Timing & Subjects: Using Personal Infinitive (antes/depois de)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the personal infinitive after 'antes de' and 'depois de' when the subject of the infinitive differs from the main clause subject.
- Use personal infinitive if the subject changes: 'Antes de eles saírem, comemos.'
- Use impersonal infinitive if the subject is the same: 'Antes de sair, comi.'
- Conjugate the infinitive using the -es, -mos, -em endings for clarity.
Overview
Ever sent a WhatsApp message saying antes de sairmos and wondered if you just sounded like a 19th-century poet or a cool Lisbon local? Timing is everything in life, and in Portuguese, it’s all about these two little words: antes (before) and depois (after). But here is the kicker: when you add de and a person to the mix, things get spicy.
You aren't just saying "before leaving," you are saying "before we leave" or "after they arrive." This isn't just about time; it's about ownership of the action. Most people start by using the simple infinitive for everything, which is like wearing flip-flops to a wedding—it works, but people might look at you funny. At a B2 level, you want the tailored suit of grammar.
Using the personal infinitive after antes de and depois de allows you to be precise about who is doing what and when. It’s the difference between a generic "Before eating" and a specific "Before you lot eat all my snacks." If you’ve ever felt like Portuguese was trying to hide its subjects, this rule is where they come out to play. It's surprisingly logical once you stop overthinking it.
Let’s make sure your Portuguese timing is as sharp as a Brazilian barista’s coffee skills.
How This Grammar Works
antes de / depois de + [Personal Infinitive]. Unlike the regular infinitive, which is just the base verb, the personal infinitive changes its tail depending on who you are talking about.que + Subjunctive construction every single time. It’s like a shortcut that makes you sound incredibly fluent. Think of it as a bridge between two ideas.antes or depois), and on the other, you have the person. By attaching the person directly to the verb, you keep the sentence moving fast. It’s great for texting, travel vlogging, or just arguing with your friends about who was supposed to pay the Netflix bill.Formation Pattern
falar, comer, partir).
eu and ele/ela/você (no ending!).
-es for tu.
-mos for nós.
-des for vós (rare, but good for your inner scholar).
-em for eles/elas/vocês.
eu and ele look the same? You'll usually include the pronoun (like eu or você) to avoid confusion, especially if you’re gossiping about who did what. It’s a very regular pattern. Even the irregular verbs (like ir or ser) follow this rule based on their infinitive form, not their stem. So ir becomes irmos, not some weird root. It's one of the few times Portuguese grammar actually tries to be your friend.
When To Use It
Depois de bebermos isto, vamos. Or maybe you're posting an Instagram story: Antes de eu sair de casa, tirei esta foto (Before I left the house, I took this photo).- The subject changes: "After the show ends (
depois de o show terminar), we'll meet." If you just saiddepois de terminar, people might think you ended, which is a bit dramatic. - Clarity is needed: Even if the subject is the same, adding the ending helps people follow your story. "Before we traveled (
antes de viajarmos), we checked the luggage." - Modern Tech: "Before you update the app (
antes de tu atualizares a app), save your data." It’s the standard way to give instructions in a conversational but clear way. - Travel & Logistics: "After they check the passports (
depois de eles verificarem os passaportes), we can go to the gate." When you're dealing with multiple people (like airline staff and your family), this grammar keeps the "who's who" straight. It’s like a GPS for your sentences. It’s also very common in work emails (Zoom calls, Slack messages) when discussing deadlines: "Before we finish the meeting (antes de terminarmos a reunião), let’s set a date."
Common Mistakes
antes que (which needs the Subjunctive) and antes de (which needs the Infinitive) interchangeably. They are not the same! If you use de, stay with the infinitive. If you use que, prepare for a headache. Another classic is the "Lazy Ending." Many people forget to add the -em or -mos. While people will understand you, it sounds a bit like you’re a toddler saying "Me go store." In Portugal, specifically, people are quite picky about the tu ending (-es). If you say antes de tu sair, a Portuguese grandma might pop out from behind a curtain to correct you to antes de tu saíres. Also, watch out for the pronoun placement. While it's common to say antes de eu falar, some learners try to put the pronoun after the verb, which sounds like you’re trying to cast a spell. Keep it simple: antes de + [Pronoun] + [Verb with ending]. Lastly, don't over-conjugate the first verb. The antes or depois part stays exactly as it is. It doesn't matter if you're talking about the past, present, or a future where AI does our laundry—antes de and depois de are your stable anchors.Contrast With Similar Patterns
- 1The Impersonal Infinitive (
antes de sair): Use this when the subject is generic or perfectly obvious. "Before leaving, lock the door." No one specific is mentioned. It's the "one size fits all" option. - 2The Personal Infinitive (
antes de sairmos): Use this when you want to point the finger at a specific group. "Before we leave, let's take a selfie." It adds a layer of personhood to the action. - 3The Subjunctive (
antes que saiamos): This is the heavier, more formal cousin. Usingantes que+ Present Subjunctive is very common in written Portuguese or formal speeches. It’s technically correct, but in a casual chat over a Sagres beer, the personal infinitive withdefeels much more natural and less like you’re reading from a law book.
Quick FAQ
Can I use antes de with a past tense verb?
No! Always use the infinitive form. The timing comes from the main verb in the sentence.
Is it different in Brazil and Portugal?
The grammar is the same, but Brazilians might use the pronouns (eu, você) more often for clarity, while Portuguese speakers rely heavily on the verb endings alone.
Does it work with negative sentences?
Yes! Antes de não comermos... though it sounds a bit weird. Usually, we just rephrase it.
What if I forget the ending?
Don't panic. You'll sound like a beginner, but the antes de still conveys the time. Just try to catch it next time!
Is it depois de or depois que?
Use depois de with the infinitive and depois que with an indicative or subjunctive tense. Depois de is much easier for your daily life.
Can I say antes de nós irmos?
Absolutely. It’s the perfect way to tell your friends to hurry up before the movie starts.
Why does eu have no ending?
Because the base infinitive is already doing the heavy lifting. Think of eu as the minimalist of the group.
Personal Infinitive Conjugation (Regular -AR)
| Person | Ending | Example (Falar) |
|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
-
|
falar
|
|
Tu
|
-es
|
falares
|
|
Ele/Ela/Você
|
-
|
falar
|
|
Nós
|
-mos
|
falarmos
|
|
Vós
|
-des
|
falardes
|
|
Eles/Elas/Vocês
|
-em
|
falarem
|
Meanings
The personal infinitive allows you to specify the subject of an infinitive verb, which is crucial after temporal prepositions like 'antes de' (before) and 'depois de' (after).
Temporal Subject Specification
Indicating who performed an action before or after another event.
“Antes de tu chegares, eu limpei a casa.”
“Depois de nós jantarmos, fomos ao cinema.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Depois de + [Inflected Inf.]
|
Depois de eles chegarem
|
|
Negative
|
Depois de + não + [Inflected Inf.]
|
Depois de eles não chegarem
|
|
Question
|
Depois de + [Inflected Inf.] + ?
|
Depois de eles chegarem?
|
|
Same Subject
|
Depois de + [Impersonal Inf.]
|
Depois de chegar, eu comi
|
|
Reflexive
|
Depois de + [Inflected Inf.] + se
|
Depois de eles se verem
|
|
Passive
|
Depois de + terem sido + [Participle]
|
Depois de terem sido vistos
|
Formality Spectrum
Antes de eles chegarem, nós comemos. (Dinner plans)
Antes de eles chegarem, comemos. (Dinner plans)
Antes de eles chegarem, a gente come. (Dinner plans)
Antes de eles chegarem, a gente manda ver. (Dinner plans)
Personal Infinitive Decision Tree
Same Subject
- Impersonal No ending
Different Subject
- Personal Add -es, -mos, -em
Examples by Level
Depois de comer, eu durmo.
After eating, I sleep.
Antes de sair, eu estudo.
Before leaving, I study.
Depois de chegar, eu falo.
After arriving, I speak.
Antes de dormir, eu leio.
Before sleeping, I read.
Depois de eles chegarem, nós jantamos.
After they arrived, we had dinner.
Antes de tu saíres, avisa-me.
Before you leave, let me know.
Depois de nós falarmos, ele entendeu.
After we spoke, he understood.
Antes de eles assinarem, leiam.
Before they sign, read.
Depois de vocês terem chegado, a reunião começou.
After you had arrived, the meeting started.
Antes de ela se mudar, ela vendeu a casa.
Before she moved, she sold the house.
Depois de nós termos visto o filme, fomos jantar.
After we had seen the movie, we went to dinner.
Antes de eles terem terminado, o tempo acabou.
Before they had finished, the time ran out.
Depois de os convidados terem saído, limpámos tudo.
After the guests had left, we cleaned everything.
Antes de os alunos terem entregue os trabalhos, o professor saiu.
Before the students had handed in the papers, the teacher left.
Depois de eles terem sido avisados, mudaram de atitude.
After they had been warned, they changed their attitude.
Antes de nós termos tomado uma decisão, consultámos o advogado.
Before we had made a decision, we consulted the lawyer.
Depois de terem sido devidamente informados, os acionistas votaram.
After having been duly informed, the shareholders voted.
Antes de se terem apercebido do erro, já era tarde.
Before they had realized the mistake, it was too late.
Depois de eles terem vindo, tudo mudou.
After they had come, everything changed.
Antes de terem sido publicadas, as notícias foram censuradas.
Before they had been published, the news was censored.
Depois de eles se terem visto, a tensão dissipou-se.
After they had seen each other, the tension dissipated.
Antes de terem sido tomadas as medidas, o dano era irreversível.
Before the measures had been taken, the damage was irreversible.
Depois de eles terem posto em causa a decisão, o projeto parou.
After they had questioned the decision, the project stopped.
Antes de terem sido ouvidas as testemunhas, o juiz suspendeu a sessão.
Before the witnesses had been heard, the judge suspended the session.
Easily Confused
They share the same endings (-es, -mos, -em).
Both use the base infinitive.
Some forms look similar.
Common Mistakes
Antes de eles sair
Antes de eles saírem
Depois de eu chegar
Depois de chegar
Antes de tu sair
Antes de tu saíres
Depois de nós sair
Depois de nós sairmos
Depois de eles ter chegado
Depois de eles terem chegado
Antes de nós ter visto
Antes de nós termos visto
Depois de eles não ter vindo
Depois de eles não terem vindo
Antes de eles ter sido avisado
Antes de eles terem sido avisados
Depois de eles se ter visto
Depois de eles se terem visto
Antes de eles ter feito
Antes de eles terem feito
Depois de eles ter posto
Depois de eles terem posto
Antes de eles ter vindo
Antes de eles terem vindo
Depois de eles ter dito
Depois de eles terem dito
Antes de eles ter escrito
Antes de eles terem escrito
Sentence Patterns
Antes de ___ (tu), avisa-me.
Depois de ___ (eles), a festa começou.
Antes de ___ (nós), precisamos de tempo.
Depois de ___ (eles) terem visto o filme, gostaram.
Real World Usage
Antes de tu saíres, avisa!
Depois de eu ter analisado a proposta...
Antes de eles chegarem, já estávamos lá.
Antes de os signatários terem assinado...
Depois de o estafeta ter chegado...
Antes de nós termos embarcado...
Subject Check
Don't Over-conjugate
Pronoun Usage
Regional Nuance
Smart Tips
Check if the subjects are the same.
Always use the personal infinitive for clarity.
Don't worry too much about perfection, but try to use it.
Look for the -em endings after 'antes de'.
Pronunciation
Stress
The stress remains on the final syllable of the root verb.
Rising
Depois de eles chegarem↗?
Questioning tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember the 'S-M-M' rule: -es (tu), -mos (nós), -em (eles).
Visual Association
Imagine a group of people standing in line. Each person has a name tag (the ending) that tells you exactly who they are.
Rhyme
If the person changes, don't be shy, add the ending to the verb and fly!
Story
I wanted to eat before they arrived. I said 'Antes de eles chegarem'. They wanted to eat before I arrived. They said 'Antes de eu chegar'. We all ate happily.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your family's morning routine using 'Antes de' and 'Depois de'.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'a gente' is often used with the personal infinitive, though it technically takes the 3rd person singular form.
In Portugal, the 'vós' form is still used in formal contexts.
The personal infinitive is mandatory in all formal documents.
The personal infinitive is a unique development in Portuguese, likely influenced by the need to clarify subject reference in complex sentences.
Conversation Starters
O que fazes antes de saíres de casa?
O que fazem os teus amigos antes de se encontrarem?
Como te sentes depois de teres terminado um projeto?
Que precauções tomas antes de eles chegarem?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Depois de eles ___ , a festa começou.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Antes de tu sair, avisa-me.
Antes de sair, comemos. (nós)
A: Quando vais sair? B: Antes de eles ___.
Depois de vós ___ , entendemos tudo.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Order: Depois de / eles / terminar / saíram.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesDepois de eles ___ , a festa começou.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Antes de tu sair, avisa-me.
Antes de sair, comemos. (nós)
A: Quando vais sair? B: Antes de eles ___.
Depois de vós ___ , entendemos tudo.
Match: Tu -> ?
Order: Depois de / eles / terminar / saíram.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisessairmos / de / antes / foto / uma / tirem
After they speak, I will decide.
Match the following:
Podes ligar-me depois de tu ___ o check-in?
Choose the best option:
Eles foram embora depois de nós chegarem.
trabalho / de / terminarem / depois / o / podem / sair
Before you (formal/você) go, sign here.
Eles vão ficar tristes depois de ___ o resultado.
Which one?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
To clarify who is doing the action when subjects differ.
Yes, in formal writing and highly recommended in speech to avoid ambiguity.
Use the impersonal infinitive (the base form).
They are -es, -mos, -des, -em.
Yes, it is used exactly the same way.
It can, but it's also very common in daily life.
Yes, but use the 3rd person singular form.
Yes, they have different functions despite similar endings.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Infinitivo + sujeto
Portuguese uses the infinitive; Spanish uses the subjunctive.
Infinitif
French lacks subject-inflected infinitives.
Infinitivsatz
German uses full clauses.
Noun clause
Japanese is agglutinative, not inflectional in this way.
Masdar
Arabic uses a noun form, not a conjugated verb.
Serial verb construction
Chinese is an isolating language.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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