B2 (Upper Intermediate)Lesson 1: Advanced Subjunctive Forms
The future subjunctive expresses likely future events after temporal conjunctions like quando, using forms derived from the third-person plural preterite with endings -r, -res, -r, -rmos, -rem, making it Portuguese's unique verbal mood that Spanish speakers can only dream about.
Formation: Take 3rd plural preterite (falaram), drop -ram, add -r endings
Main trigger words: quando (when), se (if), assim que (as soon as), depois que (after)
Expresses: Future events that are probable or expected (not hypothetical)
Key pattern: Quando eu chegar, te ligo (When I arrive, I'll call you)
Looks like personal infinitive but isn't (different 'nós' form)
Super common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Often replaced by present/infinitive in casual speech
Unique to Portuguese – Spanish lost it 400 years ago!
3rd person plural preterite stem (remove -ram) + -r, -res, -r, -rmos, -rem
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The future subjunctive is everywhere in Brazilian daily life – you literally can't make plans without it! From casual promises ("Quando eu chegar, te aviso") to work emails ("Assim que recebermos o pagamento, enviaremos o produto") to dating ("Se você quiser, podemos sair"), this structure appears hundreds of times daily. Unlike the dramatic imperfect subjunctive of telenovelas, the future subjunctive is the practical grammar of real life: WhatsApp messages, work meetings, and family planning all depend on mastering this uniquely Portuguese form!
The future subjunctive uses the EXACT same stem as the imperfect subjunctive, but with different endings:
Find 3rd plural preterite: eles falaram
Remove -ram: fala-
Add future subjunctive endings:
| Person | Ending | Result | Compare to Imperfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | -r | falar | falasse |
| tu | -res | falares | falasses |
"Quando eu chegar em casa, te mando mensagem"
"Assim que terminar o trabalho, vou ao supermercado"
"Se der tempo, passo na padaria"
"Quando você acordar, me liga"
"Depois que almoçarmos, podemos conversar"
"Quando recebermos o pagamento, liberamos o pedido"
"Se houver problemas, entre em contato"
"Assim que o chefe aprovar, começamos o projeto"
"Caso precisarem de ajuda, estou disponível"
With verb "ir", Brazilians often drop the future subjunctive:
Formal: "Quando você for" (When you go)
Common: "Quando você vai" (uses present/future)
Also common: "Quando for" (drops pronoun)
This ONLY happens with "ir" - other verbs maintain future subjunctive.
"Antes que" (before) is the rebel - it takes PRESENT subjunctive, not future:
✅ "Antes que ele chegue" (present subjunctive)
❌ "Antes que ele chegar" (future subjunctive)
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