Conjugating verbs is one of the fundamental aspects of mastering any language, and Portuguese is no exception. Among the multitude of verbs in Portuguese, the verb ‘ter’ (to have) holds a crucial place. Whether you’re describing possessions, obligations, or experiences, ‘ter’ is often the verb you’ll need. In this article, we’ll dive deep into conjugating ‘ter’ in the past tense, offering you comprehensive insights and practical examples to enhance your understanding.
Understanding the Importance of ‘Ter’
Before delving into the past tense conjugations, it’s essential to appreciate the versatility and significance of the verb ‘ter.’ In Portuguese, ‘ter’ is used not only to indicate possession but also in numerous idiomatic expressions and compound tenses. For instance, ‘ter’ is part of the construction for the present perfect tense (e.g., “Eu tenho feito” – I have done), which describes actions that began in the past and continue to the present.
The Simple Past (Pretérito Perfeito)
The Simple Past, or Pretérito Perfeito, is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific point in the past. Let’s look at how ‘ter’ is conjugated in this tense:
– Eu tive (I had)
– Tu tiveste (You had – informal singular)
– Ele/Ela/Você teve (He/She/You had – formal singular)
– Nós tivemos (We had)
– Vós tivestes (You had – informal plural, archaic)
– Eles/Elas/Vocês tiveram (They/You had – formal plural)
Notice how the stem of the verb changes to ‘tiv’ before the personal endings are added. Here are some examples in sentences:
– Eu tive uma ideia brilhante. (I had a brilliant idea.)
– Ela teve uma reunião importante ontem. (She had an important meeting yesterday.)
– Nós tivemos sorte com o clima. (We had luck with the weather.)
The Imperfect Past (Pretérito Imperfeito)
The Imperfect Past, or Pretérito Imperfeito, is used to describe actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past. The conjugation of ‘ter’ in this tense is as follows:
– Eu tinha (I had/I used to have)
– Tu tinhas (You had/You used to have – informal singular)
– Ele/Ela/Você tinha (He/She/You had/He/She/You used to have – formal singular)
– Nós tínhamos (We had/We used to have)
– Vós tínheis (You had/You used to have – informal plural, archaic)
– Eles/Elas/Vocês tinham (They/You had/They/You used to have – formal plural)
Here, the stem changes to ‘tinh’, and you can see the difference in the personal endings compared to the Pretérito Perfeito. Examples in sentences include:
– Quando eu era criança, eu tinha um cachorro. (When I was a child, I had a dog.)
– Eles tinham o hábito de caminhar todas as manhãs. (They used to have the habit of walking every morning.)
The Past Perfect (Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito)
The Past Perfect, or Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito, is used to describe actions that were completed before another action in the past. This tense has both a simple and a compound form. The simple form, however, is rarely used in modern Portuguese. Here, we’ll focus on the compound form, which is more commonly used:
– Eu tinha tido (I had had)
– Tu tinhas tido (You had had – informal singular)
– Ele/Ela/Você tinha tido (He/She/You had had – formal singular)
– Nós tínhamos tido (We had had)
– Vós tínheis tido (You had had – informal plural, archaic)
– Eles/Elas/Vocês tinham tido (They/You had had – formal plural)
In the compound form, ‘ter’ is used as an auxiliary verb, paired with the past participle of ‘ter’ itself, which is ‘tido’. Examples include:
– Eu tinha tido um dia difícil antes de você chegar. (I had had a tough day before you arrived.)
– Eles tinham tido muitas oportunidades de viajar. (They had had many opportunities to travel.)
Usage in Different Contexts
Understanding the conjugation forms is essential, but it is equally important to know when and how to use them in different contexts. Let’s explore these in more detail.
Expressing Completed Actions
When talking about actions completed at a specific point in the past, the Pretérito Perfeito is your go-to tense. This tense is often accompanied by time markers such as “ontem” (yesterday), “no ano passado” (last year), or “há uma semana” (a week ago).
– Eu tive uma reunião com o chefe ontem. (I had a meeting with the boss yesterday.)
– Eles tiveram um problema com o carro na semana passada. (They had a problem with the car last week.)
Describing Habitual or Ongoing Actions
The Pretérito Imperfeito is used to describe actions that were habitual or ongoing. This tense can be accompanied by phrases like “sempre” (always), “todos os dias” (every day), or “quando eu era jovem” (when I was young).
– Quando eu era jovem, eu tinha muitas responsabilidades. (When I was young, I had many responsibilities.)
– Nós tínhamos o costume de jantar juntos todos os dias. (We used to have the habit of dining together every day.)
Actions Completed Before Another Past Action
The Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito (compound form) is particularly useful when you need to express that one action was completed before another action took place in the past. It often appears in conjunction with the Pretérito Perfeito.
– Eu tinha tido uma conversa séria com ele antes de ele sair. (I had had a serious conversation with him before he left.)
– Eles tinham tido muitas dificuldades antes de encontrar uma solução. (They had had many difficulties before finding a solution.)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even seasoned Portuguese learners can stumble when conjugating ‘ter’ in the past tense. Here are some common mistakes and tips on how to avoid them:
Confusing Pretérito Perfeito and Pretérito Imperfeito
One of the most frequent errors is mixing up the Pretérito Perfeito and the Pretérito Imperfeito. Remember, the Pretérito Perfeito is for actions that were completed at a specific point in the past, while the Pretérito Imperfeito is for habitual or ongoing past actions.
– Incorrect: *Eu tive um cachorro quando era criança. (I had a dog when I was a child.)
– Correct: Eu tinha um cachorro quando era criança. (I had a dog when I was a child.)
Overusing the Simple Past Perfect (Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito Simples)
Although the simple form of the Past Perfect exists, it is rarely used in modern Portuguese. Instead, stick to the compound form to ensure your speech and writing sound natural.
– Incorrect: *Eu tivera uma conversa séria com ele antes de ele sair.
– Correct: Eu tinha tido uma conversa séria com ele antes de ele sair. (I had had a serious conversation with him before he left.)
Misplacing Auxiliary Verbs in Compound Tenses
When using the compound form of the Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito, ensure that the auxiliary verb ‘ter’ is correctly conjugated in the Imperfect and that the past participle ‘tido’ follows it.
– Incorrect: *Eles tinham tido muitas dificuldades antes de encontrar uma solução.
– Correct: Eles tinham tido muitas dificuldades antes de encontrar uma solução. (They had had many difficulties before finding a solution.)
Practice Makes Perfect
To master the conjugation of ‘ter’ in the past tense, consistent practice is crucial. Here are some exercises and activities to help you reinforce your learning:
Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of ‘ter’ in the past tense:
1. Eu __________ (ter) uma reunião importante ontem.
2. Quando éramos crianças, nós __________ (ter) um cachorro.
3. Ela __________ (ter) uma ideia brilhante na semana passada.
4. Eles __________ (ter) muitos problemas antes de encontrar uma solução.
Answers:
1. tive
2. tínhamos
3. teve
4. tinham tido
Translation Practice
Translate the following sentences into Portuguese, using the correct past tense form of ‘ter’:
1. I had a lot of homework last night.
2. They had the habit of reading every evening.
3. We had had a long day before the meeting.
4. When she was young, she had many friends.
Answers:
1. Eu tive muitos deveres de casa ontem à noite.
2. Eles tinham o hábito de ler todas as noites.
3. Nós tínhamos tido um dia longo antes da reunião.
4. Quando ela era jovem, tinha muitos amigos.
Writing Prompts
Write a short paragraph describing a memorable event from your past, using different forms of ‘ter’ in the past tense. For example:
– Describe a childhood memory, focusing on what you had or used to have.
– Write about a significant event that happened last year, emphasizing what you had before and after the event.
Conclusion
Conjugating ‘ter’ in the past tense is an essential skill for any Portuguese learner. By understanding and practicing the different past tense forms—Pretérito Perfeito, Pretérito Imperfeito, and Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito—you’ll be well-equipped to describe past actions and experiences accurately. Remember, consistent practice and application in various contexts will help solidify your grasp of these conjugations. So, keep practicing, stay curious, and you’ll master ‘ter’ in no time!
