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Study Resource: Time markers for the preterite in Brazilian Portuguese

By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira

The following time markers are often used with the preterite tense in Brazilian Portuguese.


Time marker	Example
ano passado Translation: in order to	Minha irmã se casou no ano passado. Translation: My sister got married last year.
antes de ontem / anteontem Translation: the day before yesterday	Eles chegaram antes de ontem. Translation: They arrived the day before yesterday.
em (1990...) Translation: in (1990...)	Eu comecei a trabalhar aqui em 1990. Translation: I started to work here in 1990.
hoje de manhã Translation: this morning	Eu não tomei café hoje de manhã. Translation: I did not drink coffee this morning.
mês passado Translation: last month	Nós compramos o carro no mês passado. Translation: We bought the car last month.
ontem Translation: yesterday	Você me ligou ontem? Translation: Did you call me yesterday?
ontem à noite Translation: yesterday evening/night	Nós comemos pizza ontem à noite. Translation: We ate pizza yesterday evening.
ontem à tarde Translation: yesterday afternoon	As crianças brincaram em casa ontem à tarde. Translation: The children played at home yesterday afternoon.
ontem de manhã Translation: yesterday morning	Você trabalhou ontem de manhã? Translation: Did you work yesterday morning?
outro dia Translation: the other day	Eu vi a Luana no supermercado outro dia. Translation: I saw Luana at the supermarket the other day.
século passado Translation: last century	As pessoas não tinham celular no século passado. Translation: People did not have cell phones in the last century.
semana passada / última semana Translation: last week	Eles viajaram na semana passada. Translation: They traveled last week.
último mês Translation: last month	Você gastou muito dinheiro no último mês. Translation: You spent a lot of money last month.
último ano Translation: last year	Nós economizamos dinheiro no último ano. Translation: We saved money last year.