Portuguese Imperfect Past

22 de March de 2013

Portuguese Imperfect Past

Hi, everybody! For our Dica today, we are going to talk about the conjugation of regular verbs in the Portuguese Imperfect Past.

All verbs have a regular conjugation in theΒ imperfect past, except for the irregular verbs: ser, ter, vir and pΓ΄r.

Today, we’re going to study the conjugations of verbs ending in –ar, –erΒ e –ir.

Conjugation of verbs ending in AR

Portuguese Imperfect Past. ConjugaΓ§Γ£o de Morar.

Conjugation of the verbs ending in ER and IR

Portuguese Imperfect Past. ConjugaΓ§Γ£o de Vender
Portuguese Imperfect Past. ConjugaΓ§Γ£o de Partir

There are many different uses for the Portuguese Imperfect Past. Let’s take a look at each one of them:

A habit in the past

Quando eu era crianΓ§a, brincava com meus amigos.
When I was a kid, I used to play with my friends.

NΓ³s sempre comprΓ‘vamos nesta loja.
We always boughtΒ things in this store.

An interrupted action in the past

Eu estava limpando a casa quando ela chegou na cozinha.
I was cleaning the house when she arrived in the kitchen.

JosΓ©, Pedro e Junior iam juntos para a escola, quando comeΓ§ou a chover.
JosΓ©, Pedro and Junior went to school together when it started to rain.

Simultaneous actions in the past

Enquanto eu estudava, elaΒ sΓ³ dormia e ia pra praia.
While I studied, she only slept and went to the beach.

Eles sempre cantavam aquela mΓΊsica enquanto nΓ³s danΓ§Γ‘vamos.
They always sang that song while we danced.

An unfulfilled action

Eu ia dar um discurso, masΒ nΓ£o tive oportunidade.
I was going to give a speech, but I didn’t have the opportunity.

NΓ³s Γ­amos comerΒ aqui, mas estΓ‘ muito caro.
We were going to eat here, but it’s too expensive.

A repetitive event in the past

Quando terminamos oΒ namoro, eu chorava toda horaΒ sem parar.
When we broke up, I cried all the time without stopping.

Eu estava cansado todos os dias, por isso dormia cedo.
I used to be tired every day, that’s why I went to bedΒ early.

Describing actions, people, or things in the past

Ela tinha os cabelos longosΒ e era muito bonita.
She had long hair andΒ was very pretty.

Ontem, o dia estava Γ³timoΒ pra praia.
Yesterday, the day was perfect for the beach.

A period in the past

We can also use the Imperfect Past when we are speaking about a period of time in the past, even if it’s not a habit or a repeated action.

Onde vocΓͺ estava semana passada?
Where were you last week?

Como vocΓͺ estava ontem?
How were you yesterday?

Alright, guys? Does it make sense now?

Let’s practice what we have just learned with a small exercise!

Β Now it’s your turn!

Complete each sentence with the Portuguese Imperfect Past:

  1. (beber) Antigamente, eu ______ muito.
  2. (ser/ correr) Quando nΓ³s ______ crianΓ§as, ________ todos os dias na praΓ§a do bairro.
  3. (estar) Quando ele chegou, ela ______ dormindo.
  4. (ter) Antigamente, eu ______ muito dinheiro.
  5. (ir/ estar) Ontem, eu ______ para a praia, mas ______ chovendo, decidi ficar em casa.
  6. (comprar) No ano passado, eu _______ tudo naquela loja.
  7. (estar) VocΓͺ ______ em casa na noite passada?
  8. (estar) Esse fim de semana eu nΓ£o _______ muito bem para sair.

That’s all, folks! Now you better understand the Imperfect Past conjugation of regularΒ verbs in Portuguese.
See you in our next Dica!
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Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Portuguese Perfect and Imperfect
Portuguese Paste Tense Exercises
Enquanto in Portuguese
Portuguese Imperfect Irregular Verbs

Answers

  1. bebia
  2. Γ©ramos / corrΓ­amos
  3. estava
  4. tinha
  5. ia / estava
  6. comprava
  7. estava
  8. estava