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.
배울 내용
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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과거의 습관과 이야기: 불완전 과거 (-ar 동사)과거의 반복적인 습관이나 배경 상황을 설명할 때는
AVA어미를 기억하세요. 딱 한 번 일어난 일이 아니라 «지속되던 선»의 느낌을 주는 시제예요. -
과거의 습관: 포르투갈어 불완료 과거 시제 (-er & -ir 동사)불완전 과거는 과거의 배경을 그리는 '그림 같은 시제'예요!
habitual,ongoing,description이 세 단어만 기억하면 끝! -
과거 묘사: 'Ser' (Era) 사용하기과거의 사람, 사물, 시간의 상태를 그림 그리듯 설명할 때는
era와éramos를 기억하세요! -
과거의 습관과 날씨: 불완전 과거 'Fazer''fazia'는 과거에 «~하곤 했다»는 습관이나 날씨를 묘사할 때 쓰는 마법의 단어예요. 딱 끝난 동작인
fiz와는 다르답니다. -
포르투갈어 과거 시제: 습관과 묘사를 위한 'Ver' 사용법 (via, viam)과거에 반복했던 습관이나 끝이 정해지지 않은 행동을 설명할 때
vi-어간을 사용해 보세요. «습관», «배경 설명», «지속되는 행동»이 핵심이에요! -
포르투갈어 과거형: 'podia' (불완전과거) 사용법과거의 능력이나 허락을 말할 때, 혹은 지금 정중하게 부탁할 때
podia를 사용해 보세요.podia,podíamos,podiam세 가지만 알면 충분해요! -
포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙 -ar 동사동사 원형에 미래 어미를 바로 붙여서 «격식 있고» «확실한» 미래를 표현해 보세요. «미래 시제»는 격식 있는 자리에서 빛을 발해요.
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포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙적인 -er 및 -ir 동사미래 시제를 만들려면, 동사 원형에 바로 -ei, -ás, -á, -emos, -ão를 붙이면 돼요.
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.
챕터 가이드
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.주요 예문 (4)
1
2
Nós não entendíamos a lição, então pedimos ajuda.
우리는 수업을 이해하지 못해서 도움을 요청했어요.
과거의 습관: 포르투갈어 불완료 과거 시제 (-er & -ir 동사)
3
4
팁과 요령 (4)
🎯
'~하곤 했다'의 마법
우리말로 '~하곤 했다'라고 번역해서 자연스럽다면 무조건 이 불완료 과거를 쓰면 돼요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관과 이야기: 불완전 과거 (-ar 동사)
Eu jogava futebol na escola.
💡
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관: 포르투갈어 불완료 과거 시제 (-er & -ir 동사)
'신호등 단어'를 찾아보세요
sempre(항상), todos os dias(매일) 같은 단어가 보이면 불완전 과거를 쓸 차례예요. Eu sempre comia chocolate.
💡
'~하곤 했다'라고 생각하기
영어의 'used to be'처럼 과거의 지속적인 상태를 말할 때
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 묘사: 'Ser' (Era) 사용하기
era를 쓰면 자연스러워요. Eu era viciado em chocolate.
💡
'~하곤 했다' 법칙
우리말로 '~하곤 했다'라고 해석해서 자연스럽다면 포르투갈어로는 거의 항상
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관과 날씨: 불완전 과거 'Fazer'
fazia를 써야 해요. Eu fazia natação.
핵심 어휘 (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
자주 하는 실수
Use the imperfect for habits, not the preterite.
Wrong:
Eu andei muito quando criança.
정답:
Eu andava muito quando criança.
While 'vou comer' is acceptable, use the synthetic future for formal clarity.
Wrong:
Eu vou comer amanhã.
정답:
Eu comerei amanhã.
Don't mix 'ser' with other verbs for habits.
Wrong:
Ele era ir ao parque.
정답:
Ele ia ao parque.
이 챕터의 규칙 (8)
Next Steps
You have mastered the timeline! Keep practicing these verb conjugations daily.
Write a 5-sentence story about your last vacation.
빠른 연습 (10)
빈칸에 'comer'의 올바른 미래 시제 형태를 채워 넣으세요.
Amanhã, eu ___ sushi no jantar.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comerei
'eu'에 대한 미래 시제를 만들기 위해, 원형 'comer'에 '-ei'를 붙여요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙적인 -er 및 -ir 동사
시제 오류를 찾아 바르게 고쳐보세요.
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.
오후 3시라는 특정 시점에 시작해서 끝난 동작이고 바로 이어서 다른 일을 했으므로, 불완전과거 'fazia' 대신 완전과거 'fiz'를 써야 해요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관과 날씨: 불완전 과거 'Fazer'
미래 시제 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾으세요.
Eles estudaram para a prova amanhã.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles estudarão para a prova amanhã.
'estudaram'은 과거형이에요. 'Eles'의 미래형은 'estudarão'입니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙 -ar 동사
괄호 안의 동사를 알맞은 불완전 과거 형태로 바꿔 빈칸을 채우세요.
Quando eu era criança, eu ___ (viver) em uma casa pequena.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vivia
과거에 살았던 지속적인 상태를 말하므로 불완전 과거를 써야 해요. 'eu'에 맞는 'viver'의 형태는 'vivia'입니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관: 포르투갈어 불완료 과거 시제 (-er & -ir 동사)
과거 습관을 표현하기 위해 'fazer'의 알맞은 형태를 채워보세요.
Quando eu era criança, eu ___ muitos desenhos. (나는 그리곤 했다)
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fazia
어린 시절의 습관을 말하는 것이므로 일회성 사건이 아닌 불완전과거 'fazia'가 정답이에요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관과 날씨: 불완전 과거 'Fazer'
날씨를 올바르게 예측한 문장은 무엇일까요?
올바른 예측을 고르세요:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Amanhã choverá muito.
'비가 올 것이다'라는 3인칭 단수 미래형은 'choverá'가 맞아요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙 -ar 동사
'trabalhar'의 올바른 미래 형태를 빈칸에 채워보세요 (주어: Eu)
Eu ___ na Google no próximo mês.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: trabalharei
'Eu'일 때는 동사 원형 'trabalhar' 뒤에 '-ei'를 붙여야 해요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙 -ar 동사
과거의 날씨를 묘사하는 문장을 고르세요.
가장 알맞은 옵션을 선택하세요:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Fazia sol quando saí de casa.
'Fazia sol'은 배경을 묘사할 때 써요. 'Fez sol'은 하루를 요약할 때 가능하지만, 'Fiz sol'은 내가 해를 만들었다는 뜻이 되어 불가능해요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거의 습관과 날씨: 불완전 과거 'Fazer'
미래 행동에 대한 문장에서 실수를 찾아 수정하세요.
Nós beberos água depois da corrida.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós beberemos água depois da corrida.
'nós'에 대한 올바른 미래 시제 어미는 원형 'beber'에 '-emos'를 붙인 거예요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙적인 -er 및 -ir 동사
미래 시제로 올바르게 활용된 문장을 선택하세요.
Choose the correct prediction about a delivery:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O entregador chegará em 10 minutos.
'chegará'는 'chegar' 동사의 미래형으로, 'ele'(배달원)에 해당해요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 포르투갈어 단순 미래: 규칙적인 -er 및 -ir 동사
Score: /10
자주 묻는 질문 (6)
'falei'는 딱 한 번 일어난 완료된 사건이고, 'falava'는 반복된 습관이나 진행 중인 상태예요.
Eu falei는 점, Eu falava는 선이라고 생각하세요.거의 그렇습니다.
I was walking은 Eu caminhava로 써요. 진행형인 Eu estava caminhando도 있지만, 불완료 과거형이 훨씬 간결하고 자연스러워요.불완전 과거는 끝이 정해지지 않은 습관이나 진행 중인 일(
I was eating)을 말하고, 완전 과거는 딱 끝난 일(I ate)을 말해요.네! 규칙 동사라면 완전히 똑같아요. 예를 들어
eu vendia(팔았다)와 eu abria(열었다) 모두 -ia로 끝나요.아니요, 위치는 보통
estar 동사의 과거형인 estava를 써요. Eu estava em casa(나 집에 있었어)처럼요.
era는 '무엇'이었는지 묘사할 때만 써요.foi는 이미 완료된 특정 사건에 쓰고, era는 과거의 지속적인 상태나 배경 묘사에 써요. 사진 한 장은 foi, 동영상은 era라고 생각하면 쉬워요.
