The Preterite vs Imperfect in Portuguese Grammar

Introduction

One of the most challenging aspects of learning Portuguese is understanding when to use the preterite versus the imperfect past tense. These two verb forms allow speakers to express different types of past actions and states, each serving a unique purpose in storytelling and conversation. Mastering this distinction is essential for achieving fluency and expressing yourself naturally in Portuguese.

Understanding the Two Past Tenses

Portuguese uses two primary past tenses to describe actions and states that occurred before the present moment. The pretérito perfeito (preterite) and the pretérito imperfeito (imperfect) each convey different aspects of past events. While English often uses the same simple past tense for various situations, Portuguese requires speakers to choose between these forms based on how they perceive and want to present past actions.

The fundamental distinction lies in how these tenses frame time. The pretérito perfeito presents actions as completed events with defined beginnings and endings, while the pretérito imperfeito describes ongoing states, habitual actions, or background circumstances without emphasizing their completion.

The Pretérito Perfeito: Completed Actions

The preterite tense, known as pretérito perfeito in Portuguese, describes actions that were completed at a specific moment in the past. This tense emphasizes that something happened, finished, and is no longer ongoing. Think of it as a snapshot of a completed event.

When to Use the Preterite

Use the pretérito perfeito for actions that:

Occurred at a specific time in the past
Eu acordei às sete horas ontem. (I woke up at seven o’clock yesterday.)
Nós visitamos o museu na semana passada. (We visited the museum last week.)

Had a clear beginning and end
Ela estudou português por três anos. (She studied Portuguese for three years.)
O filme começou às oito e terminou às dez. (The movie started at eight and ended at ten.)

Represent a sequence of completed events
Ele chegou em casa, tirou os sapatos e sentou no sofá. (He arrived home, took off his shoes, and sat on the sofa.)
Eu acordei, tomei café e saí para o trabalho. (I woke up, had coffee, and left for work.)

Conjugation Patterns

Regular verbs in the pretérito perfeito follow predictable patterns based on their infinitive endings.

For -ar verbs like falar (to speak):
Eu falei, você falou, ele/ela falou, nós falamos, vocês falaram, eles/elas falaram

For -er verbs like comer (to eat):
Eu comi, você comeu, ele/ela comeu, nós comemos, vocês comeram, eles/elas comeram

For -ir verbs like abrir (to open):
Eu abri, você abriu, ele/ela abriu, nós abrimos, vocês abriram, eles/elas abriram

The Pretérito Imperfeito: Ongoing and Habitual Actions

The imperfect tense, called pretérito imperfeito, paints a picture of the past without emphasizing completion. It describes what was happening, what used to happen regularly, or what things were like during a past period. This tense creates the background setting for past events.

When to Use the Imperfect

Use the pretérito imperfeito for actions or states that:

Were ongoing or in progress in the past
Eu estudava quando você ligou. (I was studying when you called.)
Eles conversavam no jardim. (They were talking in the garden.)

Occurred habitually or repeatedly
Quando eu era criança, eu brincava na rua todos os dias. (When I was a child, I used to play in the street every day.)
Nós íamos à praia todo verão. (We would go to the beach every summer.)

Describe physical or emotional states
Ela estava feliz naquele dia. (She was happy that day.)
O céu estava azul e o sol brilhava. (The sky was blue and the sun was shining.)

Provide background information or set the scene
Era uma noite fria. As estrelas brilhavam no céu. (It was a cold night. The stars were shining in the sky.)
A casa tinha três quartos e um jardim grande. (The house had three bedrooms and a large garden.)

Express age in the past
Eu tinha vinte anos quando me formei. (I was twenty years old when I graduated.)
Meu avô tinha setenta anos. (My grandfather was seventy years old.)

Conjugation Patterns

The pretérito imperfeito has very regular conjugation patterns, with only a few irregular verbs.

For -ar verbs like falar:
Eu falava, você falava, ele/ela falava, nós falávamos, vocês falavam, eles/elas falavam

For -er verbs like comer:
Eu comia, você comia, ele/ela comia, nós comíamos, vocês comiam, eles/elas comiam

For -ir verbs like abrir:
Eu abria, você abria, ele/ela abria, nós abríamos, vocês abríam, eles/elas abriam

Comparing the Two Tenses Side by Side

Understanding the practical difference between these tenses becomes clearer when we see them used in similar contexts. The choice between pretérito perfeito and pretérito imperfeito can change the meaning or emphasis of a sentence.

Completed Action vs Ongoing State

Ontem choveu. (Yesterday it rained.) – This indicates that the rain happened and stopped.
Ontem chovia quando saí de casa. (Yesterday it was raining when I left home.) – This describes rain as the background condition.

Eu morei em São Paulo por dois anos. (I lived in São Paulo for two years.) – The period of living there is finished.
Eu morava em São Paulo. (I used to live in São Paulo.) – This emphasizes the state of living there without focusing on when it ended.

Single Event vs Repeated Action

Eu fui ao cinema ontem. (I went to the cinema yesterday.) – A single, completed trip.
Eu ia ao cinema todo sábado. (I used to go to the cinema every Saturday.) – A habitual action.

Ela leu um livro. (She read a book.) – She finished reading a specific book.
Ela lia muito quando era jovem. (She used to read a lot when she was young.) – A habitual past action.

Using Both Tenses Together

Native speakers frequently combine both tenses in the same sentence or narrative. The pretérito imperfeito typically sets the scene or describes what was happening, while the pretérito perfeito introduces the main action or event that interrupts or occurs within that context.

Background and Main Action

Eu estudava quando meu amigo chegou. (I was studying when my friend arrived.)
In this sentence, studying provides the background (estudava in the imperfect), and the arrival is the main completed event (chegou in the preterite).

Nós conversávamos no parque quando começou a chover. (We were talking in the park when it started to rain.)
The conversation sets the scene (imperfect), while the rain starting is the interrupting event (preterite).

Ela esperava o ônibus quando viu um acidente. (She was waiting for the bus when she saw an accident.)
Waiting is the ongoing action (imperfect), and seeing is the sudden event (preterite).

Storytelling with Both Tenses

When telling stories, Portuguese speakers naturally weave both tenses together. The imperfect describes the setting, characters, and circumstances, while the preterite moves the story forward with specific actions.

Era uma manhã ensolarada. Os pássaros cantavam e as crianças brincavam no parque. De repente, um cachorro apareceu e correu em direção às crianças. Uma menina gritou e todos correram para longe.

(It was a sunny morning. The birds were singing and the children were playing in the park. Suddenly, a dog appeared and ran toward the children. A girl screamed and everyone ran away.)

Notice how era, cantavam, and brincavam (all imperfect) establish the peaceful scene, while apareceu, correu, gritou, and correram (all preterite) describe the sequence of completed actions that changed the situation.

Special Cases and Common Verbs

Some verbs have meanings that can shift slightly depending on which past tense is used. Understanding these nuances helps learners sound more natural and avoid misunderstandings.

Ser and Estar

The verbs ser and estar (both meaning to be) frequently appear in both tenses, but with different implications.

Ele foi meu professor. (He was my teacher.) – This relationship is finished.
Ele era meu professor. (He was my teacher.) – Emphasis on the ongoing state during that period.

Ela esteve doente ontem. (She was sick yesterday.) – She was sick but is better now.
Ela estava doente. (She was sick.) – Describes her state without emphasizing the completion.

Ter and Haver

Eu tive uma ideia. (I had an idea.) – A sudden moment of inspiration.
Eu tinha muitos amigos. (I used to have many friends.) – Describes a past state.

Houve um problema ontem. (There was a problem yesterday.) – A specific incident occurred.
Havia muitas pessoas na festa. (There were many people at the party.) – Describes the situation.

Querer, Poder, and Saber

These verbs can subtly change meaning based on the tense used.

Eu quis ajudar. (I tried to help.) – Attempted action.
Eu queria ajudar. (I wanted to help.) – Desired state, not necessarily acted upon.

Ela pôde vir à festa. (She managed to come to the party.) – Successfully accomplished.
Ela podia vir à festa. (She could come to the party.) – Had the ability or permission.

Eu soube a notícia ontem. (I found out the news yesterday.) – The moment of learning.
Eu sabia a resposta. (I knew the answer.) – I possessed the knowledge.

Time Expressions That Guide Tense Choice

Certain time expressions commonly appear with one tense or the other, providing helpful clues for learners.

Expressions Common with the Preterite

These phrases typically signal completed actions:

Ontem (yesterday), anteontem (the day before yesterday)
Eu vi um filme ontem. (I watched a movie yesterday.)

Na semana passada (last week), no mês passado (last month), no ano passado (last year)
Nós viajamos para o Rio no mês passado. (We traveled to Rio last month.)

De repente (suddenly), naquele momento (at that moment)
De repente, ela levantou e saiu. (Suddenly, she got up and left.)

Uma vez (once), duas vezes (twice)
Eu encontrei com ela duas vezes. (I met with her twice.)

Expressions Common with the Imperfect

These phrases often accompany habitual or ongoing actions:

Sempre (always), nunca (never) – when describing habits
Eu sempre estudava à noite. (I always used to study at night.)

Todos os dias (every day), todo sábado (every Saturday)
Nós íamos à praia todos os domingos. (We would go to the beach every Sunday.)

Geralmente (usually), frequentemente (frequently)
Ele chegava geralmente às oito horas. (He usually would arrive at eight o’clock.)

Enquanto (while), quando (when) – for ongoing actions
Enquanto eu cozinhava, ela lia um livro. (While I was cooking, she was reading a book.)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even advanced learners sometimes struggle with choosing the correct past tense. Being aware of common errors can help you avoid them.

Using Preterite for Habitual Actions

Incorrect: Quando eu fui jovem, eu estudei muito.
Correct: Quando eu era jovem, eu estudava muito. (When I was young, I used to study a lot.)

Habitual past actions require the imperfect tense, not the preterite.

Using Imperfect for Completed Single Events

Incorrect: Ontem eu ia ao supermercado.
Correct: Ontem eu fui ao supermercado. (Yesterday I went to the supermarket.)

A single completed trip requires the preterite.

Forgetting to Use Imperfect for Age

Incorrect: Eu tive vinte anos quando me formei.
Correct: Eu tinha vinte anos quando me formei. (I was twenty years old when I graduated.)

Age in the past is always expressed with the imperfect of ter.

Missing the Background-Action Distinction

Incorrect: Eu estudei quando meu amigo chegou.
Better: Eu estudava quando meu amigo chegou. (I was studying when my friend arrived.)

The ongoing background action takes the imperfect, while the interrupting event takes the preterite.

Practice Strategies for Mastery

Developing a natural feel for these tenses requires consistent practice and exposure to authentic Portuguese.

Reading and Analyzing Stories

Read Portuguese stories, articles, or novels and pay attention to how authors use both tenses. Notice which verbs appear in the preterite and which in the imperfect. Try to understand why the author made each choice.

Retelling Your Day

Practice describing your daily activities using both tenses. Describe habitual actions with the imperfect and specific completed events with the preterite. For example, talk about what you usually do in the mornings (imperfect) versus what you specifically did this morning (preterite).

Creating Stories

Write short narratives in Portuguese, consciously alternating between setting scenes (imperfect) and moving the plot forward (preterite). Start with simple stories and gradually increase complexity.

Listening to Native Speakers

Watch Portuguese movies, television shows, or listen to podcasts. Pay attention to how native speakers naturally combine both tenses in conversation and storytelling. Try to repeat sentences you hear, maintaining the original tense choices.

Cultural Context and Usage Variations

While the fundamental distinction between these tenses remains consistent throughout the Portuguese-speaking world, understanding some cultural and regional nuances enriches your comprehension.

Storytelling Traditions

Portuguese speakers have a rich tradition of oral storytelling, and the interplay between the pretérito perfeito and pretérito imperfeito is essential to this art form. Folk tales, family stories, and everyday anecdotes all rely on this contrast to create vivid narratives that engage listeners.

Conversation Styles

In informal conversation, Brazilians might sometimes use the present perfect or simple present in ways that differ from formal writing. However, the distinction between preterite and imperfect remains important for clear communication and is consistently observed in spoken language.

Regional Variations

While verb conjugations remain largely consistent across different regions, some areas may show preferences for certain expressions or phrasings. Nevertheless, the fundamental rules for using these tenses apply throughout the Portuguese-speaking world.

Advanced Applications

As learners progress, they can explore more sophisticated uses of these tenses.

Expressing Politeness

The imperfect can soften requests or statements, making them more polite:
Eu queria um café, por favor. (I would like a coffee, please.)
Podia me ajudar? (Could you help me?)

Hypothetical Past Situations

The imperfect often appears in conditional sentences discussing hypothetical past scenarios:
Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu viajaria. (If I had money, I would travel.)

Literary and Formal Writing

In formal or literary contexts, the careful use of both tenses creates texture and depth in writing. Understanding when to slow down with descriptive imperfect passages and when to advance with preterite actions is key to effective composition.

Building Confidence

Mastering the distinction between these tenses takes time and practice. Even if you make mistakes initially, Portuguese speakers will appreciate your efforts to communicate and will usually understand your intended meaning from context.

Remember that learning these tenses is a gradual process. Start by focusing on the most common situations: use the preterite for completed actions with specific time references and the imperfect for habitual actions and ongoing states. As you gain confidence, you will naturally develop a better feel for the subtle distinctions.

The key is consistent exposure and practice. Every conversation, every story you read, and every sentence you construct helps strengthen your understanding. Over time, choosing between these tenses will become increasingly intuitive.

Resources for Continued Learning

To continue developing your skills with these verb tenses, consider incorporating various learning resources into your study routine. Portuguese textbooks designed for learners often include dedicated chapters with exercises specifically focused on past tense usage. Online platforms offer interactive exercises where you can practice conjugations and choose between tenses in context.

Language exchange with native speakers provides invaluable real-world practice. Don’t hesitate to ask your conversation partners to correct your tense usage. Most native speakers enjoy helping learners and can offer insights into why certain tenses feel more natural in specific situations.

Reading materials at your level, from graded readers to news articles written in simpler Portuguese, expose you to authentic usage patterns. Start with content slightly below your current level to build confidence, then gradually tackle more challenging texts.

Conclusion

The distinction between the pretérito perfeito and pretérito imperfeito is fundamental to expressing yourself clearly in Portuguese. While it may seem challenging at first, understanding that the preterite emphasizes completed actions and the imperfect describes ongoing states and habitual actions provides a reliable framework. With consistent practice, attention to authentic language use, and patience with yourself as you learn, you will develop an intuitive sense for when to use each tense, bringing you closer to fluency in Portuguese.