The Portuguese verb "ter" means "to have" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "ter" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "ter" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | tenho |
| tu | you (informal) | tens |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | tem |
| nós | we | temos |
| vós | you all (formal) | tendes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | têm |
Você tem um livro bom.
You have a good book.
How to Conjugate "ter" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | tive |
| tu | you (informal) | tiveste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | teve |
| nós | we | tivemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | tivestes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | tiveram |
Você teve sorte no jogo.
You had luck in the game.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | tinha |
| tu | you (informal) | tinhas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | tinha |
| nós | we | tínhamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | tínheis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | tinham |
Você tinha razão sobre isso.
You were right about that.
How to Conjugate "ter" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | terei |
| tu | you (informal) | terás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | terá |
| nós | we | teremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | tereis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | terão |
Ela terá uma ideia genial.
She will have a brilliant idea.
How to Conjugate "ter" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | teria |
| tu | you (informal) | terias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | teria |
| nós | we | teríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | teríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | teriam |
Ela teria uma ideia boa.
She would have a good idea.
Frequently Asked Questions About "ter"
Is "ter" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Ter" is an irregular Portuguese verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "ter" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "ter" means "to have" in English.
How do you conjugate "ter" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → tenho, tu → tens, ele/ela/você → tem, nós → temos, vós → tendes, eles/elas/vocês → têm.
How many tenses does "ter" have in Portuguese?
"Ter" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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