Introduction
Understanding simple time words is one of the fastest ways to sound natural in Brazilian Portuguese. This lesson focuses on how to use agora, depois, and antes. You will learn meanings, differences, sentence placement, common expressions, beginner tips, and realistic examples for everyday conversations, signs, menus, schedules, and messages.
Basic meanings and quick guide
Agora means now or right now. Use it to describe the present moment or immediate actions.
Depois means after, later, or afterwards. Use it for something that happens following another event or at a later time.
Antes means before or earlier. Use it for something that happens prior to another event or at an earlier time.
Why these words matter for beginners
These three words appear everywhere: spoken Portuguese, bus timetables, restaurant menus, appointment confirmations, and simple messages. Using them correctly lets you make plans, understand schedules, and follow instructions.
Agora: present and immediate actions
Agora is used for actions happening now or very soon. It can be precise (right now) or approximate (today, in a moment).
Placement: Agora usually appears at the beginning or middle of a sentence, and it can come before or after the verb depending on emphasis.
Examples:
Agora eu estou no ônibus.
Translation: I am on the bus right now.
Você pode falar agora?
Translation: Can you speak now?
Eu vou atender agora.
Translation: I’ll answer now.
Common expressions with agora:
agora mesmo — right now, at this very moment
daqui a pouco / daqui a pouco agora — in a little while (note: daqui a pouco is another common phrase learners will encounter; it means soon)
Practical uses of agora
At a café: Quero um café agora, por favor. (I want a coffee now, please.)
On a phone: Estou dirigindo agora, te ligo depois. (I’m driving right now, I’ll call you later.)
On a sign or form: Atendimento agora aberto. (Service open now.)
Depois: later or after
Depois indicates something that happens after a specific time or event. It can refer to a sequence (first this, depois that) or a future time (later today, later on another day).
Placement: Depois usually follows the verb or the clause it modifies but can also appear at the start of a sentence for emphasis.
Examples:
Eu vou estudar depois do trabalho.
Translation: I will study after work.
Vamos almoçar agora e conversar depois.
Translation: Let’s eat now and talk later.
Ele chegou e depois saiu.
Translation: He arrived and then left.
Specific time with depois
To specify after a particular time or event, use depois de + noun or verb infinitive with preposition de.
Examples:
Depois do filme, vamos caminhar.
Translation: After the movie, we’ll walk.
Vou ligar depois de trabalhar.
Translation: I’ll call after working.
Antes: before or earlier
Antes is the opposite of depois. It marks something happening earlier in time or prior to another action or event.
Placement: Antes commonly goes before the verb or clause it modifies, but it can also start the sentence for emphasis.
Examples:
Eu comi antes de sair.
Translation: I ate before leaving.
Chegue cinco minutos antes.
Translation: Arrive five minutes early.
Antes de dormir, eu leio um pouco.
Translation: Before sleeping, I read a little.
Before with verbs: antes de + infinitive
When linking before to a verb, use antes de + infinitive. This is a fixed and very common pattern.
Examples:
Antes de começar, confirme os documentos.
Translation: Before starting, confirm the documents.
Feche a porta antes de sair.
Translation: Close the door before leaving.
Comparing agora, depois, and antes in sentences
Practice seeing them together in realistic sequences to understand order and nuance.
Examples:
Agora eu estou no supermercado. Depois vou para casa. Antes de ir ao supermercado, eu peguei meu celular.
Translation: Right now I’m at the supermarket. Later I’ll go home. Before going to the supermarket, I grabbed my phone.
Ela estuda agora. Depois estuda com os colegas. Antes estudava sozinha.
Translation: She studies now. Later she studies with classmates. Before, she used to study alone.
Nuances and common beginner confusions
Confusion 1: Using depois de vs depois que. Depois de + noun or infinitive is the safest and most common structure for beginners. Depois que + conjugated verb is also correct for completed actions but appears in more advanced conversation.
Confusion 2: agora vs já. Agora means now. Já can mean already or now depending on context. Example: Eu já estou pronto (I am already ready). Agora estou pronto (I am ready right now).
Confusion 3: antes vs antes de. Use antes de + infinitive for verbs. Antes alone often modifies a noun or is used adverbially: eu cheguei antes (I arrived earlier).
Common phrases and vocabulary to memorize
agora mesmo — right now
daqui a pouco — in a little while / soon
logo depois — shortly after
bem antes — well before / way before
um pouco antes — a little before
mais tarde — later
Simple dialogs for beginners
At the bus stop:
Pessoa A: O ônibus já saiu?
Pessoa B: Não, está vindo agora.
Translation: Person A: Has the bus already left? Person B: No, it is coming now.
Making plans by message:
Mensagem: Posso sair agora?
Resposta: Saia agora e depois me manda uma foto.
Translation: Message: Can I leave now? Response: Leave now and then send me a photo.
Beginner tips for learning and remembering
Create three short sticky notes: agora, depois, antes. Place them on your desk and write one example sentence under each. Repeat the sentences out loud while performing the action (e.g., say agora eu almoço while eating).
When reading schedules or menus, look for these words: agora, depois, antes to practice quick comprehension. For example, a schedule might say Chega às 14h e parte às 14h15 — deixe algo antes do embarque (leave something before boarding).
Listen for word order in native speech. Record simple sentences of your own and compare with online native-speaker examples to check rhythm and placement.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: Saying antes de eu sair instead of antes de sair. Fix: Use antes de + infinitive: antes de sair.
Mistake: Using depois for immediate action. Fix: Use agora or daqui a pouco for near-immediate timing. Example wrong: Eu faço depois (meaning right now). Better: Eu faço agora or Eu faço daqui a pouco.
Mistake: Mixing já and agora. Fix: Decide if you mean already (já) or right now (agora). Example: Já posso ir? (Can I go already?) Agora posso ir? (Can I go now?)
Mini practice exercise
Fill in the blank aloud or write your answers. Use agora, depois, or antes.
1. Eu vou ao médico _____ do trabalho. (after work)
2. _____ de sair, pegue a chave. (before leaving)
3. Você pode falar _____? (right now)
Answers: 1. depois 2. antes 3. agora
Conclusion
Agora, depois, and antes are small words with big impact. Mastering their basic meanings, common patterns like antes de + infinitive and depois de + noun, and natural placement in sentences will improve your everyday Portuguese comprehension and speaking. Use the examples, mini exercises, and tips above in realistic contexts like messages, schedules, and daily routines to build confidence quickly.
