Ler in Preterite

Think of the preterite as a snapshot. It captures a moment that has a clear beginning and end. The verb ler means "to read." In the past, it changes its shape quite a bit. It is an irregular verb. Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern. Ler likes to be different.

You will use it when the reading is finished. If you are still reading, use a different tense. If you used to read every day, use a different tense. The preterite is for specific events. "I read the contract before signing." "She read the instructions carefully." These are completed tasks.

1. 1How do we build these forms? Since ler is irregular, we must be careful. Forget the standard -er endings for a moment.
2. 2Start with the idea of the past.
3. 3For "I," the form is li. It is very short.
4. 4For "You/He/She," use leu. Watch that ending.
5. 5For "We," use lemos. This looks like the present tense.
6. 6For "They/You all," use leram. This has a nasal sound.
7. 7Here is the breakdown:
8. 8Eu: li (I read)
9. 9Tu: leste (You read - informal)
10. 10Você/Ele/Ela: leu (You/He/She read)
11. 11Nós: lemos (We read)
12. 12Vocês/Eles/Elas: leram (You all/They read)
13. 13Yes, it is irregular. No, it is not impossible. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Once you see the red light (the end of the book), you use li.

Use this tense for specific past moments.

• Completed books: "I read that novel last summer."
• Immediate past actions: "I just read your message."
• Sequences of events: "I woke up, read the news, and had coffee."
• Specific time markers: Use it with ontem (yesterday) or na semana passada (last week).

Imagine you are in a job interview. The recruiter asks if you know the company. You say, "I read the company report yesterday." That is li. It shows you are prepared. It shows the action is done.

Do not use the preterite for habits. If you read every night as a child, use the Imperfect. The preterite is not for "used to."

Also, avoid it for ongoing actions in the past. "I was reading when the phone rang." In that case, use the past continuous. The preterite is for the action that interrupts. "I was reading (ongoing), then I read a strange word (specific)."

Many people write leo for the third person. This is wrong. The correct form is leu. It sounds like "lay-oo."

Another mistake is confusing li with li-o. Li means "I read." Li-o means "I read it." Don't forget the object if you need it.

Some learners forget the nasal sound in leram. It is not "ler-am" like in English. It is a soft, nasal "lay-ra-ng." Imagine you have a slight cold. That is the perfect Portuguese nasal sound.

Native speakers sometimes mess up the "we" form. In Portugal, lemos (past) sounds different from lemos (present). The past has a closed "e." The present has an open "e." In Brazil, they often sound the same. Don't worry too much. Context usually saves the day.

How does ler compare to ver (to see)? They are both short. They are both irregular.

• Eu li (I read) vs Eu vi (I saw).
• Ele leu (He read) vs Ele viu (He saw).

They follow a similar irregular logic. If you learn one, you learn both. It is a "two-for-one" deal in grammar.

Compare it to the verb beber (to drink). Beber is regular.

• Eu bebi (Regular)
• Eu li (Irregular but similar ending)

Ler isn't as scary as it looks. It just likes to keep things brief.