Imperfect Tense in Portuguese

Overview

Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfeito) is a elementary (CEFR A2) topic in Portuguese grammar. Past tense for habitual actions, descriptions, ongoing states. Regular endings: -AR (-ava, -avas, -ava, -ávamos...), -ER/-IR (-ia, -ias, -ia, -íamos...). Few irregulars: ser, ter, vir, pôr.

Understanding imperfect tense is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A2 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering imperfect tense will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Regular imperfect conjugation:

Person	-AR (falar)	-ER (comer)	-IR (partir)
eu	falava	comia	partia
tu	falavas	comias	partias
ele/ela	falava	comia	partia
nos	falavamos	comiamos	partiamos
eles/elas	falavam	comiam	partiam

Only four irregular imperfects: ser (era), ter (tinha), vir (vinha), por (punha).

Uses: habits (Sempre comia as duas), descriptions (Fazia bom tempo), ongoing actions (Lia quando telefonou), age/time (Tinha dez anos).

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Quando era criança...	When I was a child...
Fazia bom tempo.	The weather was nice.
Morávamos em Lisboa.	We used to live in Lisbon.
Sempre comia às duas.	I always used to eat at two.
Vivia em Lisboa.	I used to live in Lisbon.
Tinha dez anos.	I was ten.	age
Lia enquanto comia.	Reading while eating.	simultaneous
Queria um cafe.	I would like a coffee.	polite
Punha a mesa.	Used to set the table.	irregular

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong tense for the context

• Wrong: Choosing a different past or future tense when imperfect tense is required
• Right: Identify the specific temporal meaning before selecting the tense
• Why: Each Portuguese tense carries a distinct meaning about when and how an action occurred. Imperfect Tense is used in specific contexts that differ from related tenses.

Forgetting irregular forms

• Wrong: Applying regular conjugation patterns to irregular verbs
• Right: Memorize the irregular forms for common verbs in this tense
• Why: Many of the most frequently used Portuguese verbs are irregular and must be learned individually.

Mixing up register levels

• Wrong: Using very formal tense forms in casual conversation
• Right: Match your tense choice to the formality of the situation
• Why: Some forms are more common in speech while others are preferred in writing. Using the wrong register can sound awkward.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A2 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, imperfect tense is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice imperfect tense with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using imperfect tense and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Preterite (Pretérito Perfeito) -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for imperfect tense
• Next steps: Preterite vs Imperfect -- builds on imperfect tense concepts
• Next steps: Indirect Speech -- builds on imperfect tense concepts