A2 · प्राथमिक चैप्टर 7

Describing the Past & Looking Ahead

8 कुल नियम
82 उदाहरण
7 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

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.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

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.

अध्याय गाइड

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.

मुख्य उदाहरण (4)

1

Eu vivia em São Paulo naquela época.

मैं उस समय साओ पाउलो में रहता था।

अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)
2

Nós não entendíamos a lição, então pedimos ajuda.

हमें सबक समझ नहीं आ रहा था, इसलिए हमने मदद मांगी।

अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)
3

Eu comerei todo o bolo sozinha!

I will eat the whole cake by myself!

पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं
4

Nós assistiremos à série na Netflix hoje à noite.

We will watch the series on Netflix tonight.

पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

🎯

'Used To' वाला हैक

अगर तुम इंग्लिश में किसी बात के लिए 'used to' लगा सकते हो, तो पुर्तगाली में पक्का Imperfect टेंस ही आएगा:
Eu andava de bicicleta.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुरानी आदतें और किस्से: अपूर्ण भूतकाल (-ar क्रियाएँ)
💡

'Signal Words' पहचानो

sempre (हमेशा) या antigamente (पुराने दिनों में) जैसे शब्द इशारा हैं कि तुम्हें Imperfect यूज़ करना है:
Eu sempre bebia café.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)
💡

'Used to be' के बारे में सोचो

अगर तुम इंग्लिश के 'was' को 'used to be' से बदल सकते हो, तो पुर्तगाली में पक्का era ही आएगा।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत का वर्णन: 'Ser' (Era) का उपयोग
💡

'Used To' वाला नियम

अगर तुम हिंदी में 'किया करता था' कह सकते हो, तो समझो तुम्हें पुर्तगाली में fazia की ज़रूरत है, जैसे:
Eu fazia natação.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुरानी आदतें और मौसम: 'Fazer' Imperfect में

मुख्य शब्दावली (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

सामान्य गलतियाँ

Use the imperfect for habits, not the preterite.

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

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

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

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

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

इस अध्याय के नियम (8)

1

पुरानी आदतें और किस्से: अपूर्ण भूतकाल (-ar क्रियाएँ)

A2
पुरानी आदतों और बीते समय की कहानियों के लिए AVA एंडिंग्स का इस्तेमाल करो, जैसे कि habits और ongoing actions.
Eu viajava muito antes da faculdade.
10 उदाहरण
2

अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)

A2
Imperfect टेंस बीते कल की एक 'तस्वीर' पेंट करता है—चाहे वो पुरानी आदतें हों या बैकग्राउंड की बातें। बस याद रखो: habits, descriptions, और ongoing actions.
Eu vivia em São Paulo naquela época.
11 उदाहरण
3

अतीत का वर्णन: 'Ser' (Era) का उपयोग

A2
बीते समय के लोगों, चीज़ों या हालात का वर्णन करने के लिए 'ser' (era/éramos) का इस्तेमाल करो, जैसे era (था/थी) या éramos (हम थे)।
Eu era viciado nessa série.
10 उदाहरण
4

पुरानी आदतें और मौसम: 'Fazer' Imperfect में

A2
जब भी तुम्हें 'करता था' या पुरानी यादें ताज़ा करनी हों, तो fazia का इस्तेमाल करो। यह बीते हुए कल की एक फिल्म की तरह है, किसी एक फोटो की तरह नहीं।
Antigamente, eu fazia vídeos para o YouTube.
10 उदाहरण
5

पुर्तगाली भूतकाल: आदतों और वर्णन के लिए 'Ver' का उपयोग (via, viam)

A2
पुरानी आदतों या बीते समय के नज़ारों को बताने के लिए vi- स्टेम का जादू चलाओ। बस via जोड़ो और अपनी कहानी सुनाओ!
Eu via todos os episódios de Friends na Netflix.
11 उदाहरण
6

पुर्तगाली Past Tense: 'podia' का उपयोग कब करें (Imperfect)

A2
जब भी पुरानी काबिलियत, पुराने नियम या अभी के लिए कोई Polite Request करनी हो, तो podia का इस्तेमाल करो।
Antes, eu podia comer uma pizza inteira sozinho.
10 उदाहरण
7

पुर्तगाली सामान्य भविष्य काल: नियमित -ar क्रियाएं

A2
क्रिया के अंत में खास 'फ्यूचर' वाले शब्द जोड़ो, जैसे '-ei', '-á', '-ão'। ये पक्के इरादे या भविष्यवाणी के लिए हैं!
Eu viajarei para Portugal no próximo ano.
10 उदाहरण
8

पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं

A2
To form the future, add -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -ão directly to the complete infinitive verb.
Eu comerei todo o bolo sozinha!
10 उदाहरण

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

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

Fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu comoei o bolo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu comerei
Keep the infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं

Select the correct form for 'Nós'.

Nós ___ (partir) cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: partiremos
Nós + -emos = partiremos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं

कौन सा वाक्य मौसम की सही भविष्यवाणी करता है?

सही भविष्यवाणी चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Amanhã choverá muito.
'Choverá' 'it will rain' का सही तीसरा पुरुष एकवचन भविष्य रूप है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली सामान्य भविष्य काल: नियमित -ar क्रियाएं

वाक्य में गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

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.
जब अतीत में दो काम एक साथ हो रहे हों ('enquanto' का मतलब है 'जब/जबकि'), तो दोनों वर्ब्स Imperfect में होने चाहिए। दौड़ने के काम के लिए 'corria' सही है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)

सही वाक्य चुनें।

कौन सा वाक्य अतीत की एक आदत को सही ढंग से बताता है?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Antigamente, nós assistíamos filmes todos os sábados.
'Antigamente' (पुराने समय में) और 'todos os sábados' (हर शनिवार) एक बार-बार होने वाली आदत की ओर इशारा करते हैं, जिसके लिए Imperfect ('assistíamos') ज़रूरी है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: अतीत की आदतें: पुर्तगाली अपूर्ण काल (-er और -ir क्रियाएं)

खाली जगह को 'trabalhar' (Eu) के सही भविष्य रूप से भरें।

Eu ___ na Google no próximo mês.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: trabalharei
'Eu' के लिए, पूरे infinitive 'trabalhar' में '-ei' जोड़ें।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली सामान्य भविष्य काल: नियमित -ar क्रियाएं

अतीत की आदत के लिए 'fazer' का सही रूप भरें।

Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos. (I used to make)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazia
हम 'fazia' का उपयोग करते हैं क्योंकि यह बचपन की एक आदत है, कोई एक बार की घटना नहीं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुरानी आदतें और मौसम: 'Fazer' Imperfect में

टेंस की गलती ढूँढें और उसे ठीक करें।

Ontem às 3h, eu fazia um café e bebi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ontem às 3h, eu fiz um café e bebi.
चूंकि काम एक निश्चित समय (दोपहर 3 बजे) पर शुरू और खत्म हुआ, इसलिए हम 'fiz' का उपयोग करेंगे।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुरानी आदतें और मौसम: 'Fazer' Imperfect में

बीते हुए समय के मौसम का वर्णन करने वाला वाक्य चुनें।

सही विकल्प चुनें:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazia sol quando saí de casa.
'Fazia sol' माहौल बताता है (धूप थी)। 'Fez sol' भी हो सकता है लेकिन 'Fiz sol' का मतलब होगा 'मैंने सूरज बनाया', जो गलत है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुरानी आदतें और मौसम: 'Fazer' Imperfect में

Conjugate 'comer' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ (comer) amanhã.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comerei
Eu + -ei = comerei.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पुर्तगाली भविष्य काल: नियमित -er और -ir क्रियाएं

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

'Falei' मतलब मैंने एक बार बात की (काम खत्म)। 'Falava' मतलब मैं बात करता था (आदत) या बात कर रहा था।
Eu falava com ela todos os dias.
हाँ, लगभग हमेशा! 'I was walking' बन जाएगा Eu caminhava। यह बहुत ही नेचुरल लगता है।
Imperfect पुरानी आदतों या चल रहे कामों के लिए है ('मैं खा रहा था'), जबकि Preterite खत्म हो चुके कामों के लिए है ('मैंने खाया')। जैसे: Eu comia बनाम Eu comi।
हाँ! रेगुलर वर्ब्स के लिए ये बिलकुल सेम हैं। उदाहरण के लिए, eu vendia (-er) और eu abria (-ir) दोनों में -ia लगता है।
आमतौर पर नहीं। लोकेशन के लिए estar (estava) का इस्तेमाल होता है। जैसे:
Eu estava em casa
। चीज़ें *कैसी* थीं, यह बताने के लिए era का इस्तेमाल करें।
Foi पूरी हो चुकी घटनाओं के लिए है। era पुरानी आदतों या स्थितियों के लिए है। इसे 'फोटो' बनाम 'वीडियो' की तरह समझें।
पिछला अध्याय
Completed Past Actions
अगला अध्याय
Commands, Diminutives & Daily Expressions
रोडमैप पर वापस