A2 Past Tense 13 min read Easy

Past Actions with -ir Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito)

Use -ir preterite endings (-i, -iu, -imos, -iram) for finished, one-time actions in the past.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To talk about completed actions with -ir verbs, remove the -ir and add the specific past tense endings for each person.

  • For 'eu', add -i: Partir -> Part-i (I left).
  • For 'você/ele/ela', add -iu: Partir -> Part-iu (He/she left).
  • For 'nós', add -imos: Partir -> Part-imos (We left).
Stem + (-i, -iu, -imos, -iram)

Overview

In Portuguese grammar, the Pretérito Perfeito (Simple Past, often called the Preterite) is the primary tense used to talk about actions that were started and completed at a specific point in the past. It's the tense you use to narrate events, recount a story, or state a fact that is finished and done. Think of it as a snapshot of a past event.

Its function is to say, "This happened."

This guide focuses specifically on regular verbs ending in -ir. This group, which includes common verbs like abrir (to open), partir (to leave), and decidir (to decide), follows a highly predictable conjugation pattern. For learners at the A2 level, mastering this pattern is a crucial step toward building coherent narratives about past experiences.

Unlike irregular verbs, which require significant memorization, regular -ir verbs provide a stable framework. Once you learn the set of endings, you can apply them to hundreds of verbs.

The Pretérito Perfeito is one of two fundamental past tenses in Portuguese. It contrasts with the Pretérito Imperfeito (Imperfect), which describes ongoing or habitual past actions. The Perfeito is about the event, while the Imperfeito is about the scene.

For now, we will focus solely on the Perfeito to describe those single, completed actions. For example, Eu decidi não ir à festa (I decided not to go to the party) presents the decision as a single, concluded mental act.

Conjugation Table

Pronoun Ending abrir (to open) partir (to leave) assistir (to watch)
:--- :--- :--- :--- :---
Eu (I) -i abri parti assisti
Tu (You, informal) -iste abriste partiste assististe
Você/Ele/Ela (You, formal/He/She) -iu abriu partiu assistiu
Nós (We) -imos abrimos partimos assistimos
Vós (You, plural archaic) -istes abristes partistes assististes
Vocês/Eles/Elas (You all/They) -iram abriram partiram assistiram

How This Grammar Works

The Pretérito Perfeito operates on the grammatical principle of perfective aspect. This is a technical term for viewing an action as a complete, bounded event. Imagine you are looking at a timeline of the past; the Pretérito Perfeito places a single, solid dot on that timeline.
It doesn't concern itself with the duration, repetition, or ongoing nature of the action—it simply states that it occurred and concluded.
This is why it's the default tense for storytelling and narration. It allows you to list a sequence of finished events one after another. Eu acordei, levantei e abri a janela. (I woke up, I got up, and I opened the window.) Each action is a self-contained, completed step in a sequence.
The listener understands these as three distinct events that are over.
The core function is to frame an action as a historical fact. When you say Ela partiu às cinco horas (She left at five o'clock), you are reporting a finished event. There is no implication that she is still in the process of leaving or that the action has any direct relevance to the present moment, other than as a piece of information.
The action is enclosed in the past.

Formation Pattern

1
The process for conjugating any regular -ir verb in the Pretérito Perfeito is a simple, mechanical two-step formula. This predictability is what makes regular verbs a cornerstone of learning the tense.
2
Step 1: Find the Verb Stem
3
To find the stem (or radical), you simply remove the -ir ending from the verb's infinitive form.
4
dividir (to divide) → divid-
5
cumprir (to fulfill/accomplish) → cumpr-
6
insistir (to insist) → insist-
7
This stem remains unchanged across all subject pronouns for regular verbs.
8
Step 2: Add the Pretérito Perfeito Ending
9
Once you have the stem, you append the ending that corresponds to your subject pronoun. The endings are listed in the conjugation table above.
10
Let's apply this formula to the verb decidir (to decide):
11
| Infinitive | Stem | Pronoun | Formula | Result |
12
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
13
| decidir | decid- | Eu | decid- + -i | Eu decidi |
14
| decidir | decid- | Ela | decid- + -iu | Ela decidiu |
15
| decidir | decid- | Nós | decid- + -imos | Nós decidimos |
16
| decidir | decid- | Eles | decid- + -iram | Eles decidiram |
17
This pattern holds true for a vast number of verbs, making it a powerful tool. For instance, knowing this rule allows you to correctly conjugate a verb you may have just learned, like proibir (to prohibit). You can immediately deduce eles proibiram (they prohibited) and eu proibi (I prohibited).

When To Use It

Knowing the conjugation is half the battle; knowing when to deploy it is the other. The Pretérito Perfeito is used in specific contexts, almost always tied to the idea of completion. You should use it for:
  1. 1A single, concluded action in the past. This is its most common use. The action happened once and is finished.
  • Eu abri o email. (I opened the email.)
  • O gato subiu na árvore. (The cat climbed the tree.)
  1. 1A sequence of completed past actions. This is how you build a narrative.
  • Ele entrou na loja, comprou o pão e partiu imediatamente. (He entered the store, bought the bread, and left immediately.)
  1. 1An action that occurred during a specific, finished period of time. Even if the action itself lasted for a while, the time frame in which it happened is now closed.
  • Nós discutimos o projeto por três horas. (We discussed the project for three hours.)
  • Eles viveram em Lisboa durante a década de 90. (They lived in Lisbon during the 90s.)
  1. 1An action that happened a specific number of times.
  • Eu assisti a esse filme duas vezes. (I watched this movie twice.)
Signal words often accompany the Pretérito Perfeito. Look for these time markers:
  • ontem (yesterday)
  • anteontem (the day before yesterday)
  • na semana passada (last week)
  • no mês passado (last month)
  • no ano passado (last year)
  • em 2015 (in 2015)
  • de repente / de súbito (suddenly)

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter a few predictable hurdles with this tense. Being aware of them is the best way to avoid them.
  1. 1Confusing the nós form: partimos (present) vs. partimos (past). For regular -ir verbs, the conjugation for nós is identical in the present tense and the Pretérito Perfeito.
  • Nós partimos para o Rio amanhã. (We leave for Rio tomorrow.) - Present (indicated by amanhã)
  • Nós partimos para o Rio ontem. (We left for Rio yesterday.) - Past (indicated by ontem)
Rule: Context is the only way to differentiate. You must rely on time-marker words (agora, sempre, ontem, na semana passada) to understand if nós dividimos means "we divide" or "we divided."
  1. 1Incorrect ending for ele/ela/você: -io instead of -iu. A very frequent error is to write or say something like ele abrio. The correct ending is -iu. The sound is a quick diphthong, not two separate vowels.
  • Incorrect: *Ela decidio
  • Correct: Ela decidiu
  1. 1Over-regularizing irregular verbs. Once you learn this clean pattern, it's tempting to apply it to every -ir verb. However, some of the most common -ir verbs are irregular. For example, vir (to come) does not follow the pattern.
  • Incorrect: *Ele viu para a festa. (Applying the pattern to vir)
  • Correct: Ele veio para a festa.
You will need to memorize the key irregulars like ir (to go), ser (to be), and vir (to come) separately. Do not apply the regular -ir endings to them.
  1. 1Pronunciation of -iram vs. -irão. The third-person plural ending -iram (as in eles partiram) is often confused with the future tense ending -irão.
  • partiram (past): The stress is on the second-to-last syllable (par-TI-ram), and the final -am is a weak, nasal sound, almost like "-own" in English.
  • partirão (future): The stress is on the final syllable (par-ti-RÃO), and the -ão is a strong, nasal diphthong.
Listening carefully to native speakers is key to mastering this distinction.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

The most important distinction to master at the A2/B1 level is between the Pretérito Perfeito and the Pretérito Imperfeito (Imperfect). Using the wrong one is a clear sign of a non-native speaker. They are not interchangeable.
| Pretérito Perfeito (The Snapshot) | Pretérito Imperfeito (The Scenery/Video) |
| :--- | :--- |
| Function: A completed, single event. | Function: An ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past action. |
| Focus: What happened. | Focus: What was happening or used to happen. |
| De repente, o telefone tocou. (Suddenly, the phone rang.) | O telefone tocava sem parar. (The phone was ringing non-stop.) |
| Eu abri a janela. (I opened the window. - A single action) | A janela estava aberta. (The window was open. - A state/description) |
| Ela comeu o bolo. (She ate the cake. - It's gone.) | Ela comia bolo todos os dias. (She used to eat cake every day. - A habit) |
The Storytelling Analogy: Think of telling a story.
The Imperfect sets the scene: Era uma noite fria e as pessoas andavam rapidamente pelas ruas. (It was a cold night and people were walking quickly through the streets.)
The Perfect describes the events that punctuate the scene: De repente, eu ouvi um grito e decidi ver o que era. (Suddenly, I heard a scream and decided to see what it was.)
Contrast with English Present Perfect:
For English speakers, the Portuguese Pretérito Perfeito often covers the meaning of both the Simple Past and the Present Perfect.
  • Eu já comi. can translate to "I already ate" (Simple Past) or "I have already eaten" (Present Perfect).
  • Você já assistiu a este filme? means "Have you ever watched this movie?"
Don't try to find a separate tense for the English "have done." In most cases, the Pretérito Perfeito is the correct choice.

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are clean, but real language is often faster and more direct. Here’s how you'll see the Pretérito Perfeito with -ir verbs in the wild.

On WhatsApp or Social Media:

- Person A: E aí, conseguiu o ingresso? (So, did you get the ticket?)

- Person B: Consegui! A gente dividiu o custo. (I got it! We split the cost.)

- Person A: Boa! Já partiu pra lá? (Nice! Have you left for there yet?)

- Person B: Parti agora msm. (Leaving right now. msm = mesmo)

Notice the directness. The questions and answers are short and focused on completed actions.

Casual Spoken Portuguese:

- Nossa, eu assisti um documentário incrível ontem à noite. Abriu minha mente. (Wow, I watched an incredible documentary last night. It opened my mind.)

- Sério? Sobre o quê? Eu não vi nada. Eu dormi cedo. (Really? About what? I didn't see anything. I slept early.)

Here, assisti, abriu, and dormi are all snapshots of last night's events.

In a Work Context (Email/Slack):

- Olá equipe, já dividi as tarefas para o novo projeto. Todos receberam o convite para a reunião? (Hello team, I have already divided the tasks for the new project. Did everyone receive the meeting invitation?)

- Sim, recebi. Você incluiu o feedback do cliente? (Yes, I received it. Did you include the client's feedback?)

Again, the tense confirms completed professional actions: the tasks were divided, the invitation was received.

Progressive Practice

1

To internalize this pattern, work through these exercises, moving from simple mechanics to more complex application.

2

Step 1: Mechanical Conjugation

3

Take the verb cumprir (to fulfill/accomplish) and write out its full conjugation in the Pretérito Perfeito for eu, você, ela, nós, and eles.

4

Step 2: Fill in the Blank

5

Complete these sentences with the correct Pretérito Perfeito form of the verb in parentheses.

6

Eu ______ (abrir) a porta para o carteiro.

7

Nós ______ (decidir) viajar nas férias.

8

Ontem, eles ______ (assistir) ao jogo de futebol.

9

Você já ______ (dividir) o documento com a equipe?

Step 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Write three original sentences about things you did yesterday. Use a different regular -ir verb in each one. Examples: partir, discutir, cumprir.

Step 4: Build a Narrative

Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing a sequence of actions. For example, describe making a simple decision. Start with Ontem à noite... and use at least two -ir verbs in the Pretérito Perfeito.

Step 5: Contextual Choice

Choose the correct verb tense (Present or Pretérito Perfeito) based on the context.

10

No ano passado, nós ______ (viajar) para o Brasil.

11

Normalmente, eu ______ (dividir) a conta com meus amigos.

12

Agora mesmo, ela ______ (partir) de casa.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is the nós form for -ir verbs really identical in the present and past?

Yes, it is one of the quirks of the language. Nós abrimos can mean "we open" or "we opened." The same is true for -ar verbs (nós falamos). Only context, especially time markers like hoje versus ontem, can tell you which is which.

Q: What is the most important difference between parti and partiu?

The subject. The -i ending is exclusively for eu (I). Eu parti. The -iu ending is for ele (he), ela (she), and você (you). Ela partiu. Mixing these up is a very common mistake, so pay close attention to that final vowel.

Q: How do I know if a new -ir verb I learn is regular or irregular in the Pretérito Perfeito?

There is no foolproof trick. The vast majority of -ir verbs are regular. The best strategy is to learn the regular pattern thoroughly and then memorize the handful of very common irregulars as exceptions (e.g., ir/ser, vir, pôr, dizer, fazer). When in doubt, try the regular pattern first; you will be right most of the time.

Q: Why do Brazilians say assistir o jogo but Portuguese people say assistir ao jogo?

This is a grammar point called regência verbal (verb transitivity). In formal and European Portuguese, the verb assistir meaning "to watch" requires the preposition a (assistir a algo). In informal Brazilian Portuguese, this preposition is often dropped. Both Eu assisti ao filme (formal/EP) and Eu assisti o filme (informal BP) are common.

Conjugation of 'Partir' (To leave)

Pronoun Ending Verb Form
Eu
-i
parti
Você/Ele/Ela
-iu
partiu
Nós
-imos
partimos
Vocês/Eles/Elas
-iram
partiram

Meanings

The Pretérito Perfeito is used to describe completed actions that happened at a specific point in the past.

1

Completed Action

An action that started and finished in the past.

“Eu dormi bem.”

“Ele partiu cedo.”

2

Sequential Events

Listing actions that happened one after another.

“Eu abri a caixa, li a carta e saí.”

“Ele subiu, viu o quarto e desceu.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Past Actions with -ir Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Eu parti.
Negative
Subject + não + Verb
Eu não parti.
Question
Verb + Subject?
Partiu você?
Short Answer
Sim/Não + Verb
Sim, parti.
Plural
Subject + Verb
Nós partimos.
Third Person
Subject + Verb
Eles partiram.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu parti da residência.

Eu parti da residência. (Leaving a place)

Neutral
Eu saí de casa.

Eu saí de casa. (Leaving a place)

Informal
Eu vazei de casa.

Eu vazei de casa. (Leaving a place)

Slang
Eu ralei daqui.

Eu ralei daqui. (Leaving a place)

The -ir Past Tense Map

Pretérito Perfeito

Endings

  • -i Eu
  • -iu Ele/Ela
  • -imos Nós
  • -iram Eles

Perfeito vs Imperfeito

Perfeito
Parti I left
Imperfeito
Partia I was leaving
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Examples by Level

1

Eu parti ontem.

I left yesterday.

2

Ele abriu a porta.

He opened the door.

3

Nós dormimos bem.

We slept well.

4

Eles partiram cedo.

They left early.

1

Você assistiu ao filme?

Did you watch the movie?

2

Eu não abri o e-mail.

I didn't open the email.

3

Nós dividimos a conta.

We split the bill.

4

Ela dormiu no sofá.

She slept on the sofa.

1

Eu assisti ao jogo e depois saí.

I watched the game and then I left.

2

Nós decidimos viajar no verão.

We decided to travel in the summer.

3

Ele admitiu o erro ontem.

He admitted the mistake yesterday.

4

Eles permitiram a entrada.

They allowed the entry.

1

Assim que ele partiu, eu abri a carta.

As soon as he left, I opened the letter.

2

Nós insistimos na solução correta.

We insisted on the correct solution.

3

Ela não resistiu à tentação.

She didn't resist the temptation.

4

Eles transferiram o dinheiro.

They transferred the money.

1

O diretor permitiu que todos saíssem.

The director allowed everyone to leave.

2

Eu suprimi os detalhes desnecessários.

I suppressed the unnecessary details.

3

Nós divergimos sobre o plano.

We disagreed on the plan.

4

Ele redigiu o documento final.

He drafted the final document.

1

A empresa instituiu novas normas.

The company instituted new norms.

2

Eles constituíram uma nova equipe.

They constituted a new team.

3

Eu intuí que algo estava errado.

I intuited that something was wrong.

4

Nós fruímos de cada momento.

We enjoyed every moment.

Easily Confused

Past Actions with -ir Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito) vs Pretérito Perfeito vs Imperfeito

Learners often use the wrong past tense for habits vs completed actions.

Past Actions with -ir Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito) vs -ir vs -er verbs

The endings -iu and -eu sound similar.

Past Actions with -ir Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito) vs Present vs Past 'Nós'

The form 'partimos' is the same in both tenses.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu partiu

✓

Eu parti

Wrong ending for 'Eu'.
✗

Nós partimos (present)

✓

Nós partimos (past)

It is the same form, context is needed.
✗

Ele parti

✓

Ele partiu

Wrong ending for 'Ele'.
✗

Eles partiu

✓

Eles partiram

Wrong ending for plural.
✗

Eu abreu

✓

Eu abri

Confusing -ir with -er endings.
✗

Eles assistiram

✓

Eles assistiram

Actually correct, but often confused with -aram.
✗

Nós dormimos (present)

✓

Nós dormimos (past)

Ambiguity check.
✗

Eu tenho partido

✓

Eu parti

Overusing compound tenses.
✗

Eu partia (when meaning completed)

✓

Eu parti

Using Imperfeito for completed actions.
✗

Eles partiram-se

✓

Eles partiram

Adding reflexive pronouns incorrectly.
✗

Eu tinha partido (when simple past is better)

✓

Eu parti

Stylistic preference for simple past.
✗

Nós divergimos (present)

✓

Nós divergimos (past)

Contextual nuance.
✗

Ele redigiu-o

✓

Ele redigiu

Pronoun placement errors.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ o/a ___ ontem.

Nós ___ o filme e ___ cedo.

Ele não ___ a decisão que eu ___.

Eles ___ o projeto e ___ o resultado.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Eu dormi muito, desculpa!

Job Interview common

Eu redigi o relatório final.

Travel very common

Eu parti de Lisboa ontem.

Social Media common

Eu assisti ao show!

Food Delivery occasional

Eu dividi a pizza com amigos.

Work Email common

Nós decidimos seguir com o plano.

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💡

Focus on the endings

Memorize the -i, -iu, -imos, -iram pattern. It works for almost all regular -ir verbs.
⚠️

Watch the 'nós' form

Remember that 'partimos' can be present or past. Check the context!
🎯

Use time markers

Add words like 'ontem', 'semana passada', or 'ontem à noite' to clarify the past tense.
💬

A gente vs Nós

In Brazil, 'a gente' is very common. Use it with the third person singular verb form.

Smart Tips

Think of the 'i' sound for the first person.

Eu partiu. → Eu parti.

Add a time marker to avoid ambiguity.

Nós partimos. → Nós partimos ontem.

Check if it's a single event or a habit.

Eu partia ontem. → Eu parti ontem.

Use 'a gente' for a more natural flow.

Nós partimos. → A gente partiu.

Pronunciation

par-TIU, par-ti-RAM

Stress

The stress usually falls on the last syllable for the 'iu' and 'iram' forms.

Question

Você partiu? ↗

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'I-U-I-AM' sound: I for me, U for you, I for us, AM for them.

Visual Association

Imagine a train leaving a station. The train is the verb 'partir'. As it leaves, it leaves behind the sounds 'i', 'iu', 'imos', 'iram' on the tracks.

Rhyme

Para o passado de -ir, o final é fácil de seguir: -i, -iu, -imos, -iram, não tem como não sentir!

Story

Eu parti para a praia. Lá, eu abri a mala. Nós dividimos o lanche e dormimos sob as estrelas.

Word Web

partirabrirdormirdividirassistirdecidir

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about what you did this morning using -ir verbs.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'a gente' is used instead of 'nós' in informal speech, but the verb conjugation remains the same as the third person singular.

In Portugal, 'nós' is used more frequently in speech than in Brazil.

The Pretérito Perfeito is the standard way to recount events across all Portuguese-speaking countries.

The Portuguese Pretérito Perfeito comes directly from the Latin perfectum tense.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você fez ontem?

“

Você assistiu a algum filme bom recentemente?

“

Como você decidiu aprender português?

“

Você já abriu mão de algum sonho?

Journal Prompts

Descreva o seu dia de ontem.
Conte sobre uma viagem que você fez.
Descreva uma decisão importante que você tomou.
Reflita sobre um erro que você cometeu e o que aprendeu.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate the verb 'abrir' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abri
Eu takes the -i ending.
Choose the correct form for 'Eles'. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: partiram
Eles takes the -iram ending.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele parti a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele partiu a porta
Ele requires -iu.
Change to past tense. Sentence Transformation

Nós assistimos ao filme (present).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós assistimos ao filme (past)
The form is the same, but the meaning is past.
Match the pronoun to the ending. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -i, -iu, -imos, -iram
Correct mapping of endings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que você fez? B: Eu ___ o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: li
Wait, 'ler' is irregular, but 'abrir' would be 'abri'. Let's use 'abri'.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

ontem / eu / dormir / bem

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu dormi bem ontem.
Eu + dormi.
Is this true? True False Rule

The 'nós' form of -ir verbs is the same in present and past.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, 'partimos' is both.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate the verb 'abrir' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abri
Eu takes the -i ending.
Choose the correct form for 'Eles'. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: partiram
Eles takes the -iram ending.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ele parti a porta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele partiu a porta
Ele requires -iu.
Change to past tense. Sentence Transformation

Nós assistimos ao filme (present).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós assistimos ao filme (past)
The form is the same, but the meaning is past.
Match the pronoun to the ending. Match Pairs

Eu -> ?, Ele -> ?, Nós -> ?, Eles -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -i, -iu, -imos, -iram
Correct mapping of endings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: O que você fez? B: Eu ___ o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: li
Wait, 'ler' is irregular, but 'abrir' would be 'abri'. Let's use 'abri'.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

ontem / eu / dormir / bem

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu dormi bem ontem.
Eu + dormi.
Is this true? True False Rule

The 'nós' form of -ir verbs is the same in present and past.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, 'partimos' is both.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate to Portuguese Translation

We split the pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós dividimos a pizza.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

decidiu / viajar / ele / sozinho

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele decidiu viajar sozinho.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Vocês ___ o e-mail que eu enviei?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: abriram
Match the subject to the verb form Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu -> abri
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

I left the party early.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu parti da festa cedo.
Fix the mistake Error Correction

Você dividiu o lanche?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você dividiu o lanche?
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

A enfermeira ___ o remédio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: serviu
Translate to Portuguese Translation

They admitted the truth.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles admitiram a verdade.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

assistiram / eles / ao / filme

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles assistiram ao filme.
Choose the correct past form Multiple Choice

We opened the gift.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós abrimos o presente.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, it can be present or past. Context is key.

Look at the infinitive form (e.g., partir vs comer).

No, use the Imperfeito for habits.

Because it's an -ir verb, and -ir verbs use -iu.

Yes, it is standard in both.

Irregular verbs have their own patterns, but most -ir verbs are regular.

Yes, 'a gente partiu' is very common in Brazil.

No, it's very consistent once you learn the four endings.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Pretérito perfecto simple

The third person singular ending is -ió in Spanish vs -iu in Portuguese.

French low

Passé composé

Portuguese uses a single conjugated verb form, while French uses two.

German low

Perfekt

German is analytic (two words), Portuguese is synthetic (one word).

Japanese low

Ta-form

Japanese does not conjugate for person, unlike Portuguese.

Arabic moderate

Past tense (al-maadi)

Arabic is a root-based system, while Portuguese is suffix-based.

Chinese low

Le (aspect marker)

Chinese has no verb conjugation for person or tense.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Past Tense: Regular -er Verbs (I ate, He drank)
Next
Ser vs Ir in the Past: Same Word, Different Meaning (fui, foi)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

Present Tense: Regular -IR Verbs (Opening & Deciding)

Overview The Portuguese language organizes its verbs into three primary conjugations: those ending in `-ar`, `-er`, and...

Continue With

A2 Requires

Sleeping in the Past: The Verb 'Dormir' (Preterite)

Overview The Portuguese verb `dormir` (to sleep) is fundamental for describing past actions related to rest. At the A2 C...
B1 Requires

Ouvir (Heard) in Past Tense

Overview `Ouvir`, a fundamental Portuguese verb, primarily means **“to hear”** – the passive reception of sound through...

Related Grammar Rules

A2

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...
A2

Past Descriptions: Using 'Ser' (Era)

Overview The Portuguese verb `ser` in the **Pretérito Imperfeito** (Imperfect Past) tense, specifically its forms like `...
B1

Portuguese Past Tense: Brought (trouxe)

Overview Mastering the Portuguese past tense requires understanding both regular and irregular verb conjugations. Among...
B1

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...
B1

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...
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