Dar Certo, Dar Tempo, and Dar Para: Useful Brazilian Portuguese Phrases — Practice

Use dar certo when a plan works out

Dar certo means to work out, go well, or succeed. The subject of the phrase is often the plan, idea, or situation: Deu certo! means “It worked!” The verb dar is irregular, so learn this expression as a complete chunk rather than trying to translate the verb literally each time.

Use não deu certo to say that something did not work out. You can add a short reason or suggest another plan. The expression is common in everyday conversation about appointments, arrangements, attempts, and ideas.

Ask whether there is enough time with dar tempo

Dar tempo means that there is enough time to do something. It often appears with para + infinitive: Dá tempo de chegar antes das oito? asks whether there is time to arrive before eight. A past form such as deu tempo can describe whether someone managed to do something in time.

This is different from the noun tempo meaning weather or time in general. The surrounding phrase shows that the expression is about having enough time for an action. Pair it with a real deadline or journey to make the meaning easy to remember.

Use dar para to ask if something is possible

Dar para can mean that something is possible or manageable: Dá para abrir a janela? (Can you open the window? / Is it possible to open the window?). With an infinitive, it is a flexible everyday way to ask whether an action can be done. The exact English translation depends on context.

Do not confuse this pattern with dar certo. Dar para focuses on possibility, practicality, or whether something can be done; dar certo focuses on whether a plan succeeds. Notice the infinitive that follows dar para and the outcome described by dar certo.

Compare the three expressions in a mini-dialogue

Imagine planning to catch a bus to an appointment. Ask whether there is enough time, whether it is possible to buy a ticket on board, and whether the plan worked out. Each question uses a different chunk, so the context shows which phrase you need.

Practice changing the subject and time: dá tempo, deu tempo, daria tempo; dá para, não dá para; deu certo, não deu certo. Read each phrase aloud with its complete context. Real Life Portuguese has other guides to high-frequency spoken expressions, and I Speak Portuguese can provide teacher feedback on your pronunciation and natural use.

Remember: Remember the meaning by the full chunk: dar certo = work out, dar tempo = have enough time, and dar para = be possible or manageable.

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. The meeting went well.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A reunião deu certo.

2. We tried, but it didn’t work out.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente tentou, mas não deu certo.

3. If it works out, we’ll travel on Saturday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Se der certo, viajamos no sábado.

4. Is there time to order a coffee?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Dá tempo de pedir um café?

5. There wasn’t time to buy the tickets.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não deu tempo de comprar os ingressos.

6. If we leave now, there’s time to catch the bus.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Se sairmos agora, dá tempo de pegar o ônibus.

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.

Remember the meaning by the full chunk: dar certo = work out, dar tempo = have enough time, and dar para = be possible or manageable.

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 Dar Certo, Dar Tempo, and Dar Para: Useful Brazilian Portuguese Phrases 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.