-r/-res/-r/-rmos/-rdes/-rem

Futuro Do Subjuntivo Regular

Level 4

The Futuro do Subjuntivo is used to talk about things that might happen in the future. It is essential for saying things like 'If I have time' or 'When you arrive.' For regular verbs, the forms look exactly like the infinitive.

How It Works

The Future Subjunctive is virtually unique among modern Romance languages and is a vital part of Portuguese. It is mandatory after specific conjunctions and relative pronouns when introducing a future uncertainty or condition.

1. Formation:
For regular verbs, the conjugation appears identical to the personal infinitive. To form it correctly for all verbs, take the 3rd person plural of the Pretérito Perfeito (e.g., falaram), remove the -am ending, and add these personal endings to the remaining stem:

  • Eu: -Ø (falar)
  • Tu: -es (falares)
  • Você/Ele/Ela: -Ø (falar)
  • Nós: -mos (falarmos)
  • Vós: -des (falardes)
  • Vocês/Eles/Elas: -em (falarem)

2. Common Triggers:
This tense is mandatory after these conjunctions when referring to the future:

  • Se (If): Se eu estudar...
  • Quando (When): Quando nós chegarmos...
  • Assim que / Logo que (As soon as): Assim que eles comerem...
  • Enquanto (While): Enquanto você esperar...
  • Relative Pronouns (Quem/Onde/O que): Faz o que quiseres.

3. The Ver vs. Vir Distinction:
Be careful with these two common verbs. In the Future Subjunctive, ver (to see) becomes vir, while vir (to come) becomes vier. For example: Se eu vir o filme... vs. Se eu vier à festa...

4. Usage Note:
Contrast this with the Imperfect Subjunctive. Use the Future Subjunctive for real, possible conditions (Se eu tiver tempo, vou) and the Imperfect for hypothetical or unlikely ones (Se eu tivesse tempo, iria). While regular verbs look like the infinitive, irregular verbs change significantly (e.g., tiver, fizer, vier). You should become proficient in these forms as they are used in every register of the language.

Examples (4)

  1. Se você precisar de ajuda, me avise.

    If you need help, let me know.

    Word by Word: If you need (future subj.) of help, me advise.

    The verb 'precisar' is in the future subjunctive because it is a condition introduced by 'se' that hasn't happened yet.

  2. Quando nós terminarmos o projeto, vamos comemorar.

    When we finish the project, we are going to celebrate.

    Word by Word: When we finish (future subj.) the project, we go to celebrate.

    The trigger 'quando' requires the future subjunctive 'terminarmos' because the finishing of the project is a future event.

  3. Assim que eles chegarem, a reunião vai começar.

    As soon as they arrive, the meeting will start.

    Word by Word: As soon as they arrive (future subj.), the meeting goes to start.

    'Assim que' (as soon as) is a temporal trigger that demands the future subjunctive for future actions.

  4. Telefone-me quando você chegar em casa.

    Call me when you get home.

    Word by Word: Telephone-me when you arrive (future subj.) in house.

    Even in simple commands, 'quando' triggers the future subjunctive for the future action of arriving.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Present Indicative after 'se' or 'quando' for future events.

    Se eu tenho tempo amanhã, eu vou.
    Se eu tiver tempo amanhã, eu vou.

    English speakers often say 'If I have' (Present). In Portuguese, 'Se eu tenho' implies a habit (If I usually have). For a future possibility, you must use the subjunctive.

  • Confusing the Future Subjunctive with the Present Subjunctive.

    Quando ele venha, falaremos.
    Quando ele vier, falaremos.

    Spanish speakers often make this mistake. In Portuguese, 'quando' + future event requires the Future Subjunctive, not the Present Subjunctive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-r/-res/-r/-rmos/-rdes/-remLevel 4Futuro Do Subjuntivo Regular

Learn This First

To learn the Future Subjunctive, you first need to be familiar with the Personal Infinitive, as regular verbs use the exact same endings. Additionally, you must understand the subordinating conjunctions (like 'se' and 'quando') that typically introduce this tense to express future possibilities or conditions.