Quick answer
Ontem points back one day. Amanha points forward one day.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
ontem
yesterday
Use ontem for the day before today.
amanha
tomorrow
Use amanha for the day after today.
How to choose
- ontem: Choose ontem if the sentence points to the day before today.
- amanha: Choose amanha if the sentence points to the day after today.
Examples
Ontem eu estudei muito.
Yesterday I studied a lot.
Amanha temos aula.
Tomorrow we have class.
Common trap
Do not use amanha for morning. Morning is manha.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with ontem, then once with amanha. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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