How to Say ‘As Soon As’ in Portuguese: 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 assim que to connect two events
Assim que means ‘as soon as’ and links one action to another. It can refer to the past, present, or future; the verb forms depend on when the events happen.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Assim que cheguei, mandei uma mensagem. | As soon as I arrived, I sent a message. |
| Me liga assim que puder. | Call me as soon as you can. |
Use the future subjunctive for a future event
When the event has not happened yet, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the future subjunctive after assim que. Regular verbs such as chegar and terminar use forms like chegar and terminar for você or ele/ela.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Assim que você chegar, me avisa. | As soon as you arrive, let me know. |
| Vamos sair assim que a reunião terminar. | We’ll leave as soon as the meeting ends. |
Place the time phrase where it is clearest
Assim que can come at the beginning or later in a sentence. A comma is often used when the time clause comes first, especially in writing.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Assim que o ônibus chegar, a gente embarca. | As soon as the bus arrives, we’ll get on. |
| Vou te mandar o endereço assim que confirmar. | I’ll send you the address as soon as I confirm. |
Remember: Use assim que for ‘as soon as’ and the future subjunctive when the next event is still in the future.
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.
As soon as I arrived, I sent a message.
Show a Portuguese answer
Assim que cheguei, mandei uma mensagem.
Call me as soon as you can.
Show a Portuguese answer
Me liga assim que puder.
As soon as you arrive, let me know.
Show a Portuguese answer
Assim que você chegar, me avisa.
We’ll leave as soon as the meeting ends.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vamos sair assim que a reunião terminar.
As soon as the bus arrives, we’ll get on.
Show a Portuguese answer
Assim que o ônibus chegar, a gente embarca.
I’ll send you the address as soon as I confirm.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vou te mandar o endereço assim que confirmar.
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.
Use assim que for ‘as soon as’ and the future subjunctive when the next event is still in the future.
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 How to Say ‘As Soon As’ in Portuguese: 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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