How to use the simple present in Brazilian Portuguese?

The simple present tense in Brazilian Portuguese is generally used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking, describe habitual actions, or relay scientific truth. It is formed by removing the infinitive endings (-ar, -er, -ir) and adding simple present tense endings that agree with the subject, though some verbs have irregular forms.

In this post, we’ll cover how to form regular and irregular verbs in the simple present, and we’ll cover the most common uses of this tense, additional uses of the present tense. Curious to know more? Keep reading!

To form the simple present in Brazilian Portuguese, you will usually start with the infinitive form of the verb, remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir), and add a specific simple present tense ending that agrees with the subject.

All regular verbs ending with -ar, -er, or -ir follow the same pattern as the verbs falar, comer, and partir in the table above.

However, there are some verbs that either follow a slightly different pattern or that are simply irregular, taking unpredictable forms. We’ll talk about those below.

The simple present tense is used for habitual actions, permanent states and characteristics, scientific truths, commands, actions happening in the present, and even some actions in the past and future! Below, you will read about each of these. Let’s start!

• For habitual actions

  The simple present can be used to indicate a habitual action.

  • Vou sempre de metrô ao trabalho.

    Translation: I always go by metro to work.
  • Durmo regularmente cedo.

    Translation: I regularly sleep early.

  To show the habitual nature of the action, you will often use an adverb, such as sempre (meaning always) or regularmente (meaning regularly). Adverbs are words used to modify a verb. Adverbs of frequency can be placed before or after the verb.

  verbadverb

  ✅ Vou sempre de metrô ao trabalho.
  ✅ Sempre vou de metrô ao trabalho.

  Translation: I always take the subway to work.

  You can also use an expression of frequency, such as todo dia (meaning every day) or às vezes (meaning sometimes), instead of a single word like sempre. In this case, these expressions are mainly placed at the beginning of a phrase, but they can also be placed after the verb or at the end of the phrase.

  verbexpression of frequency

  ✅ Todos os dias leio um pouco do livro de Machado.
  ✅ Leio todos os dias um pouco do livro de Machado.
  ✅ Leio um pouco do livro de Machado todos os dias.

  Translation: Everyday I read a bit of the book from Machado.

• For current and permanent states and characteristics

  The simple present tense can also be used to indicate a current or permanent state or characteristic of the subject.

  • Maria usa óculos.

    Translation: Maria wears glasses.
  • Carlos é o mais alto da turma.

    Translation: Carlos is the tallest in the group.
  • Os alunos estão felizes com a nova professora.

    Translation: The students are happy with the new teacher.

  Often, a non-action verb like ser (meaning to be) or estar (meaning to be) is used to introduce the characteristic or state of the subject, as can be seen in the second and third examples above. Take a look at this list of non-action verbs in Brazilian Portuguese.

  The simple present is used to refer to universal truths or facts:

  A lua gira em torno da Terra.

  Translation: The moon revolves around Earth.

• To express a command (imperative)

  The simple present can also be used to give a command. This way of giving commands is more delicate, familiar, and informal than the imperative in Brazilian Portuguese.

  • imperative

    Se sair cedo amanhã, me avise.

    Translation: If you leave early tomorrow, tell me.
  • simple present

    Se sair cedo amanhã, me avisa.

    Translation: If you leave early tomorrow, let me know.

• With actions happening at the same time as speech

  More generally, the simple present tense is used for actions that occur at the exact moment in which they are narrated. Look at the following example:

  Nesse exato momento, eu escuto música.

  Translation: Right now, I am listening to music.

  In this example, the present tense of the verb escutar (meaning to listen) shows what is happening right now and can be translated into English with the present progressive (“I am listening to music”).

  This present meaning of the verb is reinforced by the expression nesse exato momento (meaning right now). Take a look at this list with other expressions that can be used with the simple present.

• For past actions that continue into the present

  In Brazilian Portuguese, you can also use the simple present tense for past actions that continue into the present moment. This is similar to how the present perfect tense (“has/have verbed”) is used in English.

  Moro aqui desde 2020.

  Translation: I have lived here since 2020.

  You can use the preposition desde (meaning since) is used to indicate an exact date (day, hour, month, year, etc.), as in the example above: desde 2020. If you want to emphasize the duration that something has happened, you can use an impersonal verb, such as fazer/haver instead.

  Moro aqui faz 12 anos.
  Moro aqui há 12 anos.

  Translation: I have lived here for 12 years.

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• To narrate events in the past

  The simple present, sometimes referred to in this case as the “historical present,” is also often used in narration to emphasize events that occurred in the past. This use is very common in history books and serves to give more intensity and truth to the actions from the past.

  Em 1969, o homem pisa na Lua.

  Translation: In 1969, a man steps on the moon.

• For future actions

  Finally, the simple present can be used for an action that will occur in the near future.

  Viajo para os EUA no próximo fim de semana.

  Translation: I will travel to the USA next weekend.

  In this case, you need a word or expression like amanhã (meaning tomorrow), mais tarde (meaning later), or próximo fim de semana (meaning next weekend) to clarify that you are talking about the future.

In this post, we reviewed both how to form the simple present tense in Brazilian Portuguese, as well as when to use it. To recap:

• There are three types of verbs in Brazilian Portuguese: those ending in -ar, those ending in -er, and those ending in -ir.

• Some verbs are regular, meaning their stems do not change during conjugation, whereas other irregular verbs experience stem-changes or have unique conjugation endings.

• The simple present is used for habitual actions, permanent states and characteristics, scientific truths, a softer form of the imperative, present day actions, and for some past and future actions.

Now, why don’t you practice using and forming the simple present tense in Brazilian Portuguese with these activities!