The Portuguese verb "precisar" means "to need" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "precisar" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "precisar" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | preciso |
| tu | you (informal) | precisas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | precisa |
| nós | we | precisamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | precisais |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | precisam |
Ela precisa de descansar um pouco.
She needs to rest a little.
How to Conjugate "precisar" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | precisei |
| tu | you (informal) | precisaste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | precisou |
| nós | we | precisámos |
| vós | you all (formal) | precisastes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | precisaram |
Ela precisou de dinheiro.
She needed money.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | precisava |
| tu | you (informal) | precisavas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | precisava |
| nós | we | precisávamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | precisáveis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | precisavam |
Ela precisava de um novo emprego.
She needed a new job.
How to Conjugate "precisar" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | precisarei |
| tu | you (informal) | precisarás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | precisará |
| nós | we | precisaremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | precisareis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | precisarão |
Ela precisará de um carro.
She will need a car.
How to Conjugate "precisar" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | precisaria |
| tu | you (informal) | precisarias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | precisaria |
| nós | we | precisaríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | precisaríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | precisariam |
Ela precisaria de um mapa.
She would need a map.
Frequently Asked Questions About "precisar"
Is "precisar" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Precisar" is a regular Portuguese verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "precisar" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "precisar" means "to need" in English.
How do you conjugate "precisar" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → preciso, tu → precisas, ele/ela/você → precisa, nós → precisamos, vós → precisais, eles/elas/vocês → precisam.
How many tenses does "precisar" have in Portuguese?
"Precisar" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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