Antes, Depois, and Enquanto: Portuguese Time Connectors — Practice

Use antes de and depois de before a noun or infinitive

Use antes de or depois de before a noun: antes do almoço (before lunch), depois da aula (after class). Before an infinitive, keep de: antes de sair (before leaving), depois de estudar (after studying).

The de contracts with a definite article when one follows: de + o becomes do, and de + a becomes da.

Use depois que before a complete action

Use depois que when the next part contains a subject and a conjugated verb. The phrase links one completed event to what happens next.

The same idea can be expressed with depois de plus an infinitive when the subject is understood from context. Choose a complete sentence while you are learning the distinction.

Use enquanto for actions happening at the same time

Enquanto means while or as long as in many time contexts. Use it to connect actions that happen simultaneously or overlap.

For ongoing actions, our estar plus gerund guide explains forms such as estou lendo and está cozinhando.

Remember: Describe a routine with one action before another, one after it, and two actions happening while something else takes place.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I’m going to walk before work.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou caminhar antes do trabalho.

2. After dinner, we’ll talk.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Depois de jantar, a gente conversa.

3. Wash your hands before cooking.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Lave as mãos antes de cozinhar.

4. After I arrive, I’ll call you.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Depois que eu chegar, vou te ligar.

5. After the meeting ends, we can leave.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Depois que a reunião terminar, podemos sair.

6. We’ll eat after you all arrive.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente vai comer depois que vocês chegarem.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Describe a routine with one action before another, one after it, and two actions happening while something else takes place.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Antes, Depois, and Enquanto: Portuguese Time Connectors lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.