🇵🇹A2 Portuguese GrammarTemporal Prepositions
1Há (Ago/For) with Time Expressions
Há expresses how long ago something happened (with past tense) or duration up to now (with present tense). With past tense: Cheguei há duas horas (I arrived two hours ago). With present tense: Estudo português há três anos (I have studied Portuguese for three years). Há always precedes the time expression.
Há with Different Tenses
| Tense | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past | ago | Cheguei há uma hora. | I arrived an hour ago. |
| Present | for (duration) | Moro aqui há dois anos. | I've lived here for two years. |
| Present | for | Espero há meia hora. | I've been waiting for half an hour. |
Examples
Comecei a trabalhar aqui há cinco anos.
I started working here five years ago.
há + past = ago
Estudo português há seis meses.
I have been studying Portuguese for six months.
há + present = for (duration)
Não o vejo há muito tempo.
I haven't seen him for a long time.
há with negative = for (not since)
Isso aconteceu há muito tempo.
That happened a long time ago.
há muito tempo = a long time ago
2Desde (Since) for Starting Points
Desde indicates the starting point of an action or state that continues to the present. It's used with specific points in time: dates, years, events. Unlike há which expresses duration, desde names when something began. Use present tense in Portuguese for ongoing situations: Moro aqui desde 2020 (I've lived here since 2020).
Desde Usage
| Expression | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| desde + year | desde 2015 | since 2015 |
| desde + month | desde janeiro | since January |
| desde + day | desde segunda-feira | since Monday |
| desde que | desde que cheguei | since I arrived |
Examples
Trabalho nesta empresa desde 2018.
I have worked at this company since 2018.
desde + year = since (specific time)
Não como carne desde janeiro.
I haven't eaten meat since January.
desde with negative
Conheço-a desde a infância.
I've known her since childhood.
desde + period of life
Desde que acordei, tenho dor de cabeça.
Since I woke up, I've had a headache.
desde que + clause = since (event)
3Durante (During) and Por (For)
Durante expresses the duration throughout which something happens: durante a aula (during the class). Por can express intended duration or exchange: Fiquei por duas semanas (I stayed for two weeks). Por emphasizes the extent/amount of time, while durante emphasizes the period throughout which something occurs.
Durante vs Por
| Preposition | Usage | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| durante | throughout | durante o verão | during the summer |
| durante | throughout | durante a reunião | during the meeting |
| por | for (duration) | por três dias | for three days |
| por | for (extent) | por muito tempo | for a long time |
Examples
Estudei durante toda a noite.
I studied throughout the entire night.
durante = throughout (whole period)
Vivi em Paris por dois anos.
I lived in Paris for two years.
por = for (completed duration)
Durante o filme, não falei nada.
During the film, I didn't say anything.
durante = during (within period)
Fiquei doente por uma semana.
I was sick for a week.
por = for (amount of time)
4Antes de, Depois de, Até (Before, After, Until)
Antes de (before) and depois de (after) indicate temporal relationships between events. They're followed by nouns or infinitives: antes de sair (before leaving). Até means 'until' and marks an endpoint: até amanhã (until tomorrow), até as cinco horas (until five o'clock). Até can also mean 'even' in other contexts.
Temporal Connectors
| Preposition | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| antes de | before | antes do jantar | before dinner |
| depois de | after | depois da aula | after class |
| até | until | até às nove | until nine o'clock |
| até | by (deadline) | até sexta-feira | by Friday |
Examples
Lavo as mãos antes de comer.
I wash my hands before eating.
antes de + infinitive = before -ing
Vou ao ginásio depois do trabalho.
I go to the gym after work.
depois de + noun = after
Trabalhei até às oito da noite.
I worked until eight in the evening.
até = until (endpoint)
Preciso de terminar isto até amanhã.
I need to finish this by tomorrow.
até = by (deadline)
Practice
Get 3 of 4 right to learn this lesson
'I arrived two hours ago': Cheguei ___ duas horas.
'I have worked here since 2020': Trabalho aqui ___ 2020.
'They told stories for many years': Contaram histórias ___ muitos anos.
'I studied until midnight': Estudei ___ à meia-noite.
See Real Examples in Stories
Now that you've practiced, see this grammar in context
