A2 Portuguese GrammarTemporal Prepositions
Master Portuguese temporal prepositions for expressing time relationships. Learn desde (since), há (ago/for), durante (during), antes de (before), depois de (after), and até (until). Understand the crucial difference between há and desde for duration, and how these prepositions combine with different verb tenses.
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)