Present Perfect Tense in Portuguese Is Easier than You Think

Ever wondered why the present perfect tense in Portuguese is different from English?

Do you find it hard to know when to use it in your Portuguese conversations?

Learning the present perfect tense is key to getting more nuanced with your expressions in Portuguese.

You’ll be able to express some ideas more clearly.

In this article, we’ll explore the details of how to conjugate verbs in the present perfect tense. We’ll also show you when native speakers use this tense.

First, what is the present perfect tense in Brazilian Portuguese?

The present perfect tense in Portuguese is called “Pretérito Perfeito Composto.”

It combines the verb “ter” with the past participle of the main verb.

This might sound similar to the English present perfect tense, but there are key differences in how and why it’s used.

Differences between English and Portuguese present perfect

In English, the present perfect tense talks about actions that started in the past and are still going on or were done very recently.

For example, you have learned Portuguese and have been studying for a while.

But in Portuguese, the present perfect tense is for actions that happen over and over, starting in the past and still happening now.

It’s not for actions that are finished and done with.

For instance, “Eu tenho estudado português nos últimos seis meses” means “I have been studying Portuguese for the last six months.”

This sentence shows an action that keeps happening, not just something done once.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Now, we’ll look into…

When to use the present perfect tense in Portuguese

The present perfect tense is for actions that keep happening or happen often over time, up to now.

It’s made by using “ter” and the past participle of the main verb, like “ter estudado” (to have studied).

Remember, this tense isn’t for talking about a single action in the past.

For that, you use the simple past tense (Pretérito Perfeito Simples).

For example, “Eu aprendi português no ano passado” (I learned Portuguese last year) is in the simple past tense.

More on the main past tenses can be found here.

When you use the present perfect tense with time phrases like “nos últimos dias” (in the last few days), “neste ano” (this year), and “ultimamente” (lately), it shows the action is ongoing.

• Neste ano, eu tenho trabalhado muito. This year, I have been working a lot.
• O que você tem feito ultimamente? What have you been doing lately?
• Eu não tenho mais visto nenhum dos nossos amigos. Antes, a gente se via todas as semanas. I haven’t seen any of our friends anymore. Before, we used to see each other every week.

Knowing when and how to use this tense helps you share your thoughts and stories more clearly in Portuguese.

You know when to use. Know you’ll know how to form it.

To make the present perfect tense in Portuguese, mix the auxiliary verb “ter” (to have) in the present with the past participle of the main verb.

This is key for talking about actions that started in the past and continue now or were finished recently.

Conjugating the Auxiliary Verb “Ter”

The first step is to change the auxiliary verb “ter” into the present tense. Here’s how:

Pronoun	Auxiliary TER	Past participle
Eu	tenho	trabalhado
você	tem
Ele / ela	tem
Nós	temos
Vocês	Têm
Eles / elas	têm

The verb “ter” stays the same for the present perfect tense, no matter the main verb.

Past Participles in Portuguese

The next part is the past participle of the main verb. To make it, take off the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir) and add the right suffix. For -ar verbs, use -ado. For -er and -ir verbs, use -ido.

But, some verbs have special past participles you’ll need to remember. For example, “aberto” (opened) comes from “abrir,” “escrito” (written) from “escrever,” and “feito” (done) from “fazer.”

You can see more about the verbs with irregular past participles in this article.

Additional Examples of Present Perfect Tense in Portuguese

Now, let’s see the present perfect tense in use:

• Eu tenho estudado muito. I have been studying a lot.
• Ela tem trabalhado neste projeto há meses. She has been working on this project for months.
• Nós temos viajado bastante este ano. We have been traveling a lot this year.
• Eles têm praticado esportes regularmente. They have been practicing sports regularly.

In each example, you will see that the repetition is emphasized.

You could use the present continuous to express the same idea. But you’ll need a little bit more of a context to understand that the meaning is the same.

If you simply say:

• Estou estudando muito. I am studying / I have been studying.

You’ll need to add the word “recentemente” or something similar. Otherwise, it’s just a statement that you’re doing something right now.

• Estou estudando muito recentemente. I have been studying a lot recently.

Now compare those two sentences to the first example above.

Are you convinced of the importance of this tense yet?

You have to imagine the Portuguese verb tenses as big tools in your toolbox. They help you deal with very specific situations. And knowing that you have them in your toolbox gives you more confidence.

Learning the present perfect tense in Portuguese is key to becoming fluent. It helps you express yourself clearly and precisely. At first, this tense might seem tough and confusing, but practice makes it easier.

And how can you practice?

You can practice in two ways.

You can form sentences using this new structure that you’ve just learned. You can write sentences in the comments below, or you can try and talk with your friends using this structure.

But far more important is to notice when Brazilians use that.

And how will you do that?

Simple.

Watch more TV or YouTube. Listen to more podcasts. Perk up your ears when you’re talking to your friends in Brazilian Portuguese. The more you notice, the more you’ll be comfortable using it.

So. What are you waiting for? Start practicing now.

And if you would like to know how you could join our conversation groups for intermediate level students, click here.