Common Irregular Verbs in Past Simple
In Portuguese, the past simple tense is used to talk about actions or events that happened in the past. While most Portuguese verbs follow regular patterns in forming the past simple, there are several common verbs that are irregular and require special attention. In this guide, we will focus on these common irregular verbs and learn how to use them in the past simple tense.
1. Verb "Ser" (to be)
The verb "ser" (to be) is highly irregular in the past tense. Here's how it is conjugated:
- Eu
fui
(I was) - Tu
foste
(You were, informal) - Ele/Ela/Você
foi
(He/She/You was/were, formal) - Nós
fomos
(We were) - Vós
fostes
(You were, plural, formal) - Eles/Elas/Vocês
foram
(They/You were, plural)
Example:
- Eu
fui
ao mercado ontem. (I went to the market yesterday.)
Note: The verb "ser" is used to express permanent characteristics, identities, or professions.
2. Verb "Estar" (to be)
The verb "estar" (to be) is also irregular in the past tense. Here's how it is conjugated:
- Eu
estive
(I was) - Tu
estiveste
(You were, informal) - Ele/Ela/Você
esteve
(He/She/You was/were, formal) - Nós
estivemos
(We were) - Vós
estivestes
(You were, plural, formal) - Eles/Elas/Vocês
estiveram
(They/You were, plural)
Example:
- Ela
esteve
doente na semana passada. (She was sick last week.)
Note: The verb "estar" is used to express temporary states or locations.
3. Verb "Ter" (to have)
The verb "ter" (to have) is irregular in the past tense. Here's how it is conjugated:
- Eu
tive
(I had) - Tu
tiveste
(You had, informal) - Ele/Ela/Você
teve
(He/She/You had, formal) - Nós
tivemos
(We had) - Vós
tivestes
(You had, plural, formal) - Eles/Elas/Vocês
tiveram
(They/You had, plural)
Example:
- Nós
tivemos
uma ótima experiência no restaurante. (We had a great experience at the restaurant.)
Note: The verb "ter" is used to express possession or the occurrence of an event.
4. Verb "Fazer" (to do, to make)
The verb "fazer" (to do, to make) is irregular in the past tense. Here's how it is conjugated:
- Eu
fiz
(I did, made) - Tu
fizeste
(You did, made, informal) - Ele/Ela/Você
fez
(He/She/You did, made, formal) - Nós
fizemos
(We did, made) - Vós
fizestes
(You did, made, plural, formal) - Eles/Elas/Vocês
fizeram
(They/You did, made, plural)
Example:
- Ela
fez
um bolo delicioso ontem. (She made a delicious cake yesterday.)
Note: The verb "fazer" is used to express actions or the creation of something.
5. Verb "Vir" (to come)
The verb "vir" (to come) is irregular in the past tense. Here's how it is conjugated:
- Eu
vim
(I came) - Tu
vieste
(You came, informal) - Ele/Ela/Você
veio
(He/She/You came, formal) - Nós
viemos
(We came) - Vós
viestes
(You came, plural, formal) - Eles/Elas/Vocês
vieram
(They/You came, plural)
Example:
- Nós
viemos
de avião para a cidade. (We came by plane to the city.)
Note: The verb "vir" is used to express movement or arrival.
These common irregular verbs in the past simple tense are essential to master in order to communicate effectively in Portuguese. By familiarizing yourself with their conjugations and usage, you'll be able to express actions and events that occurred in the past with accuracy and clarity. Practice using these verbs in different contexts to solidify your understanding and improve your fluency in Portuguese.
Created: 12/30/2023 | Updated: 5/5/2025