How to ask and answer “When?” in Portuguese beginner sentences

Introduction

Knowing how to ask and answer When in Brazilian Portuguese helps you make plans, understand schedules, and follow everyday conversations. This article teaches simple question words, verb forms, time expressions, and practical examples for beginners. You will learn useful phrases, common responses, and typical mistakes to avoid.

Basic question word for When

The most common word for When in Brazilian Portuguese is quando. Use quando to ask about time in general: dates, days, times, or moments. It works with verbs, nouns, and relative clauses, just like When in English.

Examples of simple questions with quando

Quando é a festa?

Quando você chega?

Quando começa a aula?

Forming beginner-friendly questions

For beginners, focus on two simple structures: question word + verb, and question word + auxiliary + verb for future or habitual actions. Pronouns and polite forms are optional in casual speech.

Question structures

Quando + verb + ?

Quando + subject + verb + ?

Quando + vai + verb (infinitive) + ? for near future

Practical examples and translations

Quando você vai viajar?
When are you going to travel?

Quando abre a loja?
When does the store open?

Quando eu recebo o e-mail?
When will I receive the email?

Common time expressions to answer When

Answers to When often use time words. Learn days, parts of the day, and simple adverbs so you can respond clearly.

Basic time vocabulary

hoje — today

amanhã — tomorrow

ontem — yesterday

hoje à noite — tonight

esta tarde — this afternoon

de manhã — in the morning

de tarde — in the afternoon

de noite — at night

agora — now

daqui a pouco — soon

em uma hora — in one hour

na próxima semana — next week

no sábado — on Saturday

Sample answers using time words

Chego amanhã de manhã.
I arrive tomorrow morning.

A reunião é hoje à tarde.
The meeting is this afternoon.

O filme começa às 20h.
The movie starts at 8 PM.

Vamos nos encontrar daqui a pouco.
We will meet soon.

Using numbers and clock times

Clock times are essential. Brazilian Portuguese uses 24-hour time in formal contexts, but 12-hour with context words is common in speech. Use horas for hours and minutos for minutes.

How to say the time

São duas horas.
It is 2 o’clock.

É uma hora.
It is 1 o’clock.

São três e quinze.
It is 3:15.

São oito e meia.
It is 8:30.

São dez menos dez.
It is 9:50.

Asking about exact times

A que horas é a prova?
What time is the test?

A que horas você almoça?
What time do you eat lunch?

Que horas você chega?
What time do you arrive?

Asking When about dates and days

For dates use quando with months or days, and include the article when necessary. Beginners should learn months and day names.

Months and days (examples)

janeiro, fevereiro, março

segunda-feira, terça-feira, sábado, domingo

Example questions and answers

Quando é seu aniversário?
When is your birthday?

Meu aniversário é em junho.
My birthday is in June.

Quando é a apresentação?
When is the performance?

A apresentação é no sábado.
The performance is on Saturday.

Using verbs for future answers: vai + infinitive

Portuguese often uses the structure vai + infinitive to talk about planned actions soon. This is easy and useful for beginners.

Structure and examples

Quando você vai estudar?
When are you going to study?

Vou estudar amanhã.
I’m going to study tomorrow.

Quando vocês vão sair?
When are you all going out?

Vamos sair às oito.
We are leaving at eight.

Short answers and natural replies

Beginners benefit from short, natural replies in everyday conversations. Practice these to sound fluent.

Common short responses

Agora.
Now.

Mais tarde.
Later.

Daqui a pouco.
Soon.

Hoje.
Today.

Amanhã.
Tomorrow.

Na próxima semana.
Next week.

Em breve.
Shortly.

Question intonation and punctuation

In writing, use a question mark. In speech, raise your intonation at the end of the sentence for yes/no and wh-questions. When practicing, record yourself to check natural intonation.

Yes/no vs question-word patterns

Você vem amanhã?
Are you coming tomorrow?

Quando você vem?
When are you coming?

Common mistakes and beginner tips

Beginners make a few predictable mistakes when asking and answering When. Here are corrections and tips to avoid them.

Mistake 1: using present without time context

Incorrect: Eu vou amanhã agora.
Better: Eu vou amanhã. or Vou agora.
Keep time expressions near the verb they modify.

Mistake 2: forgetting a que before horas

Incorrect: Que horas começa?
Better: A que horas começa? or Que horas são?
Use a que horas for asking when something starts.

Mistake 3: wrong prepositions with dates

Incorrect: Eu vou em sexta.
Better: Eu vou na sexta.
Use na/nao for days and no/na for months with articles: no sábado, em julho.

Beginner tips

Learn the most common time words first: hoje, amanhã, ontem, agora, depois. These appear in many conversations.

Practice a few set phrases like Quando é? and A que horas é? to build confidence.

Listen to short Brazilian Portuguese clips with schedules or appointment dialogs to hear natural speed and intonation.

Practical mini-dialogues for beginners

Use these dialogues as models. Practice both lines, swap roles, and change the time words to make new sentences.

Dialog 1
— Quando é a consulta?
— É amanhã às 9h.

Dialog 2
— Quando você vai ao supermercado?
— Vou hoje à tarde.

Dialog 3
— A que horas começa o filme?
— Começa às 21h.

Dialog 4
— Quando é a reunião?
— Na próxima terça-feira.

Small exercises to practice

Fill in the blank with the best time word.

1. Quando você volta? — _____ (tomorrow/amanhã)

2. Quando é a festa? — _____ (on Saturday/ no sábado)

3. Quando a aula termina? — _____ (at 5 PM/ às 17h)

Try writing three of your own questions about When using different time words and ask a language partner or tutor for corrections.

Conclusion

Asking and answering When in Brazilian Portuguese is simple once you learn quando, basic time words, clock expressions, and simple verb structures like vai + infinitive. Practice short dialogues, learn common time vocabulary, and avoid common preposition errors. With these tools you can schedule plans, read timetables, and understand everyday conversations in Portuguese.