Portuguese conjugation explanation

Forming the imperfect and future subjunctive verb forms

<p>One of the most useful "shortcuts" in Portuguese grammar is the connection between the Preterite tense and the Subjunctive tenses. If you know the irregular forms in the Preterite, you automatically know how to form the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/9/" target="_blank">Imperfect Subjunctive</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/10/" target="_blank">Future Subjunctive</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The Golden Rule</div>

<p>Both the Imperfect and Future Subjunctive stems are formed by taking the <strong>third-person plural (P/3)</strong> form of the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/2/" target="_blank">Preterite Indicative</a>

<p>Let's look at the regular verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/falar/" title="Click to see conjugations for falar" target="_blank">falar</a>

<ul>

<li>

<div>1. Start with Preterite P/3:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eles <span class="brown_emphasis">falaram</span></div>

</li>

<li>

<div>2. Remove <strong>-ram</strong> to find the stem:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">falaram &#8594; <strong>fala-</strong></div>

</li>

<li>

<div>3. Add the new tense suffix (e.g., <strong>-sse</strong> for Imperfect, <strong>-r</strong> for Future):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Imperfect Subjunctive: <span class="green_emphasis">falasse</span></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Future Subjunctive: <span class="green_emphasis">falar</span></div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Comparison Tables</div>

<p>Notice how the stem <span style="font-style: italic;">fala-</span> is present in both tenses below. Pay attention to the <strong>accent mark</strong> on the <span style="font-style: italic;">nós</span> (we) form of the Imperfect Subjunctive (<span style="font-style: italic;">-assemos</span>), which is required to maintain the stress.</p>

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<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/9/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo</a>

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se eu

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sse</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se tu

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sses</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se ele

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sse</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se nós

</span>falá<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ssemos</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se vós

</span>falá<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sseis</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se eles

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ssem</span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/10/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futuro do Subjuntivo</a>

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando eu

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">r</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando tu

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">res</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando ele

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">r</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando nós

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rmos</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando vós

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rdes</span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando eles

</span>fala<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rem</span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Irregular Verbs</div>

<p>This rule is most powerful with irregular verbs. Even if a verb changes completely in the Preterite, the Subjunctive forms will always follow the Preterite P/3 stem. If you can conjugate <span style="font-style: italic;">eles</span> in the Preterite, you can form these tenses.</p>

<p>Here are some common regular and irregular verbs demonstrating this pattern:</p>

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<div class="three_column_table">

<div><strong>Verb</strong></div>

<div><strong>Preterite P/3</strong></div>

<div><strong>Resulting Stem</strong></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/achar/" title="Click to see conjugations for achar" target="_blank">achar</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">acharam</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">acha-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/compor/" title="Click to see conjugations for compor" target="_blank">compor</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">compuseram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">compuse-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dizer/" title="Click to see conjugations for dizer" target="_blank">dizer</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">disseram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">disse-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/estar/" title="Click to see conjugations for estar" target="_blank">estar</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">estiveram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">estive-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/fazer/" title="Click to see conjugations for fazer" target="_blank">fazer</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">fizeram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">fize-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ir" target="_blank">ir</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">foram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">fo-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/poder/" title="Click to see conjugations for poder" target="_blank">poder</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">puderam</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">pude-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/p%C3%B4r/" title="Click to see conjugations for pôr" target="_blank">pôr</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">puseram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">puse-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/saber/" title="Click to see conjugations for saber" target="_blank">saber</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">souberam</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">soube-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for ter" target="_blank">ter</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">tiveram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">tive-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/trazer/" title="Click to see conjugations for trazer" target="_blank">trazer</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">trouxeram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">trouxe-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ver/" title="Click to see conjugations for ver" target="_blank">ver</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">viram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">vi-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/vir/" title="Click to see conjugations for vir" target="_blank">vir</a>

<div><span class="brown_emphasis">vieram</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">vie-</span></div>

</div>

</div>

<p>For example, let's look at the highly irregular verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for ter" target="_blank">ter</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/9/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo</a>

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<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

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<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se eu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sse</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sses</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se ele

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sse</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se nós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tivé<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ssemos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se vós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tivé<span style="text-decoration: underline;">sseis</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

se eles

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ssem</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

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<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/10/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Futuro do Subjuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando eu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">r</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">res</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando ele

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">r</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando nós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rmos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando vós

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rdes</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

quando eles

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tive<span style="text-decoration: underline;">rem</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

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