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B1 Verbo (Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo) #45 most common 11 min read

dava

Top 45

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips dava in 30 Seconds

Explanation dava in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to explore the past. You might have learned 'deu' (gave) first. 'Dava' is the version of 'give' you use when you want to say 'I used to give' or 'He used to give.' It is very simple because the ending is the same for 'I' (Eu) and 'He/She' (Ele/Ela). You will mostly use it to talk about your childhood habits, like 'Eu dava leite ao gato' (I used to give milk to the cat). Don't worry about complex grammar yet; just think of 'dava' as the 'habit' word for the past. It's also useful for the phrase 'Não dava,' which means 'It wasn't possible.' If you couldn't go to a party yesterday, you can say 'Não dava para ir.' This is a very helpful phrase for beginners to explain why they couldn't do something. Remember, 'dava' is like a long line in the past, while 'deu' is just a single dot.

At the A2 level, you start using 'dava' to describe scenes and routines in more detail. You will use it to talk about your old job, your old house, or how things were in your country years ago. For example, 'Na minha antiga escola, os professores não davam muita lição de casa' (In my old school, the teachers didn't give much homework). You also begin to see 'dava' in descriptions: 'A casa dava para a rua principal' (The house faced the main street). This level is where you should practice the difference between 'dava' (repeated) and 'deu' (one time). If you say 'Eu dei flores para ela,' it happened once. If you say 'Eu dava flores para ela,' it was a romantic habit. Learning this distinction helps you tell better stories about your life and experiences.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'dava' for more than just simple habits. You should start using it to set the 'background' of a story. For instance, 'Enquanto o sol dava na janela, eu lia o livro' (While the sun was hitting the window, I was reading the book). You also use 'dava' to express polite requests in a more natural, Brazilian way. Instead of saying 'Você pode me ajudar?' (Can you help me?), which is very direct, you might say 'Dava para você me ajudar?' (Could you help me?). This shows you understand the social nuances of the language. You also encounter 'dava' in more idiomatic expressions like 'dava de cara com' (to run into) or 'dava para o gasto' (it was good enough). At this level, 'dava' becomes a tool for making your Portuguese sound smoother and more conversational.

At the B2 level, you use 'dava' to handle hypothetical situations in the past and to replace the conditional 'daria' in informal speech. For example, 'Se eu soubesse, eu dava um jeito' (If I had known, I would have found a way). This is technically the imperfect indicative acting as a conditional, a very common feature of native speech. You also use 'dava' to describe complex past states or recurring emotions, such as 'Aquela situação me dava muita ansiedade' (That situation used to give me a lot of anxiety). You are now able to distinguish between the literal giving and the figurative giving of importance, attention, or value. Your narratives should now use 'dava' to provide the 'texture' of the past, allowing the 'preterite' (deu, fiz, fui) to highlight the specific events that changed the course of the story.

At the C1 level, you explore the literary and stylistic uses of 'dava.' You might encounter it in classic literature where it's used to create a sense of 'eternal' past or to describe characteristics that were inherent to a person or place. You also use it in complex argumentative structures, such as 'Dava-se o caso que...' (It so happened that...), which is a formal way to introduce a circumstance. You understand the subtle difference between 'dava' and its more formal synonyms like 'proporcionava,' 'concedia,' or 'outorgava,' and you choose the right one based on the register of the conversation. You can also use 'dava' in the passive voice ('dava-se') to describe general past trends or societal norms. Your mastery of 'dava' allows you to express irony, nostalgia, or clinical observation in your descriptions of the past.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of the 'Imperfect' aspect. You can use 'dava' to manipulate the timeline of a narrative for dramatic effect, perhaps using it to describe an action that was *about* to happen but was interrupted. You understand the philosophical implications of using the imperfect—how it presents the past as an open, living space rather than a closed book. You are familiar with archaic or regional uses of the verb 'dar' in the imperfect and can interpret them in historical texts. Whether you are analyzing a poem by Fernando Pessoa or a modern political speech, you see how 'dava' is used to construct a specific vision of history and reality. You can switch between the informal 'dava' (for conditional) and the formal 'daria' effortlessly, always matching the tone of your environment perfectly.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

dava in 30 Seconds

Dava is the 'used to give' form of the verb dar, used for both 'I' and 'he/she/it'.
It describes habits, ongoing past actions, or background settings in a story.
Commonly used in the phrase 'dava para' to mean 'it was possible to'.
In casual speech, it often replaces the conditional 'would give' (daria).

The Portuguese word dava is a cornerstone of past-tense narration. It is the first and third person singular form of the verb dar (to give) in the Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo. Unlike the Pretérito Perfeito, which describes completed actions at a specific point in time, dava is used to paint a picture of the past, describing habits, ongoing states, or background information. When you use dava, you are often translating the English concepts of 'used to give,' 'was giving,' or simply 'gave' when the action was repeated or lacked a clear beginning and end.

Habitual Action: This is perhaps the most common use. It describes something that happened regularly in the past. For example, if you frequently gave money to a charity during your college years, you would use dava to indicate that this was a routine, not a one-time event.

Antigamente, eu dava aulas de violão aos sábados.

Descriptive Function: In literature and storytelling, dava is used to describe the setting. If a window 'gave' onto a garden (faced a garden), or if a situation 'gave' the impression of being dangerous, this verb provides the necessary descriptive backdrop.

Furthermore, dava is frequently employed in colloquial Portuguese to express possibility or polite requests. In many Brazilian dialects, instead of using the formal conditional daria, speakers opt for dava to sound more natural and less stiff. For instance, 'Dava para você me ajudar?' (Could you help me?) is a very common way to soften a request. It also appears in the common expression 'não dava,' which translates to 'it wasn't possible' or 'it didn't work out,' referring to a state of impossibility that existed in the past.

A janela do meu quarto dava para um parque lindo.

Politeness and Softening: When asking for favors, using the imperfect tense like dava creates a psychological distance that makes the request feel less intrusive. It suggests a hypothetical scenario rather than a direct demand.

Você acha que dava para terminarmos isso amanhã?

In summary, dava is the verb of choice for nostalgia, routine, and setting the stage. Whether you are talking about the candy your grandmother used to give you, the view from an old apartment, or a polite request to a colleague, mastering dava allows you to move beyond simple facts and start telling rich, nuanced stories in Portuguese. It bridges the gap between basic communication and expressive fluency, making your speech sound more authentic and less like a translated textbook.

Using dava correctly requires understanding the 'Imperfect' aspect of the tense. It is not just about the past; it is about the *nature* of the past action. In this section, we will explore the various syntactic structures where dava shines, from literal giving to idiomatic expressions of possibility.

Literal Giving (Habitual): When referring to the act of transferring something to someone else as a repeated action. Structure: [Subject] + dava + [Object] + [Recipient].

Meu pai me dava um livro novo todo mês.

In the sentence above, the use of dava implies a recurring monthly tradition. If the father had given only one book on a specific birthday, the speaker would have used deu. This distinction is vital for English speakers who often use 'gave' for both scenarios.

Impersonal 'Possibility': The expression 'dava para' + [infinitive] is a staple of conversational Portuguese. It means 'it was possible to' or 'one could'.

Naquela época, dava para comprar muita coisa com pouco dinheiro.

Describing Physical Orientation: Used to describe where a building or room faced. This is a static state in the past.

A varanda dava para os fundos da casa.

Another frequent usage is in the phrase 'dava de cara com,' meaning 'to bump into' or 'to face unexpectedly.' When used in the imperfect, it suggests a repeated encounter or a descriptive moment in a narrative. For example: 'Sempre que eu abria a porta, dava de cara com o vizinho.' (Every time I opened the door, I would run into the neighbor.)

Eu dava muita importância ao que os outros diziam.

Abstract Giving: Used with nouns like 'importância' (importance), 'atenção' (attention), or 'valor' (value) to describe past attitudes.

Finally, consider the use of dava in conditional contexts. While 'Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu daria' is grammatically 'perfect' for the conditional, in spoken Portuguese, you will almost always hear 'Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu dava.' This substitution of the imperfect for the conditional is a hallmark of native-level fluency in informal settings.

The word dava is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking cultures, echoing through family dinners, nostalgic conversations, and even professional negotiations. To truly understand its resonance, one must look at the contexts where it appears most naturally.

Nostalgic Storytelling: Grandparents are the primary users of dava. When they recount their youth, they use it to describe the world as it was. 'A gente dava valor às pequenas coisas' (We used to value the small things) is a classic phrase of generational reflection.

Na minha infância, a gente dava voltas na praça toda noite.

In the realm of Brazilian soap operas (telenovelas), dava is frequently heard in dialogues involving secrets or past relationships. Characters might say, 'Eu dava tudo para saber a verdade' (I would give anything to know the truth). Here, dava functions as a passionate conditional, expressing a deep, ongoing desire.

Service and Hospitality: In a restaurant or shop, if you ask for something that is currently unavailable, the clerk might say, 'Antigamente a gente dava desconto, mas agora não dá mais.' This contrasts the past habit with the current reality.

O professor dava muita liberdade para os alunos criarem.

In professional settings, particularly in Brazil, dava is used to discuss project feasibility in the past. 'Não dava para terminar no prazo' (It wasn't possible to finish on time) is a common explanation in meetings. It sounds slightly less definitive and harsh than saying 'Não foi possível,' as it implies an ongoing struggle with the deadline.

Será que dava para você checar esse relatório?

Everyday Requests: Listen for dava in the streets when people are asking for favors. 'Dava para me emprestar uma caneta?' is much more common than the more formal 'Poderia me emprestar...'.

Whether in the lyrics of a melancholic Fado in Lisbon or a bustling market in São Paulo, dava is the sound of time being stretched and softened. It is a word that invites the listener into a shared past or a gentle, hypothetical present, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to truly connect with Portuguese speakers.

For English speakers, the most frequent errors involving dava stem from the lack of a direct equivalent for the Portuguese 'Imperfect' vs. 'Preterite' distinction. Since English often uses 'gave' for both, learners struggle to know when to switch to dava.

Confusing 'Dava' with 'Deu': This is the #1 mistake. Use deu for a completed, one-time action ('Ontem ele me deu um presente'). Use dava for habits ('Ele sempre me dava presentes'). Using deu for a habit sounds robotic and 'foreign'.

Errado: Quando eu era criança, eu deu comida ao cão. (Wrong)
Correto: Quando eu era criança, eu dava comida ao cão. (Right)

Another common pitfall is the confusion between dava and the conditional daria. While natives often substitute dava for daria in speech, learners sometimes do it in formal writing where it is considered incorrect. If you are writing a formal essay or a business letter, stick to daria for 'would give'.

Misusing 'Dava para' in the Present: Learners sometimes use dava para when they mean 'is it possible right now?'. If you are asking if something is possible in the present, use dá para. Using dava makes it sound like you are asking about the past or being excessively (perhaps confusingly) polite.

Spelling is rarely an issue with dava because it is a regular 'AR' verb ending in the imperfect, but some learners confuse it with deva (the present subjunctive of dever - should/must). Remember: dava is about giving in the past; deva is about obligation in the present/future.

Confusão: Eu deva (I should) vs. Eu dava (I used to give).

The 'Used to' Trap: English speakers often try to translate 'used to' literally using 'costumava dar'. While correct, it is much more natural in Portuguese to simply use the imperfect dava. Overusing 'costumava' makes your Portuguese sound wordy.

Lastly, be careful with the phrase 'dava certo.' If you say 'deu certo,' it means it worked out (a specific event). If you say 'dava certo,' it means it *used to* work out or was working out at that time. Mixing these up can change the timeline of your success or failure!

While dava is the most common way to express past giving, Portuguese offers a rich palette of alternatives that can add precision and elegance to your speech. Depending on whether you are giving a gift, an order, or a piece of advice, you might choose a different verb.

Entregava vs. Dava: Entregava (used to deliver/hand over) is more specific than dava. Use it when there is a physical hand-off or a formal delivery involved. Dava is more general and can be abstract.
Oferecia vs. Dava: Oferecia (used to offer/give as a gift) is more polite and formal. It implies a gesture of generosity. While you can dar a slap (dar um tapa), you would only oferecer a gift or a seat.
Proporcionava vs. Dava: Proporcionava (used to provide/afford) is a high-level academic alternative. It is used when 'giving' an experience, an opportunity, or a feeling. 'O curso dava oportunidades' is fine, but 'O curso proporcionava oportunidades' is much more professional.

Comparação: Ele me dava ajuda (General) vs. Ele me prestava auxílio (Formal/Specific).

In the context of 'dava para' (it was possible), you can use conseguia (was able to) if you want to emphasize the effort or ability of a specific person. 'Eu não dava para fazer' is actually incorrect; you should say 'Não dava para eu fazer' or 'Eu não conseguia fazer.'

Cedia vs. Dava: Cedia (used to yield/give in/give up) is used when the 'giving' involves giving up something you own or a position you hold. For example, 'Ele cedia o lugar aos mais velhos' (He used to give up his seat for the elderly).

Finally, consider distribuía (used to distribute) when the giving is directed at many people. 'O governo dava comida' is common, but 'O governo distribuía alimentos' sounds more organized and official. Choosing the right synonym not only makes you sound more like a native but also ensures your message is conveyed with the exact nuance you intend.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"O antigo regime dava prioridade à estabilidade econômica."

Neutral

"Eu dava caminhadas no parque todas as manhãs."

Informal

"Dava para você pegar um café para mim?"

Child friendly

"O coelhinho dava pulinhos de alegria."

Slang

"Aquele som dava um gás na galera."

Fun Fact

The verb 'dar' is one of the most versatile verbs in Portuguese, with over 50 different idiomatic meanings depending on the preposition or noun it pairs with.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈda.vɐ/

US /ˈdɑ.və/

The stress is on the penultimate (second to last) syllable: DA-va.

Rhymes With

estava falava cantava andava olhava amava levava chegava

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'a' too clearly like 'ah'. It should be a soft, reduced vowel.
Stressing the second syllable (da-VA), which would change the meaning or sound unnatural.
Confusing the 'v' sound with a 'b' sound (common for Spanish speakers).
Making the 'd' too dental (like in English 'day'). In Portuguese, it's softer and closer to the teeth.
Nasalizing the vowels unnecessarily.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize as a past tense of 'dar'.

Writing 4/5

Requires choosing between 'dava' and 'deu', which is tricky for learners.

Speaking 3/5

Natural use of 'dava para' is a sign of intermediate fluency.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced and common in daily speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

dar deu para sempre antigamente

Learn Next

daria der desse tenha dado tivesse dado

Advanced

outorgar conceder proporcionar ceder render

Grammar to Know

Imperfect vs. Preterite

Use 'dava' for 'I used to give' and 'deu' for 'I gave once'.

Imperfect as Conditional

In speech, 'Se eu pudesse, eu dava' replaces 'eu daria'.

Impersonal 'Dava'

'Dava para' + infinitive functions as 'it was possible'.

1st and 3rd Person Identity

'Eu dava' and 'Ele dava' are identical; use pronouns for clarity.

Descriptive Imperfect

Use 'dava' to describe where a static object (like a window) faces.

Examples by Level

Eu dava pão aos pássaros.

I used to give bread to the birds.

First person singular, habitual past.

Ela me dava um abraço todo dia.

She used to give me a hug every day.

Third person singular, repeated action.

Não dava para ir à praia.

It wasn't possible to go to the beach.

Impersonal use meaning 'wasn't possible'.

O professor dava muita lição.

The teacher used to give a lot of homework.

Third person singular, describing a past state.

Eu dava o meu melhor na escola.

I used to give my best at school.

Idiomatic: 'dar o melhor' (to do one's best).

Você me dava medo!

You used to give me fear! (You used to scare me!)

Second person (Você) using the 3rd person verb form.

A janela dava para o jardim.

The window faced the garden.

Descriptive use for orientation.

Antigamente, tudo dava certo.

In the past, everything used to work out.

Idiomatic: 'dar certo' (to work out).

Minha avó me dava doces escondido.

My grandmother used to give me sweets secretly.

Habitual past with an adverb.

O sol dava na minha cara de manhã.

The sun used to hit my face in the morning.

Descriptive past, continuous state.

Não dava para entender nada.

It wasn't possible to understand anything.

Impersonal 'dava para' + infinitive.

Eu dava aulas de inglês em casa.

I used to give English lessons at home.

Professional habit in the past.

Aquele carro sempre dava problema.

That car always used to give (cause) problems.

Idiomatic: 'dar problema' (to cause trouble).

Ela dava muita atenção aos detalhes.

She used to give a lot of attention to details.

Abstract giving (attention).

O caminho dava em uma floresta.

The path led into a forest.

Descriptive use for direction/destination.

Dava para ver o mar daqui.

One could see the sea from here.

Impersonal possibility in the past.

Dava para você me fazer um favor?

Could you do me a favor?

Polite request using the imperfect.

Sempre que eu saía, dava de cara com ele.

Whenever I went out, I would run into him.

Idiom: 'dar de cara com' (to run into).

O dinheiro não dava para pagar as contas.

The money wasn't enough to pay the bills.

Idiomatic: 'dar para' (to be enough).

Eu dava tudo para voltar no tempo.

I would give everything to go back in time.

Imperfect used as a conditional.

A notícia dava conta de um grande acidente.

The news reported a major accident.

Idiom: 'dar conta de' (to report/inform).

Ela não dava o braço a torcer facilmente.

She wouldn't give in (admit defeat) easily.

Idiom: 'dar o braço a torcer' (to yield/admit error).

O rádio dava a mesma música toda hora.

The radio used to play the same song all the time.

Habitual action of a device.

Aquilo não me dava confiança nenhuma.

That didn't give me any confidence at all.

Abstract giving (feeling/state).

Se eu pudesse, eu dava um jeito nisso.

If I could, I would find a way to fix this.

Colloquial conditional replacement.

A situação dava margem a muitas interpretações.

The situation allowed for many interpretations.

Idiom: 'dar margem a' (to give rise to/allow for).

Ele dava de ombros para os problemas alheios.

He used to shrug his shoulders at others' problems.

Idiom: 'dar de ombros' (to shrug/not care).

A varanda dava para um pátio interno silencioso.

The balcony looked out onto a quiet internal courtyard.

Descriptive imperfect for atmosphere.

Ela dava sinais de cansaço extremo.

She was showing signs of extreme fatigue.

Idiom: 'dar sinais de' (to show signs of).

O filme dava o que falar na época.

The movie was a hot topic back then.

Idiom: 'dar o que falar' (to be talked about/controversial).

Eu dava por certo que ele viria.

I took it for granted that he would come.

Idiom: 'dar por certo' (to take for granted).

A empresa dava lucro todos os trimestres.

The company used to make a profit every quarter.

Business context, habitual state.

Dava-se o caso de que ninguém sabia a verdade.

It so happened that no one knew the truth.

Formal impersonal structure with reflexive 'se'.

A lei dava amparo aos mais necessitados.

The law provided support to the most needy.

Formal/Legal context for 'providing'.

Ele dava mostras de uma inteligência superior.

He displayed signs of superior intelligence.

Elevated vocabulary: 'dar mostras de'.

O autor dava voz aos oprimidos em sua obra.

The author gave a voice to the oppressed in his work.

Metaphorical use in literary analysis.

A conferência dava continuidade ao debate anterior.

The conference continued the previous debate.

Idiom: 'dar continuidade' (to continue/follow up).

Nada dava a entender que ele mentia.

Nothing suggested that he was lying.

Idiom: 'dar a entender' (to imply/suggest).

A cidade dava-se ao luxo de ignorar o progresso.

The city allowed itself the luxury of ignoring progress.

Idiom: 'dar-se ao luxo' (to afford the luxury).

O mestre dava por finda a lição do dia.

The master considered the day's lesson finished.

Archaic/Formal: 'dar por findo' (to consider finished).

A narrativa dava-se num tempo imemorial.

The narrative took place in an immemorial time.

Reflexive 'dar-se' meaning 'to take place/happen'.

A cada passo, a paisagem dava lugar a novos horrores.

With every step, the landscape gave way to new horrors.

Literary use: 'dar lugar a' (to give way to).

Ele não se dava por vencido, apesar das evidências.

He did not consider himself defeated, despite the evidence.

Idiom: 'dar-se por vencido' (to admit defeat).

O crepúsculo dava à cena um tom melancólico.

The twilight gave the scene a melancholy tone.

Nuanced descriptive use of 'dar'.

A teoria dava conta das complexidades da psique.

The theory accounted for the complexities of the psyche.

Academic: 'dar conta de' (to account for/explain).

Dava-se o fenômeno da ressonância magnética.

The phenomenon of magnetic resonance was occurring.

Scientific/Passive use of 'dar-se'.

O silêncio dava a medida exata da sua solidão.

The silence gave the exact measure of his loneliness.

Highly metaphorical/Poetic use.

Ele dava de si sem esperar nada em troca.

He gave of himself without expecting anything in return.

Idiom: 'dar de si' (to give of oneself).

Common Collocations

dava para

dava certo

dava atenção

dava importância

dava lucro

dava medo

dava na cara

dava para o gasto

dava de cara com

dava um jeito

Common Phrases

Não dava mais.

— It wasn't possible anymore or I couldn't take it anymore.

Tentei consertar, mas não dava mais.

Dava tudo para...

— I would give everything to... (expressing a strong wish).

Dava tudo para estar lá agora.

Dava no mesmo.

— It was the same thing / It made no difference.

Ir de ônibus ou de trem dava no mesmo.

Dava pena.

— It was pitiful / It made one feel sorry.

Dava pena ver o cachorro na chuva.

Dava o que falar.

— It caused a lot of gossip or discussion.

A festa dava o que falar na vizinhança.

Dava de dez.

— It was much better than something else (slang).

A comida da minha mãe dava de dez na do restaurante.

Dava um tempo.

— To take a break or to wait a while.

Eu dava um tempo antes de responder.

Dava na vista.

— It was obvious / It stood out.

A mentira dele dava na vista.

Dava para trás.

— To back out of a deal or commitment.

Na última hora, ele dava para trás.

Dava valor.

— To appreciate or value something.

Eu não dava valor ao que tinha.

Often Confused With

dava vs deu

Deu is for a completed, one-time action; dava is for habits or descriptions.

dava vs deva

Deva is the present subjunctive of 'dever' (should); dava is the past of 'dar' (give).

dava vs daria

Daria is the formal conditional; dava is the informal substitute for it.

Idioms & Expressions

"dar de cara com"

— To meet someone unexpectedly or to find something suddenly.

Eu dava de cara com o perigo todo dia.

informal

"dar o braço a torcer"

— To admit one is wrong or to yield in an argument.

Ele nunca dava o braço a torcer.

neutral

"dar pano para manga"

— To provide a lot of material for talk, gossip, or complications.

Aquele assunto dava pano para manga.

informal

"dar uma de"

— To pretend to be or to act like someone/something.

Ele dava uma de esperto, mas não era.

slang

"dar com os burros n'água"

— To fail completely in an endeavor.

Sempre que tentava, dava com os burros n'água.

informal

"dar no pé"

— To run away or leave quickly.

Quando a polícia chegava, ele dava no pé.

slang

"dar bola"

— To pay attention to or to show interest in someone (often romantically).

Ela não me dava bola na escola.

informal

"dar o fora"

— To leave a place or to reject someone.

Eu dava o fora sempre que a briga começava.

slang

"dar um pulo"

— To make a quick visit somewhere.

Eu dava um pulo na padaria antes do trabalho.

informal

"dar trela"

— To encourage someone to keep talking or acting in a certain way.

Não dava trela para as piadas dele.

informal

Easily Confused

dava vs estava

Both end in '-ava' and are common in the past.

'Estava' is from 'estar' (to be); 'dava' is from 'dar' (to give).

Eu estava lá quando ele dava o discurso.

dava vs dava vs. doava

Both mean giving.

'Dava' is general; 'doava' is specifically for charity or formal donations.

Eu dava comida ao cão, mas doava dinheiro à igreja.

dava vs dava vs. trazia

In some contexts, 'bringing' and 'giving' overlap.

'Dava' is the act of giving; 'trazia' is the act of bringing something to a place.

Ele trazia o presente e me dava na mão.

dava vs dava vs. punha

Used in expressions like 'putting' or 'giving' importance.

'Dava importância' is more common than 'punha importância'.

Eu dava valor ao que ele punha na mesa.

dava vs dava vs. rendia

Both can mean producing a result.

'Rendia' is more about efficiency or financial return; 'dava' is more general.

O trabalho dava cansaço, mas rendia dinheiro.

Sentence Patterns

Eu dava [object] para [person].

Eu dava flores para minha mãe.

Antigamente, [subject] dava [noun].

Antigamente, o rádio dava notícias.

Dava para [infinitive]?

Dava para abrir a porta?

Não dava para [infinitive].

Não dava para chegar cedo.

Se eu [subjunctive], eu dava...

Se eu tivesse tempo, eu dava uma ajuda.

[Subject] dava de cara com [noun].

Ela dava de cara com a realidade.

Dava-se o caso de [clause].

Dava-se o caso de ele estar certo.

[Noun] dava lugar a [noun].

A alegria dava lugar à tristeza.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high. It is among the top 100 most used verb forms in Portuguese.

Common Mistakes

Eu deu um presente todo ano. → Eu dava um presente todo ano.
You must use the imperfect 'dava' for repeated actions in the past.
Dava para eu ajudar você? → Dava para você me ajudar?
When asking for a favor, the person being asked is the subject of 'dava para'.
A janela deu para o mar. → A janela dava para o mar.
Descriptions of states (like where a window faces) require the imperfect.
Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu deu. → Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu dava.
In a conditional sentence, use the imperfect (dava) or conditional (daria), never the preterite (deu).
Eu dava-o o livro. → Eu dava-lhe o livro.
When giving something *to someone*, use the indirect object pronoun 'lhe' or 'para ele'.

Tips

The Habit Rule

Whenever you can say 'used to give' in English, use 'dava' in Portuguese. It's the most reliable translation for past habits.

Softening Requests

To sound more like a native, use 'Dava para...' instead of 'Pode...' when asking for a favor. It sounds much more polite and natural.

Setting the Scene

Use 'dava' for all the background details in your stories—the view, the recurring feelings, and the general atmosphere.

Idiom Alert

Learn 'dar de cara com'. It's a very common way to say you bumped into someone or something unexpectedly.

Listen for 'Para'

If you hear 'dava' followed by 'para', your brain should immediately think 'possibility' or 'request'.

Nostalgia

In Portuguese culture, talking about the past often involves a bit of melancholy. 'Dava' is the perfect verb to express that feeling.

Conditional Shortcut

In Brazil, don't be afraid to use 'dava' instead of 'daria' in casual settings. It will actually make you sound more fluent.

Don't confuse with 'Deu'

If the action happened once and is over, use 'deu'. If it was a routine, use 'dava'. This is the most important distinction.

The 'VA' ending

Think of the 'VA' in 'dava' as 'Vast'—it covers a vast amount of time in the past, not just a single point.

Variety

While 'dava' is great, try using 'oferecia' or 'proporcionava' in formal writing to show off your vocabulary.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'DAva' as 'DA past'. It's the 'DA' (give) verb in the 'va' (past habit) form. 'VA' sounds like 'Vaguely' in the past.

Visual Association

Imagine a conveyor belt in the past continuously moving gifts. The 'va' ending represents the continuous movement of the belt.

Word Web

dar deu daria dando dado doar presente oferecer

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about your childhood using 'dava' to describe your room, a habit, and something your parents did for you.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin verb 'dare', which means 'to give, offer, or render'. The 'v' in 'dava' comes from the Latin imperfect ending '-abam'.

Original meaning: To transfer ownership or possession of something to another person.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Western Romance > Galician-Portuguese.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, fundamental verb.

English speakers often over-rely on 'used to' or 'would', whereas Portuguese speakers use the single word 'dava' to cover both nuances effortlessly.

Song: 'Dava Nela' by Zeca Pagodinho (Samba). Literature: Often used by Machado de Assis to describe the social habits of 19th-century Rio. Proverb: 'Quem dá aos pobres, empresta a Deus' (He who gives to the poor, lends to God) - though usually in the present, it's often recounted in the past using 'dava'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Childhood Memories

Eu dava trabalho.
Minha mãe me dava bronca.
A gente dava risada.
O vovô dava moedas.

Feasibility Discussions

Não dava para fazer.
Dava tempo de sobra.
Será que dava certo?
Dava para melhorar.

Physical Descriptions

A porta dava para o corredor.
O sol dava na piscina.
A estrada dava na cidade.
A vista dava para as montanhas.

Social Interactions

Ela não me dava bola.
A gente se dava bem.
Ele dava em cima dela.
Eu dava o braço a torcer.

Business/Finance

A empresa dava lucro.
O projeto dava prejuízo.
Dava para investir mais.
Isso dava margem a erro.

Conversation Starters

"O que você dava mais importância quando era adolescente?"

"Dava para você viver sem internet por uma semana antigamente?"

"Na sua infância, sua escola dava muita lição de casa?"

"Você se dava bem com seus vizinhos no seu antigo bairro?"

"A janela do seu primeiro quarto dava para onde?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma tradição de família que dava muita alegria a todos.

Descreva um antigo emprego e o que você dava de si para aquela empresa.

Reflita sobre uma situação que não dava para mudar, mas que você aceitou.

Como era a sua rotina matinal? O que você dava prioridade?

Pense em um amigo de infância. Como vocês se davam e o que faziam?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, if you use 'você'. In Portuguese, 'você' uses the third-person singular verb form, so 'você dava' is correct for 'you used to give'.

It is colloquial and very common in spoken Portuguese, but not exactly 'slang'. It is perfectly acceptable in most informal and semi-formal conversations.

It is a linguistic simplification common in many Romance languages. Using the imperfect indicative instead of the conditional makes the speech sound more direct and less formal.

Context is usually enough. If the subject isn't clear, Portuguese speakers will include the pronoun: 'Eu dava' or 'Ele dava'.

Yes, specifically for buildings or windows. 'A janela dava para o mar' means the window faced the sea.

They mean the same thing, but 'dava' is much more common. 'Costumava dar' is more emphatic about the habit, like saying 'I was in the habit of giving'.

Yes, it is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries, although the substitution of 'dava' for 'daria' is more frequent in Brazil.

Indirectly. You can say 'O sol dava na varanda' (The sun was hitting the balcony), but you wouldn't use it for 'it was raining'.

It's an idiom meaning something was barely enough to be useful or was of poor quality.

The verb 'dar' is irregular, but its imperfect indicative forms (dava, davas, dava, dávamos, davam) follow the regular '-ar' verb pattern.