-i/-iste/-iu/-imos/-istes/-iram

Pretérito Perfeito -IR Verbs

Level 2

The Pretérito Perfeito is the primary past tense for finished events. For regular -ir verbs, you remove the ending and add: -i, -iste, -iu, -imos, -istes, -iram.

How It Works

The Pretérito Perfeito Simples is essential for storytelling and reporting what happened. For regular verbs ending in -ir (like abrir, dormir, or partir), follow these steps:

1. Identify the stem by removing the -ir (e.g., dorm-).
2. Attach the specific ending for the subject:

  • Eu: -i (dormi)
  • Tu: -iste (dormiste)
  • Você/Ele/Ela: -iu (dormiu)
  • Nós: -imos (dormimos)
  • Vós: -istes (dormistes - archaic)
  • Vocês/Eles/Elas: -iram (dormiram)

Key Usage Notes:

  • Narrative Flow: When you list several verbs in this tense, they are understood to happen in sequence (e.g., 'I arrived, I opened the door, I slept').
  • The 'Nós' Identity: Note that for -ir verbs, the nós form is identical in the present and the past (nós dormimos). Context tells you which one is being used.
  • Regional Variation: In Brazil, você is standard, using the -iu ending. In Portugal, tu with -iste is very common.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu abri a janela porque estava calor.

    I opened the window because it was hot.

    Word by Word: I opened the window because (it) was heat.

    A single, completed action ('opened') using the first-person ending '-i'.

  2. Eles decidiram vender o carro na semana passada.

    They decided to sell the car last week.

    Word by Word: They decided to sell the car in the week past.

    The third-person plural ending '-iram' indicates a finished decision.

  3. Nós dormimos muito bem ontem à noite.

    We slept very well last night.

    Word by Word: We slept very well yesterday at night.

    Even though 'dormimos' looks like the present tense, 'ontem' (yesterday) marks it as the preterite.

  4. Você partiu o bolo em pedaços pequenos?

    Did you split the cake into small pieces?

    Word by Word: You split the cake in pieces small?

    Using the third-person singular ending '-iu' with the subject 'você'.

  5. Tu desististe do curso de música?

    Did you give up on the music course?

    Word by Word: You gave up of the course of music?

    The second-person singular ending '-iste' is common in Portugal and parts of Brazil.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing -er and -ir endings in the 3rd person singular.

    Ele partieu cedo.
    Ele partiu cedo.

    Verbs ending in -er use '-eu' (comeu), but verbs ending in -ir must use '-iu' (partiu).

  • Adding an unnecessary accent to the 'nós' form.

    Nós dormímos muito.
    Nós dormimos muito.

    Unlike -ar verbs in European Portuguese, -ir verbs never take an accent on the 'nós' form in the preterite.

  • Using the Present Perfect (Tenho visto) for a single past event.

    Eu tenho visto aquele filme ontem.
    Eu vi aquele filme ontem.

    In Portuguese, 'Tenho visto' implies a repeated action over time. For a single completed event, use the simple preterite.

How It Connects

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-i/-iste/-iu/-imos/-istes/-iramLevel 2Pretérito Perfeito -IR Verbs

Learn This First

To learn the preterite of -ir verbs, you need to understand how subject pronouns work in Portuguese and be familiar with the concept of verb stems for the -ir conjugation group. It is also helpful to have already learned the preterite endings for -ar verbs to understand the general logic of the past tense.

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-i