sempre que + Future Subjunctive

Sempre Que (Futuro Do Subjuntivo)

Level 4

The pattern sempre que + futuro do subjuntivo is used to express 'whenever' or 'every time' for events that haven't happened yet. It links a repeated future condition to a specific result.

How It Works

The conjunction sempre que (whenever/every time) triggers the subjunctive when the context refers to the future.

1. Meaning and Usage:
This structure indicates iteration (repetition). It says: 'In the future, every single time X happens, Y will follow.' Because the specific moments when X will happen are not yet fixed in time, Portuguese requires the future subjunctive.

2. Morphology (Forming the Verb):
For regular verbs, the future subjunctive looks identical to the personal infinitive (e.g., falar, comer). However, for irregular verbs, it is derived from the 3rd person plural of the pretérito perfeito (e.g., fizeram becomes fizer). This rule applies to all irregular verbs regardless of their ending.

3. Contrast with the Indicative:

  • Present Indicative: Used for current habits. 'Sempre que ele vem, traz flores' (Every time he comes [habitually], he brings flowers).
  • Future Subjunctive: Used for future possibilities. 'Sempre que ele vier, trará flores' (Whenever he comes [in the future], he will bring flowers).

4. Register:
Unlike Spanish, where this tense is mostly restricted to legal documents, in Portuguese, the future subjunctive is essential and used daily in both speech and writing to become proficient in the language.

Examples (4)

  1. Sempre que você quiser conversar, eu estarei aqui.

    Whenever you want to talk, I will be here.

    Word by Word: Always that you want (subj.) to talk, I will be here.

    The verb 'querer' becomes 'quiser' in the future subjunctive to show that the 'wanting' will happen at uncertain points in the future.

  2. Venha me visitar sempre que puder.

    Come visit me whenever you can.

    Word by Word: Come me to visit always that (you) can (subj.).

    Here, 'puder' is the future subjunctive of 'poder'. It implies 'every time you are able to in the future'.

  3. Sempre que o preço subir, as pessoas comprarão menos.

    Whenever the price rises, people will buy less.

    Word by Word: Always that the price rises (subj.), the people will buy less.

    This expresses a logical recurrence: every time the price goes up in the future, the result follows.

  4. Sempre que eles fizerem barulho, o bebê vai acordar.

    Whenever they make noise, the baby will wake up.

    Word by Word: Always that they make (subj.) noise, the baby goes to wake up.

    Uses the irregular future subjunctive 'fizerem' (from fazer) to indicate a repeated future possibility.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present indicative instead of the future subjunctive for future events.

    Sempre que você tem tempo, me ligue.
    Sempre que você tiver tempo, me ligue.

    In English, we say 'Whenever you have time', but in Portuguese, because the time is in the future and uncertain, you must use 'tiver' (future subjunctive).

  • Confusing the future subjunctive of 'ver' (to see) with 'vir' (to come).

    Sempre que você me ver, diga oi.
    Sempre que você me vir, diga oi.

    The future subjunctive of 'ver' is 'vir', and for 'vir' it is 'vier'. This is a very common mistake even for some native speakers.

  • Using the infinitive root for irregular verbs.

    Sempre que ele ter dinheiro, ele gasta.
    Sempre que ele tiver dinheiro, ele gastará.

    Irregular verbs like 'ter' change their stem in the future subjunctive (tiver, not ter).

How It Connects

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

sempre que + Future SubjunctiveLevel 4Sempre Que (Futuro Do Subjuntivo)

Learn This First

To use 'sempre que' with the future subjunctive, you first need to learn the conjugation of the future subjunctive itself, including both regular and irregular forms. Additionally, understanding how other temporal conjunctions like 'quando' function with this mood provides the necessary conceptual framework for expressing recurring future conditions.

Words in This Pattern

sempre que