Revision of Basic Tenses: Present, Past, and Future

In this guide, we'll review the basic tenses in Portuguese: present, past, and future. We'll cover the simple, progressive, and perfect variations of these tenses to help you solidify your understanding. Let's dive in!

Present Tense

The present tense is used to express actions happening in the current moment or habitual actions. Here's a breakdown of the different variations:

1. Simple present: Used for general statements and habitual actions.
   • Examples:
     • Eu trabalho - I work.
     • Ela estuda - She studies.
2. Present progressive: Used for actions happening right now.
   • Examples:
     • Eu estou trabalhando - I am working.
     • Ela está estudando - She is studying.
3. Present perfect: Used for actions that started in the past and are still relevant.
   • Examples:
     • Eu tenho trabalhado - I have been working.
     • Ela tem estudado - She has been studying.

Past Tense

The past tense is used to talk about actions that have already happened. Here's how you can express the past tense:

1. Simple past: Used for specific actions that occurred in the past.
   • Examples:
     • Eu trabalhei - I worked.
     • Ela estudou - She studied.
2. Past progressive: Used for actions that were ongoing in the past.
   • Examples:
     • Eu estava trabalhando - I was working.
     • Ela estava estudando - She was studying.
3. Past perfect: Used for actions that occurred before another past action.
   • Examples:
     • Eu tinha trabalhado - I had worked.
     • Ela tinha estudado - She had studied.

Future Tense

The future tense is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future. Here are the different ways to express the future tense:

1. Simple future: Used for actions that will occur in the future, without specifying duration.
   • Examples:
     • Eu trabalharei - I will work.
     • Ela estudará - She will study.
2. Future progressive: Used for actions that will be ongoing in the future.
   • Examples:
     • Eu estarei trabalhando - I will be working.
     • Ela estará estudando - She will be studying.
3. Future perfect: Used for actions that will be completed before a future reference point.
   • Examples:
     • Eu terei trabalhado - I will have worked.
     • Ela terá estudado - She will have studied.

Key Points to Remember

• The present tense is used for current and habitual actions, while the past tense is for actions that have already happened.
• The future tense is used for actions that will happen in the future.
• Pay attention to the variations of each tense: simple, progressive, and perfect, as they convey different nuances of time and duration.

By reviewing and understanding these basic tenses, you'll have a solid foundation for expressing yourself in Portuguese. Practice using these tenses in various contexts to become more comfortable with them. Boa sorte! (Good luck!)