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Study Resource: Conjugation of ‘ter’ and ‘haver’ in the imperfect subjunctive

By: Ana Amélia Rodrigues dos Santos

The Brazilian Portuguese verbs ter and haver both mean “have” and may both be used as the auxiliary verb in the past perfect subjunctive, as long as they are used in their imperfect subjunctive form. However, haver is much more formal.

Conjugation of ‘ter’ in the imperfect subjunctive

*This is a very formal form of “you” that is rarely used in Brazilian Portuguese.
Subject Pronounster meaning to have

eu meaning I

tivesse

tu meaning you

tivesses

você meaning you, sg.
ele meaning he, it
ela meaning she, it

tivesse

nós meaning we

tivéssemos

vós* meaning you

tivésseis

vocês meaning you, pl.
eles, elas meaning they

tivessem

Conjugation of ‘haver’ in the imperfect subjunctive

*This is a very formal form of “you” that is rarely used in Brazilian Portuguese.
Subject Pronounster meaning to have

eu meaning I

houvesse

tu meaning you

houvesses

você meaning you, sg.
ele meaning he, it
ela meaning she, it

houvesse

nós meaning we

houvéssemos

vós* meaning you

houvésseis

vocês meaning you, pl.
eles, elas meaning they

houvessem