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.
学べること
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 personor
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 tomorrowor
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!
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過去の習慣と物語：半過去形（-ar動詞）昔の習慣や「〜していた」という状態を伝えたいときは、動詞の語尾を「AVA」に変えるだけでOK！
HabitualやDescriptionのシーンで大活躍しますよ。 -
過去の習慣：ポルトガル語の不完了過去形（-er動詞＆-ir動詞）不完了過去は、過去の物語の「背景」を描くための時制です。
habitual（習慣）やdescription（描写）が大切なキーワードになります。 -
過去の描写：「Ser」（Era）の使い方過去の様子や性格、職業などを説明する時は不完了過去の 'ser' を使いましょう。
eraéramoseramの3つをマスターすれば完璧です！ -
昔の習慣と天気：不完全過去の 'Fazer'過去の習慣や天気の描写、進行中の動作には
faziaを使いましょう。完了した「やった」という事実（fiz）とは使い分けが大事です。 -
ポルトガル語の過去形：習慣と描写のための 'Ver' (via, viam)過去の習慣や、終わりが決まっていない「見ていた」状態を表すには
vi-の語幹を使ってviaやviamと言おう！ -
ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方昔の能力や習慣、そして今のお願いを「柔らかく」伝えるには
podiaがぴったり！「かつての自分」や「丁寧な自分」を表現する魔法の言葉です。 -
ポルトガル語の単純未来：規則的な -ar 動詞動詞をそのままキープして、未来の語尾を合体させるだけで
formalでcertainな響きになります。-eiや «-á» が合言葉です！ -
ポルトガル語の単純未来：規則的な -er と -ir 動詞動詞の原形（不定詞）に、専用の語尾
-ei«-ás» «-á»-emos«-ão» をそのままくっつけるだけでOKだよ！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Describe your childhood habits using the Imperfect tense.
チャプターガイド
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 summeror
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✗ 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✗ 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✗ 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.重要な例文 (4)
1
2
Nós não entendíamos a lição, então pedimos ajuda.
授業が理解できなかったので、助けを求めました。
過去の習慣：ポルトガル語の不完了過去形（-er動詞＆-ir動詞）
3
4
ヒントとコツ (4)
🎯
「昔は〜してた」の合図
英語の 'used to' と同じ感覚で使えます。昔の自分について話すならこれ！
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の習慣と物語：半過去形（-ar動詞）
Eu morava no Rio.
💡
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の習慣：ポルトガル語の不完了過去形（-er動詞＆-ir動詞）
ヒントになる言葉を探そう
sempre（いつも）や antigamente（昔は）が出てきたら、不完了過去を使うサインです。 Antigamente eu vivia em uma cidade grande.
💡
「昔は〜だった」のニュアンス
英語の 'used to be' のように、過去の継続的な状態を表したい時は
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の描写：「Ser」（Era）の使い方
era を使います。 Eu era viciado nessa série.
💡
「昔は〜していた」のルール
日本語で「〜していた」や「よく〜したものだ」と言い換えられる場合は、この
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 昔の習慣と天気：不完全過去の 'Fazer'
fazia を使えば間違いありません。 Eu fazia ginástica todos os dias.
重要な語彙 (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
よくある間違い
Use the imperfect for habits, not the preterite.
Wrong:
Eu andei muito quando criança.
正解:
Eu andava muito quando criança.
While 'vou comer' is acceptable, use the synthetic future for formal clarity.
Wrong:
Eu vou comer amanhã.
正解:
Eu comerei amanhã.
Don't mix 'ser' with other verbs for habits.
Wrong:
Ele era ir ao parque.
正解:
Ele ia ao parque.
このチャプターのルール (8)
Next Steps
You have mastered the timeline! Keep practicing these verb conjugations daily.
Write a 5-sentence story about your last vacation.
クイック練習 (5)
不完了過去（imperfect）の正しい形を空欄に入れてください。
Antigamente, eu ___ correr 10 km sem cansar.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: podia
「Antigamente（昔は）」という過去の能力の話なので、主語「eu」に合わせた不完了過去の「podia」を使います。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方
今、丁寧にお願いをするのに最も自然な文を選んでください。
Choose the most natural, polite, and casual sentence:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você podia me ajudar?
不完了過去の「podia」を使うことで、現在のお願いが「〜していただけますか？」という柔らかい響きになります。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方
文脈に合う正しい過去形を選んでください。
Which sentence correctly says 'Yesterday I couldn't go to the gym'?
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ontem eu não pude ir para a academia.
「昨日（Ontem）」という特定の1回の出来事（失敗）について話しているので、完全過去の「pude」を使うのが正解です。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方
動詞の形に合う正しい主語を選んでください。
___ podíamos viajar mais se tivéssemos dinheiro.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós
語尾の「-íamos」は、主語が「Nós」の時だけに使う形です。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方
単語を並べ替えて、丁寧なお願いの文を作ってください。
a / você / abrir / janela / podia / ?
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: você podia abrir a janela ?
「Você podia（〜していただけますか）」＋「abrir（開ける）」＋「a janela（窓を）」の順で構成します。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ポルトガル語の過去形：'podia'（線過去）の使い方
Score: /5
よくある質問 (6)
「falei」は1回きりで終わったこと、「falava」は昔の習慣や続いていたことです。
Falei com ela（彼女と話した）に対し、 Falava com ela（彼女とよく話していた）となります。ほとんどそうです。
Eu caminhava（歩いていた）のように使えます。 Eu estava caminhando とも言えますが、この線過去だけでも自然に伝わりますよ。不完了過去は「〜していた」のように、終わりのない継続や習慣を表します。
Eu comia pizza todos os sábados.完了過去は「〜した」と一回きりの完了した動作です。
はい、規則動詞なら全く同じです！ 例えば
vender (-er) なら eu vendia、abrir (-ir) なら eu abria となります。いいえ、場所には通常 'estar' (estava) を使います。
Eu estava em casa(家にいました) と言います。 'era' は「どんな状態だったか」という説明に使います。
'foi' は完了した一度きりの出来事、 'era' は過去の継続的な状態や習慣に使います。写真は 'foi'、動画は 'era' とイメージしましょう。
