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Portuguese grammar Part of Chapter 10

CEFR B1

3 min read

Test yourself (17 questions)

Portuguese Future Subjunctive: Quando Eu Chegar, Se Você Puder

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

After and about the future, Portuguese uses the future subjunctive. For regular verbs it looks exactly like the infinitive, which is why learners use it for months without noticing:

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Tap the mistake.

  • , . - When I arrive, I'll call you.
  • , . - If you can, come tomorrow.

The whole system on one screen

the person endingWhat do the colours mean?

Three endings: nothing, -mos and -em.

Person,
, ,
,
  • , . - When they arrive, we'll start.

Portugal's adds -es: , if you can.

Since and share a past, serves both: , when I go, or when I am.

Built from the eles past

the person endingWhat do the colours mean?

Take the form of the preterite and drop the -am:

tiveram minus -am: tiver, if I have
Verbeles, pastFuture subj.

There are no exceptions: if you know the past, you know this. For a regular verb the result is spelled like the infinitive; the irregular verbs give the game away.

After quando, assim que, enquanto

future subjunctiveindicativeWhat do the colours mean?

When the clause points at something still to come, the verb goes into the future subjunctive:

WordPortugueseEnglish
, .When I arrive, I'll call you.
, .As soon as he leaves, we'll start.
, .While he's ill, I'll stay.
, .After you' eaten, we'll go out.

The other half can be the present, plus an infinitive, or a command: , , .

For a habit, takes the ordinary present instead:

  • , . - Whenever I get home, I rest.
  • , . - When I get home, I'll call you.

says ; Brazil says .

After se: if, about the future

future subjunctiveindicativeWhat do the colours mean?

An if about the future takes the future subjunctive:

IfPortugueseEnglish
you can , .If you can, come tomorrow.
it rains , .If it rains, we'll stay at home.
they want , .If they want, they can come.

An if about now, about something you already know, takes the indicative:

  • , . - If you want help, you only have to ask.

What is only imagined (if I were, if I had) takes the imperfect subjunctive: .

After como, o que, quem

future subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

The same form follows however, whatever and whoever about the future:

WordPortugueseEnglish
.As you like.
.Do whatever you want.
.Whoever wants to can come.

is an everyday answer to almost any question about plans.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
, .no future tense after
.from
.from
.from

Casual speech does produce and ; they are not standard, and exams mark them wrong. The last three slips put the infinitive where an irregular verb needs its past stem. The personal infinitive looks the same for regular verbs and different for irregular ones: , before we do, but , when we do.

What to do next

  1. Learn , , , and as a set.
  2. Say three plans with , then three with .
  3. Then the imperfect subjunctive, for the if that is only imagined.

The future subjunctive is on the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Portuguese specification at Higher tier, for recognition. It belongs with the present subjunctive.

Practise: test yourself

Build the word

0/4

Build the future subjunctive from the past stem and the ending.

  1. quando eu + ter

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  2. se você + poder

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  3. quando eles + chegar

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  4. se nós + fazer

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Tap the mistake.

Complete the story

0/3

Choose the right form for each gap.

A day at the beach

Amanhã a Ana e o irmão vão para a praia. Quando eles , vão me ligar. Se a Ana tempo, a gente vai passar a tarde juntos. Assim que eu do trabalho, eu vou também.

Gap 1 of 3

Pick the right one

0/2

Which one says the English?

  1. As you like.

  2. If they want, they can come.

Matching

0/5

Match each phrase to its English.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the future subjunctive in Portuguese?
The form after , , and similar words when they point at the future: , when I arrive; , if you can. Spanish has almost entirely dropped its equivalent; Portuguese uses it every day.
How do you form the future subjunctive?
Take the form of the preterite and drop the -am: gives , gives , gives . Then add -mos for and -em for and : , . There are no exceptions.
Why does look like an infinitive?
For a regular verb, the past minus -am is spelled exactly like the infinitive: gives . Irregular verbs show the difference: , , are clearly not infinitives.
Can I say ?
Yes, for a habit: , , whenever I get home, I rest. For one event still to come, use the future subjunctive: , . The future tense, , is not used there.
What does mean?
If you like, or if you want, about something still to come: , , if you like, I'll help you. is the future subjunctive of , from . , as you like, uses the same form.