing ongoing habits and recent trends with natural Portuguese compound tenses.

  • Construct sentences using the 'ter + past participle' structure.
  • Differentiate between simple past events and ongoing recurring habits.
  • Apply the perfect continuous nuance to sound more native in casual conversation.
Talk about your life's rhythm with confidence.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Ready to truly elevate your Portuguese? This chapter is your secret weapon for sounding effortlessly natural when talking about life's ongoing rhythms. We're diving deep into the powerful world of *compound tenses*, specifically the *Pretérito Perfeito Composto* and the super useful *tenho + participle* construction. You’ve mastered simple past events, but what about those actions that started a while ago and *haven't stopped*? Or things you’ve been doing *repeatedly* lately? That’s where these B2 gems come in! You’ll learn to precisely articulate that you've *been studying* a lot, or that the weather *has been strange* recently, instead of simply saying you *studied* or it *was strange*. This isn't just grammar; it's about adding nuance and flow to your speech, making you sound far more articulate and connected to native speakers. Imagine catching up with a Portuguese friend and confidently sharing,

Tenho lido muitos livros ultimamente
(I've been reading a lot of books lately), or discussing a new habit:
Tenho feito caminhadas todas as manhãs
(I've been taking walks every morning). By the end, you'll intuitively know when to reach for these sophisticated structures, allowing you to discuss recent activities, recurring events, and ongoing trends with the ease and accuracy of a true upper-intermediate speaker. Get ready to express continuity and repetition like a pro!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use the 'tenho + participle' structure to describe recent habits.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your journey to B2 Portuguese fluency! You've mastered expressing single past events, but what about those actions that began in the past and are still ongoing, or things you've been doing repeatedly up to now? This is where your Portuguese gets a significant upgrade, allowing you to articulate nuances that truly make you sound like an advanced speaker.
This chapter is your guide to mastering the art of
Talking About Recent Habits
using two incredibly powerful structures: the Pretérito Perfeito Composto (often translated as the Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect) and the highly versatile tenho + participle construction.
These aren't just obscure grammar points; they are essential tools for discussing life's rhythms, ongoing trends, and personal habits with precision. Imagine telling a Portuguese friend, "I've been learning Portuguese for two years or I've been watching a lot of series lately." These are the kinds of everyday conversations where these tenses shine. By understanding when and how to use them, you'll move beyond simple statements and connect more deeply with native speakers, expressing continuity and repetition with effortless grace.
Get ready to add a layer of sophistication to your Portuguese grammar that will elevate your communication to the next level!

How This Grammar Works

To talk about recent habits, ongoing actions, or repeated events up to the present, Portuguese employs two key structures that, while sharing the same form, often carry slightly different nuances in usage.
1. Pretérito Perfeito Composto (Present Perfect: Have Been Doing)
This tense is formed by combining the present tense of the auxiliary verb ter (to have) with the past participle of the main verb.
* Formation: ter (present tense) + past participle
* *Eu tenho (I have)*
* *Tu tens (You have)*
* *Ele/Ela/Você tem (He/She/You have)*
* *Nós temos (We have)*
* *Vós tendes (You all have - informal, less common)*
* *Eles/Elas/Vocês têm (They/You all have)*
*Remember: The past participle does NOT agree in gender or number with the subject when used with ter.*
* Uses:
* Actions that started in the past and continue into the present:
* Eu tenho estudado português há dois anos. (I have been studying Portuguese for two years.)
* Ele tem morado em Lisboa desde 2020. (He has been living in Lisbon since 2020.)
* Repeated actions within an unfinished period of time:
* Nós temos visitado a nossa família muitas vezes este ano. (We have visited our family many times this year.)
* Ela tem lido muitos livros ultimamente. (She has read many books lately.)
2. The tenho + participle Construction (Portuguese Perfect Continuous: Habits & Recent Trends)
While formally identical to the Pretérito Perfeito Composto, this construction is often highlighted for its specific emphasis on ongoing actions, recent habits, and trends that have been happening repeatedly or continuously up to the present moment. It often implies a sense of lately or recently, making it perfect for discussing current routines or developments.
* Formation: ter (present tense) + past participle (same as above).
* Emphasis on Habits & Recent Trends:
* Tenho feito caminhadas todas as manhãs. (I've been taking walks every morning. - *Emphasizes a recent habit*)
* O tempo tem estado estranho esta semana. (The weather has been strange this week. - *Highlights a recent trend/ongoing state*)
* Ultimamente, tenho visto muitos filmes portugueses. (Lately, I've been watching many Portuguese films. - *Focuses on a recent, repeated action*)
Both structures allow you to express that something has been happening or
has been done repeatedly.
The tenho + participle usage often feels more direct and colloquial for describing current habits and recent patterns. Mastering these will significantly enhance your ability to express complex ideas in B2 Portuguese.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu estudei português por dois anos.
✓ Correct:
Eu tenho estudado português por dois anos.
*Explanation:* The simple past (Pretérito Perfeito Simples) implies the action is finished. If you're still studying, you need the Pretérito Perfeito Composto or tenho + participle to show the action started in the past and continues to the present.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Nós temos lidos os livros.
✓ Correct:
Nós temos lido os livros.
*Explanation:* When using ter as an auxiliary verb for compound tenses, the past participle (lido) remains invariable. It does not agree in gender or number with the subject or object.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Eu estou a estudar muito ultimamente.
    (European Portuguese) /
    Eu estou estudando muito ultimamente.
    (Brazilian Portuguese)
✓ Correct:
Eu tenho estudado muito ultimamente.
*Explanation:* While estar a + infinitive (or estar + gerund) expresses an action happening *right now*, for actions that have been happening *repeatedly or continuously over a recent period*, the tenho + participle construction is much more natural and idiomatic in Portuguese.

Real Conversations

A

A

Olá, Rui! Que tens feito ultimamente? (Hi, Rui! What have you been doing lately?)
B

B

Olá, Ana! Tenho trabalhado muito, mas também tenho lido alguns livros interessantes. (Hi, Ana! I've been working a lot, but I've also been reading some interesting books.)
A

A

O que é que o João tem dito sobre o novo projeto? (What has João been saying about the new project?)
B

B

Ele tem estado muito otimista e tem partilhado ideias fantásticas. (He has been very optimistic and has been sharing fantastic ideas.)
A

A

A Maria tem vindo às aulas de dança? (Has Maria been coming to the dance classes?)
B

B

Sim, ela tem vindo regularmente e tem melhorado bastante! (Yes, she has been coming regularly and has improved a lot!)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between Pretérito Perfeito Composto and Pretérito Perfeito Simples in Portuguese?

The Pretérito Perfeito Simples describes a completed action in the past (e.g., Eu comi - I ate). The Pretérito Perfeito Composto describes an action that started in the past and continues or has repeated up to the present (e.g.,

Eu tenho comido bem
- I have been eating well).

Q

Can I use estar a + infinitive for ongoing habits instead of

tenho + participle
?

While estar a + infinitive (or gerund in BP) describes an action currently in progress,

tenho + participle
is specifically used for habits, repeated actions, or ongoing states that span a recent period, making it the more natural choice for "I've been doing" in that context.

Q

Does the past participle change when I use ter in these tenses?

No, when ter is the auxiliary verb for the Pretérito Perfeito Composto or

tenho + participle
, the past participle always remains invariable (e.g., lido, feito, visto) and does not agree with the subject or object.

Cultural Context

In daily Portuguese conversations, especially in Portugal, you'll frequently hear the Pretérito Perfeito Composto and the
tenho + participle
construction. They are crucial for discussing current life updates, recent experiences, and ongoing situations. While the formal Pretérito Perfeito Composto is taught, the
tenho + participle
usage often feels more dynamic and common for expressing "what you've been up to" or recent trends.
It's a natural way to show engagement and continuity, making your speech flow more authentically.

Exemples clés (8)

1

Eu tenho trabalhado muito ultimamente.

J'ai beaucoup travaillé ces derniers temps.

Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente
2

Ela tem assistido muita série coreana.

Elle regarde beaucoup de séries coréennes en ce moment.

Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente
3

Ultimamente, tenho dormido muito pouco.

Dernièrement, j'ai très peu dormi.

Passé Composé (Actions Répétées)
4

Você tem assistido àquela série nova?

Tu as regardé cette nouvelle série ?

Passé Composé (Actions Répétées)
5

Tenho estudado muito para os exames finais.

J'ai beaucoup étudié pour les examens finaux.

Actions en cours avec Ter (Tenho feito)
6

Você tem assistido aquela série nova no Netflix?

Tu regardes la nouvelle série sur Netflix en ce moment ?

Actions en cours avec Ter (Tenho feito)
7

Eu tenho treinado muito na academia ultimamente.

Je m'entraîne beaucoup à la salle ces derniers temps.

Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)
8

Você tem visto aquela série nova na Netflix?

Tu as regardé cette nouvelle série sur Netflix en ce moment ?

Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💬

Você vs. Tu

Au Brésil, on utilise 'você tem' partout. Au Portugal, privilégie 'tu tens' avec tes potes :
Tu tens estudado muito?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente
⚠️

Attention au faux-ami !

Ne traduis pas « Je suis arrivé » par « Tenho chegado ». En portugais, ça voudrait dire que tu arrives à répétition tous les jours ! Pour un événement unique, utilise le passé simple : Cheguei.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé (Actions Répétées)
🎯

Le déclic 'Ultimamente'

Dès que tu veux dire 'ces derniers temps' (ultimamente), ton cerveau doit passer en mode 'Tenho + Particípio'. C'est la structure la plus naturelle :
Tenho lido bons livros ultimamente.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Actions en cours avec Ter (Tenho feito)
💡

Le test du 'Lately'

Si tu peux ajouter naturellement le mot 'ultimamente' (dernièrement) à ta phrase, c'est le signe qu'il faut utiliser ce temps ! Par exemple :
Eu tenho estudado muito.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)

Vocabulaire clé (5)

ultimamente lately tenho lido I have been reading frequentemente frequently a vida toda my whole life praticar to practice

Real-World Preview

coffee

Catching up with a friend

Review Summary

  • Ter (present) + Past Participle

Erreurs courantes

This structure is for ongoing habits, not finished past events with specific time markers like 'ontem'. Use the Pretérito Perfeito for completed events.

Wrong: Eu tenho estudado (eu estudei) muito ontem.
Correct: Eu tenho estudado muito ultimamente.

Again, avoid mixing this tense with specific, completed time points. It is for habits over an interval.

Wrong: Eu tenho lido um livro ontem.
Correct: Eu li um livro ontem.

Specific past dates require the Simple Past, not the compound perfect continuous.

Wrong: Eu tenho feito o jantar no domingo passado.
Correct: Eu fiz o jantar no domingo passado.

Next Steps

You have completed the first milestone of your journey! Keep practicing these structures in your daily life to make them second nature.

Listen to a Portuguese podcast and note every time you hear 'tenho' + verb.

Continue to: The Versatile Past Participle

Pratique rapide (6)

Quelle phrase décrit correctement une habitude récente ?

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho comido muita pizza ultimamente.
Le passé composé continu s'utilise pour des actions répétées ('ultimamente'), pas pour des faits uniques ('ontem') ou futurs ('amanhã').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)

Corrige la faute d'accord.

Find and fix the mistake:

As meninas têm estudadas muito.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As meninas têm estudado muito.
Dans ce temps, le participe 'estudado' est invariable. Il ne s'accorde ni en genre ni en nombre.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur d'accord.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ela tem feita muita comida em casa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela tem feito muita comida em casa.
Le participe passé dans ce temps ne change JAMAIS de genre. On utilise le masculin 'feito'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente

Quelle phrase signifie 'J'ai lu (ces derniers temps)' ?

Choisis la bonne traduction :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho lido.
'Eu tenho lido' utilise le Present Perfect pour exprimer une action répétée récemment.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte.

Eu ____ muito ultimamente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho trabalhado
Comme on a 'ultimamente' (dernièrement), on utilise le Present Perfect pour montrer une habitude récente.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Portugais : Exprimer une habitude récente

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte du passé composé continu.

Eu ___ (estudar) muito para a prova ultimamente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho estudado
Avec 'Eu', on utilise 'tenho' et le participe de 'estudar' qui est 'estudado'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passé Composé Continu : Habitudes et tendances récentes (Tenho feito)

Score: /6

Questions fréquentes (6)

Il se traduit souvent par 'j'ai fait (ces derniers temps)' ou 'je fais (en ce moment)'. Contrairement au français, il implique une répétition récente. Eu tenho corrido.
Tu combines le présent du verbe ter (tenho, tem, temos, têm) avec le participe passé du verbe principal. Eu tenho falado.
Surtout pas ! Pour une expérience unique comme « J'ai visité le Japon », utilise le passé simple :
Visitei o Japão uma vez.
Utiliser Tenho visitado signifierait que tu y vas souvent en ce moment.
Jamais à ce temps-là. Même si c'est un groupe de femmes qui parle, on dira
Nós temos estudado
et non estudadas.
Pas tout à fait. En français, on l'utilise pour une action finie. En portugais, tenho feito implique presque toujours une action répétée ou une habitude qui dure encore : Tenho feito ioga.
Techniquement oui (hei feito), mais personne ne parle comme ça dans la vraie vie. Reste sur 'ter' pour avoir l'air d'un humain normal en 2026 : Tenho ido à praia.
Chapitre suivant
The Versatile Past Participle
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