Introduction
Learning how to talk about yesterday and tomorrow is one of the first practical steps for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains essential vocabulary, simple verb forms, useful phrases, and realistic examples you can use in everyday conversations, messages, signs, timetables, and travel situations.
- Why talking about time matters
- Key time words
- Basic verbs and forms for beginners
- Common beginner phrases about yesterday
- Common beginner phrases about tomorrow
- Using time expressions with schedules and timetables
- Quick grammar tips for beginners
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practice exercises for beginners
- Everyday context examples
- Simple dialogue examples
- Useful quick-reference cheat sheet
- Resources to continue learning
- Conclusion
Why talking about time matters
Talking about past and future events helps you handle appointments, make plans, explain schedules, and follow basic conversations. For beginners, mastering a few verbs and time words will let you say things like I went to the store yesterday and See you tomorrow with confidence.
Key time words
Start with these core words. The first appearance of each main Portuguese term is highlighted.
ontem — yesterday
hoje — today
amanhã — tomorrow
depois — after, later
anteontem — the day before yesterday
daqui a pouco — in a little while
agora — now
mais tarde — later
Pronunciation tips
Portuguese pronunciation is friendly for English speakers but watch these points. ontem sounds like ON-tem (the t is soft). amanhã has a nasal at the end: ah-ma-NYAH̃. hoje is HO-zhe (zh like pleasure). Practice brief repetitions: ontem, hoje, amanhã.
Basic verbs and forms for beginners
Begin with present tense and simple past expressions. In everyday Portuguese, you can often use the present tense with clear time words to express past or future intent. Below are beginner-friendly verbs and simple conjugations.
Verb ser and estar (to be)
ser and estar both mean to be but are used differently. For basic time phrases you will mostly use estar to say how you are now or to say something is happening now, and ser for defining facts.
Examples:
Estou cansado hoje.
I am tired today.
Ontem foi domingo.
Yesterday was Sunday.
Verb ir (to go) for future plans
ir plus an infinitive is the closest equivalent to the English going to do something. This is extremely useful for talking about tomorrow.
Eu vou viajar amanhã.
I am going to travel tomorrow.
Você vai trabalhar depois?
Are you going to work later?
Simple past: preterite basics
The simple past, or pretérito perfeito, is the most common way to say completed actions like I went, I ate, I saw. For beginners, learn the regular -ar, -er, -ir endings for eu.
Examples:
Eu comi ontem.
I ate yesterday.
Ele viajou ontem.
He traveled yesterday.
Nós vimos o filme anteontem.
We saw the movie the day before yesterday.
Common beginner phrases about yesterday
Here are practical sentences you will use often. Note how time words appear before or after verbs depending on emphasis.
Ontem eu trabalhei até tarde.
Yesterday I worked late.
O restaurante estava fechado ontem.
The restaurant was closed yesterday.
Você foi ao médico ontem?
Did you go to the doctor yesterday?
Ontem à noite choveu muito.
Last night it rained a lot.
Short messages and signs you might see
Signs, menus, and quick messages use simple words. Learn these to understand context.
Fechado ontem — closed yesterday
Horário de ontem — yesterday’s schedule
Fotos de ontem — photos from yesterday
Common beginner phrases about tomorrow
Talking about tomorrow often uses amanhã plus present tense or ir + infinitive for plans.
Amanhã vou ao mercado.
Tomorrow I am going to the market.
Você trabalha amanhã?
Do you work tomorrow?
Reunião marcada para amanhã às 10h.
Meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Using tomorrow in questions and invitations
Simple structures for making plans or checking availability.
Quer sair amanhã?
Want to go out tomorrow?
Podemos nos encontrar amanhã à tarde?
Can we meet tomorrow afternoon?
Using time expressions with schedules and timetables
Schedules and timetables frequently use hoje, ontem, amanhã and specific times. Practice reading and writing these forms to manage travel and services.
Horário de ônibus: hoje às 18h, amanhã às 7h.
Bus schedule: today at 6 p.m., tomorrow at 7 a.m.
Resultado disponível amanhã.
Result available tomorrow.
Entrega feita ontem.
Delivery made yesterday.
Practical example: sending a message
Short messages are common. Here are realistic templates beginners can use or adapt.
Mensagem para amigo: Oi, tudo bem? Amanhã posso te ligar às 9h?
Hi, how are you? Can I call you tomorrow at 9?
Mensagem para colega: Trabalho feito ontem, pode revisar hoje?
Work done yesterday, can you review today?
Quick grammar tips for beginners
Keep these simple rules in mind.
1. To express a past completed action, use the pretérito perfeito. Example: Eu falei ontem.
I spoke yesterday.
2. To indicate future plans, use ir + infinitive: Eu vou estudar amanhã.
I will study tomorrow.
3. Present tense can imply future when combined with a time word: Amanhã tenho uma prova.
Tomorrow I have an exam.
4. Use prepositions for parts of the day: amanhã de manhã, ontem à noite, hoje à tarde.
tomorrow morning, last night, this afternoon.
Remember the accent on amanhã
The nasal tilde in amanhã is important. Without it, the word might be misread. Practice typing and pronouncing the tilde to avoid mistakes.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often mix tenses or omit accents. Here are common errors with corrections.
Mistake: Eu vou viajar ontem.
Correction: Eu viajei ontem.
Explanation: Use past form viaj ei for yesterday, not ir + infinitive.
Mistake: Amanha eu vou.
Correction: Amanhã eu vou.
Explanation: Missing tilde changes pronunciation and is incorrect spelling.
Mistake: Hoje eu fui ao mercado amanhã.
Correction: Hoje eu fui ao mercado. Amanhã eu vou.
Explanation: Keep past and future sentences separate and use appropriate time markers.
Practice exercises for beginners
Try these short exercises to build confidence. Write answers in Portuguese using vocabulary above.
1. Say I studied yesterday. (Answer: Eu estudei ontem.)
2. Ask a friend if they are free tomorrow afternoon. (Answer: Você está livre amanhã à tarde?)
3. Write a short message confirming a meeting tomorrow at 14h. (Answer: Confirmado, nos vemos amanhã às 14h.)
4. Describe what you did the day before yesterday. (Answer example: Anteontem eu fui ao supermercado.)
Listening and reading practice suggestions
Look for simple sources: short voice messages, beginner podcasts, bilingual captions in videos, and children’s stories. Focus on hearing ontem and amanhã in context to internalize usage.
Everyday context examples
Here are realistic lines you might hear in Brazil in shops, transit, and casual conversation.
Na padaria: Fechamos às 20h, voltamos amanhã às 6h.
We close at 8 p.m., we return tomorrow at 6 a.m.
No ponto de ônibus: O ônibus de ontem estava atrasado.
Yesterday’s bus was late.
Com o colega: Eu não pude ontem, mas posso hoje depois do almoço. Amanhã já tenho compromisso.
I couldn’t yesterday, but I can today after lunch. Tomorrow I already have an appointment.
Simple dialogue examples
Short dialogues help memorize patterns. Read aloud and substitute words to practice.
A: Você veio ontem ao evento?
B: Não, fui trabalhar. Vou ao próximo amanhã.
A: Did you come to the event yesterday? — No, I worked. I’ll go to the next one tomorrow.
A: A loja abre amanhã cedo?
B: Sim, abre às 9h.
A: Is the store open early tomorrow? — Yes, it opens at 9 a.m.
Useful quick-reference cheat sheet
Keep these short forms handy on your phone.
Ontem = yesterday
Amanhã = tomorrow
Anteontem = the day before yesterday
Vou + infinitive = going to + verb (future plan)
Pretérito perfeito (eu) = -ei / -i endings for past actions (falei, comi, parti)
Resources to continue learning
Use apps and beginner textbooks that focus on conversation and listening. Choose resources labeled for Brazilian Portuguese learners so you practice with the correct spelling and pronunciation for amanhã, hoje, and ontem.
Conclusion
Mastering how to talk about yesterday and tomorrow in Brazilian Portuguese gives you freedom to describe daily life, make plans, and understand schedules. Focus on the key time words ontem and amanhã, learn the simple past and the ir + infinitive future, practice common phrases, and use short dialogs and messages to build confidence quickly.
