Past Habits & Weather: 'Fazer' in Imperfect
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'fazia' to describe past weather or repeated habits; it's the 'used to' or 'was' of Portuguese.
- Use 'fazia' for weather: 'Fazia muito calor ontem' (It was very hot yesterday).
- Use 'fazia' for habits: 'Eu fazia caminhadas todo dia' (I used to go for walks every day).
- The stem is 'faz-' plus the imperfect ending '-ia' for all singular/plural subjects.
Overview
Mastering the Portuguese Pretérito Imperfeito (Imperfect Tense) is crucial for describing the past, and the verb fazer (to do/make) stands out as particularly versatile within this tense. While fazer typically denotes actions of 'doing' or 'making,' its conjugation in the Imperfect tense expands its utility significantly. It allows speakers to convey past habits, repeated actions, ongoing past states, and importantly, weather conditions from a past perspective.
Unlike the Pretérito Perfeito (Simple Past), which focuses on completed actions at a specific point in time, the Imperfect presents an action or state as continuous, habitual, or descriptive, without a defined beginning or end. This fundamental aspectual distinction is key to understanding fazer in this context; it shifts from a momentary event to a background setting, a routine, or an environmental condition.
In essence, fazer in the Imperfect serves as a linguistic bridge to narrate the continuous backdrop of past events. Whether reminiscing about childhood routines, setting a scene by describing the weather, or indicating a duration of time, the Pretérito Imperfeito of fazer provides the necessary nuance. For learners at the A2 level, grasping this conjugation and its common applications will unlock a deeper ability to express personal history and observations, moving beyond simple factual recounting to more evocative storytelling.
Conjugation Table
| Person | Ending | Conjugation | Translation (Habitual/Descriptive) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :--------------- | :------ | :------------ | :--------------------------------- | ||
| Eu (I) | -ia | fazia | I used to do/make, I was doing/making | ||
| Tu (You - casual) | -ias | fazias | You used to do/make, You were doing/making | ||
| Você/Ele/Ela | -ia | fazia | You/He/She used to do/make, was doing/making | ||
| Nós (We) | -íamos | fazíamos | We used to do/make, We were doing/making | ||
| Vocês/Eles/Elas | -iam | faziam | You all/They used to do/make, were doing/making |
How This Grammar Works
Pretérito Imperfeito of fazer functions on a principle of imperfective aspect, meaning it describes actions or states as ongoing, habitual, or uncompleted in the past. It offers a continuous perspective rather than a snapshot. This aspect is crucial for its primary applications:- 1Habitual Past Actions: When you talk about something you used to do regularly or would (habitually) do in the past,
fazerin the Imperfect is the appropriate choice. The action isn't presented as a single, finished event, but rather as a routine or a characteristic of a past period. For example,Eu fazia natação todas as terças(I used to swim every Tuesday) implies a repeated activity over time, not a one-off instance.
- 1Descriptive Past States and Conditions: The Imperfect is the default tense for descriptions in the past, including emotions, physical states, and crucially, weather. In Portuguese, weather expressions often use
fazerimpersonally, where the subjectitis implied. For instance,Fazia muito frio no inverno(It was very cold in winter) describes a prevalent weather condition. This construction treats the weather as an ongoing, descriptive state rather than a specific event.
- 1Ongoing Background Actions:
Fazerin the Imperfect can describe an action that was in progress when another event occurred, setting the scene. This contrasts with aPretérito Perfeitoaction that would interrupt or complete it. ConsiderEnquanto eu fazia o jantar, meu amigo ligou(While I was making dinner, my friend called). Here,faziaprovides the continuous background activity.
- 1Duration of Time:
Fazerin the Imperfect is also used to express how long something had been occurring or how long ago something happened from a past vantage point. This construction is often impersonal, similar to weather expressions. For example,Fazia três anos que ele morava lá(He had been living there for three years) describes an ongoing duration in the past. The verbfazerin this context highlights the passage of time up to a certain point in the past. This usage emphasizes the cumulative effect or the length of an ongoing state rather than a distinct action.
fazer allows for a more nuanced and context-rich description of the past, enabling speakers to differentiate between isolated events and ongoing realities. It connects individual actions to broader patterns and conditions.Formation Pattern
fazer in the Pretérito Imperfeito is entirely regular, aligning with all other verbs ending in -er. This consistency makes it straightforward to conjugate once you understand the basic process. No stem changes or irregular endings apply here, which is a significant relief compared to the Pretérito Perfeito.
fazer in the Imperfect Tense, follow these three steps:
fazer.
-er: This leaves you with the stem faz-.
fazer:
Eu + faz- + -ia = Eu fazia
Tu + faz- + -ias = Tu fazias
Ele + faz- + -ia = Ele fazia
Nós + faz- + -íamos = Nós fazíamos
Eles + faz- + -iam = Eles faziam
z in the stem, which is maintained throughout. The crucial element to remember is the accent mark on the nós form, fazíamos, to indicate the correct stress. Without it, the pronunciation would be incorrect. This regularity simplifies the learning process for a verb as fundamental as fazer in a frequently used past tense.
When To Use It
fazer in the Pretérito Imperfeito effectively allows you to describe a range of past situations that are continuous, habitual, or serve as background information. There are distinct scenarios where this tense is not just appropriate but essential.- 1To Express Past Habits or Repeated Actions (
Used to do/Would habitually do)
fazer in the Imperfect is the go-to choice. It implies that the action happened repeatedly over a period, without specifying its exact beginning or end.Quando eu morava na praia, eu fazia caminhadas longas todos os dias.(When I lived at the beach, I used to take long walks every day.)Minha avó sempre nos fazia bolos deliciosos aos domingos.(My grandmother always used to make us delicious cakes on Sundays.)Antes da pandemia, a gente fazia viagens internacionais todo ano.(Before the pandemic, we used to take international trips every year.)
- 1To Describe Past Weather Conditions
fazer impersonally (with an implied it) to describe weather. When these descriptions refer to a past state, the Pretérito Imperfeito is used. This construction highlights the ongoing nature of the weather condition, setting a general atmospheric scene.No dia da festa, fazia muito calor e sol.(On the day of the party, it was very hot and sunny.)Lembro que fazia um frio insuportável naquela noite.(I remember it was unbearably cold that night.)Durante as férias, fazia sempre bom tempo para ir à praia.(During the holidays, the weather was always good for going to the beach.)
- 1To Indicate a Duration of Time in the Past (
It had been X time that...)
fazer is used impersonally to denote a period of time that had elapsed up to a certain point in the past. This structure is typically fazia + time expression + que + clause.Fazia duas horas que esperávamos pelo médico.(It had been two hours that we had been waiting for the doctor.)Quando ele finalmente chegou, já fazia quase um ano que não nos víamos.(When he finally arrived, it had already been almost a year that we hadn't seen each other.)Naquele momento, fazia tempo que ela não visitava a família.(At that moment, it had been a long time since she had visited her family.)
- 1To Set the Scene or Describe Background Actions
Pretérito Perfeito) occurred. Fazer in this role describes an ongoing activity that was happening concurrently with something else.Enquanto ela fazia os exercícios, o telefone tocou.(While she was doing the exercises, the phone rang.)Eu fazia o almoço quando meu irmão apareceu de surpresa.(I was making lunch when my brother showed up by surprise.)Eles faziam planos para a viagem quando a notícia chegou.(They were making plans for the trip when the news arrived.)
fazer in the Imperfect seamlessly into your past narratives, adding precision and descriptive power to your Portuguese.Common Mistakes
fazer in the Pretérito Imperfeito presents several pitfalls for learners. Being aware of these common errors can significantly improve your accuracy and naturalness.- 1Confusing Imperfect (
fazia) with Preterite (fiz) for Single Events: This is the most frequent mistake. Learners often usefaziawhen referring to a single, completed action in the past, wherefiz(or another Preterite form) is required. Remember,faziaimplies repetition, duration, or description, not a one-time event.
- Incorrect:
Ontem eu fazia o jantar e depois assisti TV.(Yesterday I was making dinner and then I watched TV. – implies making dinner was a habit or ongoing, not a single completion) - Correct:
Ontem eu fiz o jantar e depois assisti TV.(Yesterday I made dinner and then I watched TV. – both are completed, single events). - Correct (Imperfect for background):
Ontem, enquanto eu fazia o jantar, o telefone tocou.(Yesterday, while I was making dinner, the phone rang.)
- 1Forgetting the Accent on
Nós fazíamos: The acute accent on theioffazíamosis critical. Without it, the stress shifts to the wrong syllable, resulting in an unnatural pronunciation (fa-ZIA-mosinstead offa-ZÍ-a-mos). This small mark carries significant phonological weight and is a common oversight for non-native speakers.
- 1Overusing
Estar + Gerúndio(Imperfect Progressive) Instead ofFaziafor Habits: Whileestar + gerúndio(e.g.,estava fazendo) correctly translates to
Imperfect Indicative of 'Fazer'
| Subject | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
fazia
|
I used to do/make
|
|
Você/Ele/Ela
|
fazia
|
You/He/She used to do/make
|
|
Nós
|
fazíamos
|
We used to do/make
|
|
Vocês/Eles/Elas
|
faziam
|
You/They used to do/make
|
Meanings
The imperfect indicative of 'fazer' is used to describe continuous or repeated actions in the past and to report meteorological conditions.
Meteorological
Describing past weather conditions.
“Fazia sol todos os dias nas férias.”
“Fazia um frio terrível naquela noite.”
Habitual
Describing repeated actions or routines.
“Eu fazia bolos aos domingos.”
“Nós fazíamos exercícios juntos.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + fazia
|
Eu fazia exercícios.
|
|
Negative
|
Não + fazia
|
Não fazia sol.
|
|
Question
|
Fazia + Subject?
|
Fazia calor?
|
|
Habitual
|
Fazia + [Activity]
|
Eu fazia natação.
|
|
Weather
|
Fazia + [Condition]
|
Fazia muito frio.
|
|
Plural
|
Eles + faziam
|
Eles faziam o jantar.
|
Formality Spectrum
Fazia um calor intenso. (Talking about weather)
Fazia muito calor. (Talking about weather)
Fazia um calorão. (Talking about weather)
Tava um calor do cão. (Talking about weather)
Uses of 'Fazia'
Weather
- Fazia sol It was sunny
- Fazia frio It was cold
Habits
- Eu fazia I used to do
- Nós fazíamos We used to do
Fez vs Fazia
Examples by Level
Fazia sol ontem.
It was sunny yesterday.
Eu fazia natação.
I used to do swimming.
Fazia frio aqui.
It was cold here.
Ele fazia o jantar.
He used to make dinner.
Fazia muito calor quando chegamos.
It was very hot when we arrived.
Nós fazíamos caminhadas no parque.
We used to go for walks in the park.
Ela fazia bolos deliciosos.
She used to make delicious cakes.
Não fazia vento naquela época.
It wasn't windy back then.
Fazia tempo que não nos víamos.
It had been a long time since we saw each other.
Eles faziam questão de nos visitar.
They used to insist on visiting us.
Fazia um frio de rachar durante o inverno.
It was freezing cold during the winter.
Eu fazia o possível para ajudar.
I used to do my best to help.
Enquanto fazia sol, aproveitávamos a piscina.
While it was sunny, we enjoyed the pool.
Antigamente, fazia-se muito mais esforço manual.
In the past, much more manual effort was made.
Ele fazia planos para o futuro constantemente.
He was constantly making plans for the future.
Fazia um clima de tensão na sala.
There was a tense atmosphere in the room.
Fazia-se sentir a falta de um líder.
The lack of a leader was being felt.
Fazia um tempo que a cidade não via tal tempestade.
It had been a while since the city saw such a storm.
Ela fazia jus à sua reputação de genialidade.
She lived up to her reputation for genius.
Fazia parte da rotina deles o café da manhã.
Breakfast was part of their routine.
Fazia-se mister uma mudança radical.
A radical change was necessary.
Fazia eco nas paredes vazias da casa.
It echoed in the empty walls of the house.
Fazia-se notar pela sua discrição.
He made himself noticed by his discretion.
Fazia-se tarde e o sol já se punha.
It was getting late and the sun was already setting.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the completed action (Fez) with the habitual/background action (Fazia).
Both can mean 'it was' for weather, but 'fazia' is for climate/general weather, 'estava' is for current state.
Learners add 'se' (reflexive) to 'fazia' incorrectly.
Common Mistakes
Fazia sol ontem às 5h.
Fez sol ontem às 5h.
Eles faziam um bolo.
Eles fizeram um bolo.
Fazia 30 graus ontem.
Fez 30 graus ontem.
Eu fazi.
Eu fazia.
Nós fazíamos sol.
Fazia sol.
Fazia-se muito calor.
Fazia muito calor.
Eles faziam um bolo todo domingo.
Eles faziam bolos todo domingo.
Fazia-se esforço.
Fazia-se esforço.
Fazia muito tempo que eu não o via.
Fazia muito tempo que não o via.
Fazia-se 20 graus.
Faziam-se 20 graus.
Fazia-se mister que ele fizesse.
Fazia-se mister que ele fizesse.
Sentence Patterns
Antigamente, fazia ___ na minha cidade.
Eu fazia ___ todos os domingos.
Fazia ___ que não nos falávamos.
Ele fazia ___ para agradar a todos.
Real World Usage
Fazia tempo que não postava nada!
Fazia um calor aqui, nem saí.
Eu fazia a gestão de equipes.
Fazia um clima incrível na montanha.
Fazia parte do menu antigo.
Fazia sol, mas eu estava triste.
The 'Used To' Trick
No Plural Weather
Accent Check
Casual Alternatives
Smart Tips
Always use 'fazia' + [condition].
Use 'fazia' for all your recurring activities.
Remember the accent on 'fazíamos'.
Use 'fazia' for the past and 'faz' for the present.
Pronunciation
Accent on 'fazíamos'
The stress falls on the 'í'.
Final 'm' in 'faziam'
The 'm' is nasalized, not a hard 'm'.
Statement
Fazia sol. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
Fazia sol? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Fazia is for the 'F's: Frequent habits and Forecasts (weather).
Visual Association
Imagine a weather reporter standing in front of a green screen that shows a loop of a sunny day, then a rainy day, repeating forever. That loop is 'fazia'.
Rhyme
Para o tempo ou rotina, use sempre o fazia.
Story
When I was a child, I lived in a house by the sea. Every day, fazia sol (it was sunny). I fazia (I used to make) sandcastles. My brother fazia (used to make) boats. We were happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about the weather and 3 about your habits as a child using 'fazia'.
Cultural Notes
Brazilians often use 'tava' (estava) instead of 'fazia' for weather in casual speech, though 'fazia' is standard.
In Portugal, 'fazia' is strictly used for weather; 'estava' is less common for climate.
Similar to Brazil, colloquial speech often favors 'tava' for weather.
Comes from the Latin 'facere'.
Conversation Starters
Como fazia o tempo na sua cidade quando você era criança?
O que você fazia nos fins de semana?
Fazia muito tempo que você não via seus amigos?
Você fazia planos de carreira diferentes antes?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Antigamente, eu ___ natação todo dia.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eles faziam um bolo ontem.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Nós ___ exercícios.
Fazia / que / não / tempo / nos / víamos
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The imperfect of 'fazer' is the same for 'Eu', 'Você', 'Ele', and 'Ela'.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesAntigamente, eu ___ natação todo dia.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eles faziam um bolo ontem.
calor / fazia / muito / ontem
Nós ___ exercícios.
Fazia / que / não / tempo / nos / víamos
1. Weather, 2. Habit
The imperfect of 'fazer' is the same for 'Eu', 'Você', 'Ele', and 'Ela'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesNós ___ caminhadas todos os domingos.
Elas ___ bolos para vender.
Which sentence means 'I was making lunch when...'?
Match the pairs
Arrange the sentence:
Nos faziamos muito barulho.
Translate: I used to do nothing.
Identify the habit trigger:
Estava escuro e ___ vento.
Você ___ isso sempre?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
In Portuguese, the environment is seen as 'making' the weather. It's an idiomatic way of describing conditions.
No, weather is always singular with 'fazer'. Even if you say 'Fazia 30 graus', it remains singular.
'Fazia' is for habits or background states. 'Fez' is for a single, completed event.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Just add 'não' before the verb: 'Não fazia sol'.
In casual speech, they might use 'tava' for weather, but 'fazia' is perfectly standard.
Yes, the 'we' form is the only one that carries an accent in the imperfect indicative.
No, 'fazia' is strictly for the past.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
hacía
Pronunciation of the 'z' vs 'c'.
faisait
French requires the subject 'il' for weather, Portuguese does not.
war
German does not use the verb 'to make' for weather.
〜ていた
Japanese has no specific verb for weather like 'fazer'.
كان الجو
Arabic uses 'to be' + 'weather' rather than 'to make'.
过去常常
Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make
Overview The Portuguese verb `fazer` is a fundamental and highly versatile verb, serving as the equivalent of both "to d...
Past Habits & Storytelling: The Imperfect Tense (-ar verbs)
Overview The Portuguese Imperfect Tense, known as `Pretérito Imperfeito`, is fundamental for describing past actions or...
Related Grammar Rules
Finding Out: Using Saber in the Preterite (soube)
Overview If you’ve ever gasped at a WhatsApp notification or realized your favorite show just got canceled, you’ve alre...
Past Descriptions: Using 'Ser' (Era)
Overview The Portuguese verb `ser` in the **Pretérito Imperfeito** (Imperfect Past) tense, specifically its forms like `...
Portuguese Past Tense: Brought (trouxe)
Overview Mastering the Portuguese past tense requires understanding both regular and irregular verb conjugations. Among...
Past Tense of 'Vir' (To Come): I came, I saw... wait, I came.
Overview The verb `Vir` (to come) is foundational in Portuguese, yet its past tense forms, particularly the **Pretérito...
The Verb 'ter' in Imperfect: Talking About the Past (tinha)
Did you ever own a Tamagotchi or a spinning top? Maybe you `tinha` (had) a favorite pair of light-up sneakers that made...
