Regular -ar Verbs in Preterite

Portuguese verbs are like Lego sets. They have a base (the stem) and a piece that snaps onto the end. For regular -ar verbs, the process is always the same. You take the name of the verb, like falar (to speak). You chop off the -ar ending. What is left is fal-. This is your stem. Now, you just need to add the correct ending based on who did the action. It is a very logical system. Unlike English, where we just add "-ed" to everything, Portuguese changes the ending for each person. This might feel like more work at first. However, it actually makes the language clearer. Often, you do not even need to say "I" or "You" because the verb ending tells you who is speaking. It is a very efficient way to communicate.

1. 1To conjugate a regular -ar verb in the preterite, follow these three steps:
2. 2Start with the infinitive verb (e.g., trabalhar, estudar, comprar).
3. 3Remove the -ar to find the stem (e.g., trabalh-, estud-, compr-).
4. 4Add the following endings to the stem:
5. 5For Eu (I): add -ei. Example: Eu trabalhei (I worked).
6. 6For Você/Ele/Ela (You/He/She): add -ou. Example: Ele estudou (He studied).
7. 7For Nós (We): add -amos. Example: Nós compramos (We bought).
8. 8For Vocês/Eles/Elas (You all/They): add -aram. Example: Elas falaram (They spoke).
9. 9Note: In Brazil, the nós form in the past is identical to the present. Context will tell you which one it is! In Portugal, they add an accent: falámos for the past and falamos for the present.

Use this tense when the action is a completed event. Think of it as a single point on a timeline. Here are some common scenarios:

• Specific times: Use it with words like ontem (yesterday) or na semana passada (last week).
• Sequences: Use it to list things you did in order. "I arrived, I ate, I slept."
• Interruption: Use it for an action that interrupted something else. "I was sleeping when the phone tocou (rang)."
• Job Interviews: Use it to describe your past responsibilities. "I gerenciei (managed) a team of five."
• Ordering Food: If you want to tell the waiter you already ordered. "Eu já pedi (I already ordered)." (Wait, pedir is an -ir verb, let's stick to -ar!) "Eu já paguei (I already paid)."

Do not use the preterite for habits. If you want to say "I used to play soccer every Sunday," this is not the right tense. For that, you need the Pretérito Imperfeito. Think of the preterite as a "dot" and the imperfect as a "wavy line." Also, do not use it for descriptions. If you are saying "The house was big," you are describing a state, not a finished action. Avoid using it for background information in a story. It is for the main actions that move the plot forward. If you use it for everything, your story will feel like a series of sudden jumps rather than a smooth narrative. It is like a grammar traffic light; use it when the action is green and moving to a stop.

One big mistake is mixing up the Você and Eles endings. Você estudou (singular) vs Eles estudaram (plural). Another common trip-up is the spelling of the Eles form. It ends in -aram, not -arão. The -arão ending is for the future! If you say Eles falarão, you are saying "They will speak," not "They spoke." Native speakers might look at you like you have a time machine. Also, remember the Eu form ends in -ei. It sounds like the "ay" in "stay." Some learners try to use the English "-ed" sound, which does not exist in Portuguese verb endings. Finally, watch out for the nós form. Even though it looks like the present, don't let that confuse you. It is just a quirk of the language.

How does this compare to the Present Tense? In the present, Eu falo means "I speak." In the preterite, Eu falei means "I spoke." The difference is just one or two letters, but it changes the whole meaning. Compared to the Pretérito Imperfeito (Eu falava), the preterite is much more definitive. Eu falei means the conversation is over. Eu falava means you were in the middle of speaking or you spoke regularly. Think of the Preterite as a closed box and the Imperfect as an open door. In English, we often use "did" to ask questions in the past. In Portuguese, we just change the tone of our voice with the preterite verb. Você comprou? (Did you buy?). No "did" required!