Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo (Imperfect Indicative Tense)
The pretérito imperfeito do indicativo is used to describe habitual actions, ongoing past actions, or background descriptions in the past.
Mood:
The indicative mood expresses actions that are factual and certain.
The imperfect tense in the indicative mood describes past actions that were repeated, continuous, or in progress, and sets the scene for other past events.
- Indicative mood = certainty, facts, reality
- Imperfect tense = habitual, ongoing, or descriptive past
Usage:
- To describe habitual past actions: Eu jogava futebol todos os dias. (I used to play football every day.)
- To describe ongoing past actions: Ela estudava quando eu cheguei. (She was studying when I arrived.)
- To give background descriptions: A casa era grande e bonita. (The house was big and beautiful.)
Regular Conjugation (Indicative):
| Person | AR Verbs | ER Verbs | IR Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eu (I) | falava | comia | partia |
| Tu (you, sg.) | falavas | comias | partias |
| Ele/Ela/Você | falava | comia | partia |
| Nós (we) | falávamos | comíamos | partíamos |
| Vós (you, pl.) | faláveis | comíeis | partíeis |
| Eles/Elas/Vocês | falavam | comiam | partiam |
Irregular Verbs:
Most verbs are regular in the pretérito imperfeito, but some common ones are irregular:
| Verb | Eu form | Nós form |
|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | era | éramos |
| ter (to have) | tinha | tínhamos |
| vir (to come) | vinha | vínhamos |
| pôr (to put) | punha | púnhamos |
Common Time Expressions:
- Sempre (always)
- Todos os dias (every day)
- Naquela época (at that time)
- Antigamente (in the past / formerly)
- Enquanto (while)
Examples:
- Eu morava em Lisboa quando era criança. (I lived in Lisbon when I was a child.)
- Nós íamos à praia todos os verões. (We used to go to the beach every summer.)
- Ela lia um livro quando o telefone tocou. (She was reading a book when the phone rang.)
