The Portuguese Future Subjunctive: Quando, Se, and Assim Que — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use the future subjunctive for a future possibility
Brazilian Portuguese often uses the future subjunctive after quando (when), se (if), and assim que (as soon as) when the clause refers to a future event that has not happened yet. The tense describes the timing and uncertainty of the event; English usually uses a present form in the same kind of clause.
The form is often easy to spot in irregular verbs: quando eu for (when I go), se você tiver (if you have), and assim que eles souberem (as soon as they know). For regular verbs, the future-subjunctive form commonly matches the infinitive for eu, você, ele, ela, and eles; the first-person plural often has its own form, such as quando nós falarmos.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quando eu chegar em casa, vou te ligar. | When I get home, I’ll call you. |
| Se você quiser, a gente pode conversar depois. | If you want, we can talk later. |
| Assim que eles souberem o horário, vão avisar. | As soon as they know the time, they’ll let us know. |
Build common forms from the past-tense stem
For many verbs, you can find the future subjunctive by starting with the third-person plural of the preterite, removing -am, and adding the matching ending. Falaram becomes falar, comeram becomes comer, and partiram becomes partir. The result looks like an infinitive for many persons, but it is a finite verb form and changes for nós: falarmos, comermos, partirmos.
Irregular verbs need their own forms, so learn frequent examples in short phrases. For ter, use tiver, tiveres, tiver, tivermos, tiverem; for fazer, use fizer, fizeres, fizer, fizermos, fizerem. In everyday Brazilian speech, você takes the same form as ele or ela: se você fizer.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quando nós terminarmos, podemos sair. | When we finish, we can leave. |
| Se ela fizer a reserva, eu confirmo o endereço. | If she makes the reservation, I’ll confirm the address. |
| Quando vocês puderem, me mandem uma mensagem. | When you all can, send me a message. |
Compare a real future condition with a regular habit
A future possibility often uses the subjunctive: Se eu tiver tempo amanhã, vou cozinhar. A repeated or generally true situation can use the present indicative: Se eu tenho tempo, eu cozinho em casa. The surrounding meaning—not the word se by itself—helps you choose.
Do not put the future subjunctive in the result clause simply because the first clause refers to the future. The result may use ir + infinitive, the present, or an imperative, depending on what you mean. Practice the whole sentence as a unit and listen for the verb forms after the time or condition word.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Se chover amanhã, vamos ficar em casa. | If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay home. |
| Quando você chegar, me avisa. | When you arrive, let me know. |
| Se tenho uma dúvida, eu pergunto ao professor. | If I have a question, I ask the teacher. |
Remember: Choose a future plan and complete one frame aloud: “Quando eu…,” or “Se eu…”. Use the future subjunctive for the possible future event, then add the result you expect.
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.
When I get home, I’ll call you.
Show a Portuguese answer
Quando eu chegar em casa, vou te ligar.
If you want, we can talk later.
Show a Portuguese answer
Se você quiser, a gente pode conversar depois.
As soon as they know the time, they’ll let us know.
Show a Portuguese answer
Assim que eles souberem o horário, vão avisar.
When we finish, we can leave.
Show a Portuguese answer
Quando nós terminarmos, podemos sair.
If she makes the reservation, I’ll confirm the address.
Show a Portuguese answer
Se ela fizer a reserva, eu confirmo o endereço.
When you all can, send me a message.
Show a Portuguese answer
Quando vocês puderem, me mandem uma mensagem.
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.
Choose a future plan and complete one frame aloud: “Quando eu…,” or “Se eu…”. Use the future subjunctive for the possible future event, then add the result you expect.
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 The Portuguese Future Subjunctive: Quando, Se, and Assim Que 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.
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