Past Tense (Pretérito Perfeito)
The past tense in Portuguese is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. The Pretérito Perfeito is commonly applied to events that have a definite beginning and end.
Structure
The construction involves using the auxiliary verb “ter” in the past tense combined with the past participle of the main verb. This form is similar to the English present perfect but is used for actions that are strictly completed in the past.
Formula
- Ter (in past tense) + Past Participle
Conjugation of "Ter" in the Pretérito Perfeito
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Eu | tive |
| Tu | tiveste |
| Ele/Ela/Você | teve |
| Nós | tivemos |
| Vós | tivestes |
| Eles/Elas/Vocês | tiveram |
Examples
Regular Verbs
- Falar (to speak)
- Comer (to eat)
- Viver (to live)
Irregular Verbs
- Fazer (to do/make)
- Escrever (to write)
Usage Notes
- The “ter + past participle” structure emphasizes the completion of an action in the past.
- It is similar to the "had" construction in English but often serves to highlight that the action was fully completed.
- The form is not as commonly used as the simple Pretérito Perfeito ("Eu falei," "Eu comi"), but it can be useful for specific emphasis or in more formal contexts.
Common Past Participles
Here’s a list of common verbs with their past participles to help you construct sentences:
| Verb | Past Participle |
|---|---|
| Abrir | aberto |
| Dizer | dito |
| Ver | visto |
| Pôr | posto |
| Descobrir | descoberto |
Example Sentences
- Eu tive feito meu trabalho antes de sair. (I had done my work before leaving.)
- Ela teve visto o filme ontem. (She had seen the movie yesterday.)
The "ter + past participle" construction is a valuable tool in Portuguese to convey the idea of completed actions with an element of past relevance or emphasis.