haver de + Infinitive
Haver De (Obrigação)
The pattern haver de + infinitivo is a versatile way to talk about the future. While it can mean 'obligation' (like 'must'), it is most commonly used in European Portuguese to express a firm intention, a promise, or something that is bound to happen eventually.
How It Works
This construction carries several modal nuances:
1. Intention and Resolve: It expresses a goal the speaker intends to achieve at some point. Eu hei de conseguir (I shall succeed).
2. Inevitability: It suggests something is destined to occur. Tudo há de correr bem (Everything is bound to go well).
3. Probability or Conviction: It expresses a strong belief that something is likely to happen. Ele há de chegar logo (He's bound to arrive soon).
4. Promises and Threats: It adds weight to a commitment. Hás de te arrepender (You will [eventually] regret it).
5. Soft Obligation: In some contexts, it acts as a gentler alternative to obligation markers like 'ter de' (standard in EP) or ter que (common in BP).
Past Tense Usage (Havia de):
When used in the imperfect tense, havia de + infinitive serves two main purposes:
• Future-in-the-past: Describing something that was destined to happen from a past perspective. Ele havia de ser o melhor aluno da turma (He was destined to be the best student in the class).
• Suggestions or Regret: Often used to suggest what someone should have done. Havias de ter visto aquele filme (You should have seen that movie).
Regional Differences:
In European Portuguese, this is a very common, everyday structure used for rhetorical questions (O que hei de fazer?) and general intentions. In Brazilian Portuguese, it is considered highly formal, literary, or old-fashioned in all its uses, including probability; Brazilians typically prefer 'deve' or 'vai' in these contexts.
Examples (5)
- Não te preocupes, tudo há de correr bem.
Don't worry, everything is bound to go well.
Word by Word: Not you worry, everything has of to run well.
Here, 'há de' expresses a sense of certainty or destiny about the future.
- Eu hei de visitar a Grécia um dia.
I shall visit Greece one day.
Word by Word: I have of to visit the Greece one day.
This shows a personal intention for an indefinite point in the future.
- O que é que eu hei de vestir para a festa?
What should I wear to the party?
Word by Word: The what is that I have of to wear for the party?
In European Portuguese, this is a common way to ask for advice or express a dilemma.
- Eles hão de chegar a qualquer momento.
They are bound to arrive at any moment.
Word by Word: They have of to arrive at any moment.
Used here to express a strong probability or expectation.
- Hás de me pagar o que me deves!
You will pay me what you owe me!
Word by Word: You have of to me pay the what to me you owe!
In this context, the construction emphasizes a firm promise or a demand.
Common Mistakes
Using a hyphen between 'haver' and 'de'.
Eu hei-de ir.Eu hei de ir.Under the 1990 Orthographic Agreement, the hyphen was removed from this construction. It is now always written as two separate words.
Using the impersonal 'há' for all subjects.
Nós há de conseguir.Nós havemos de conseguir.Unlike the existential há (there is), in this auxiliary construction, the verb 'haver' must be conjugated to agree with the subject.
Overusing it in casual Brazilian Portuguese.
Eu hei de comer agora.Eu vou comer agora.In Brazil, 'haver de' sounds highly formal or literary. For immediate or casual future actions, use ir + infinitive instead.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'haver de + infinitivo', you need to be familiar with the verb 'haver' in its auxiliary sense (similar to 'ter'), the use of the preposition 'de' to connect verbs, and the general concept of expressing obligation or future intention through verbal periphrasis.
- ter / haverTer vs. Haver
Understanding the verb 'haver' as a synonym for 'ter' in formal contexts is essential for this construction.
Level 2 - ter que + InfinitiveObligation with Ter
This pattern is the formal/literary equivalent of 'ter que + infinitive', so understanding the basic structure of obligation is necessary.
Level 1 - a/de/em/com/para/porBasic Prepositions
The pattern relies on the specific use of the preposition 'de' to link the auxiliary verb to the main action.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- ir + InfinitiveNear Future
This is the standard way to express the near or planned future, while 'haver de' is often for the indefinite future.
Level 1 - háThere Is/There Are
Learners often confuse the conjugated forms of 'haver de' with the impersonal 'há' used for existence.
Foundations - -ei/-ás/-á/-emos/-eis/-ãoFuturo Do Presente Regular
The simple future tense is the grammatical equivalent, but 'haver de' adds specific modal nuances like promise or resolve.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice haver de + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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