Embracing Existence: A Comprehensive Guide to the Conjugation of the Portuguese Verb 'Estar'

In the captivating world of the Portuguese language, the verb “estar” (to be) holds a special place. “Estar” allows us to express states of being, locations, and temporary conditions. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the conjugation of “estar” across various tenses and moods, accompanied by example sentences to illustrate their practical usage. By mastering the conjugations of “estar,” you will develop the ability to describe your current state, express temporary conditions, and navigate the dynamic nature of existence in the Portuguese language.

• Present Indicative Tense
• Imperfect Indicative Tense
• Preterite Indicative Tense
• Future Indicative Tense
• Conditional Mood
• Subjunctive Mood
  • Present Subjunctive Tense
  • Imperfect Subjunctive Tense
• Imperative Mood
• Conclusion

Present Indicative Tense

1. Eu estou - I am
   • Eu estou feliz com os resultados do meu trabalho. (I am happy with the results of my work.)
2. Tu estás - You are (informal singular)
   • Tu estás cansado depois de um longo dia de trabalho. (You are tired after a long day of work.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você está - He/She/You are (formal singular)
   • Ele está preocupado com o futuro. (He is worried about the future.)
4. Nós estamos - We are
   • Nós estamos empolgados com as novas oportunidades. (We are excited about the new opportunities.)
5. Vós estais - You are (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós estais ansiosos pela chegada do fim de semana. (You are eager for the weekend to arrive.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês estão - They/You are (plural)
   • Eles estão felizes por estarem juntos novamente. (They are happy to be together again.)

Imperfect Indicative Tense

1. Eu estava - I was
   • Eu estava tranquilo antes da reunião começar. (I was calm before the meeting started.)
2. Tu estavas - You were (informal singular)
   • Tu estavas animado para a viagem de férias. (You were excited for the vacation trip.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você estava - He/She/You were (formal singular)
   • Ele estava ocupado com os preparativos do evento. (He was busy with the event preparations.)
4. Nós estávamos - We were
   • Nós estávamos ansiosos para o início das férias. (We were anxious for the start of the vacation.)
5. Vós estáveis - You were (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós estáveis descontraídos durante a festa. (You were relaxed during the party.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês estavam - They/You were (plural)
   • Eles estavam felizes com o resultado do jogo. (They were happy with the outcome of the game.)

Preterite Indicative Tense

1. Eu estive - I was
   • Eu estive presente na reunião importante. (I was present at the important meeting.)
2. Tu estiveste - You were (informal singular)
   • Tu estiveste envolvido na organização do evento. (You were involved in the event organization.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você esteve - He/She/You were (formal singular)
   • Ele esteve doente por alguns dias. (He was sick for a few days.)
4. Nós estivemos - We were
   • Nós estivemos ocupados com os preparativos da festa. (We were busy with the party preparations.)
5. Vós estivestes - You were (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós estivestes presentes na cerimônia de premiação. (You were present at the award ceremony.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês estiveram - They/You were (plural)
   • Eles estiveram ausentes na reunião de hoje. (They were absent from today’s meeting.)

Future Indicative Tense

1. Eu estarei - I will be
   • Eu estarei presente no evento de amanhã. (I will be present at tomorrow’s event.)
2. Tu estarás - You will be (informal singular)
   • Tu estarás ocupado com os estudos esta tarde. (You will be busy with your studies this afternoon.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você estará - He/She/You will be (formal singular)
   • Ele estará viajando nos próximos dias. (He will be traveling in the upcoming days.)
4. Nós estaremos - We will be
   • Nós estaremos felizes em te receber em nossa casa. (We will be happy to welcome you to our house.)
5. Vós estareis - You will be (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós estareis ansiosos pelo resultado do concurso. (You will be anxious for the contest result.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês estarão - They/You will be (plural)
   • Eles estarão ocupados com os preparativos do casamento. (They will be busy with the wedding preparations.)

Conditional Mood

1. Eu estaria - I would be
   • Eu estaria feliz se conseguisse alcançar meus objetivos. (I would be happy if I could achieve my goals.)
2. Tu estarias - You would be (informal singular)
   • Tu estarias mais relaxado se tirasses um tempo para descansar. (You would be more relaxed if you took some time to rest.)
3. Ele/Ela/Você estaria - He/She/You would be (formal singular)
   • Ele estaria mais confiante se tivesse mais experiência. (He would be more confident if he had more experience.)
4. Nós estaríamos - We would be
   • Nós estaríamos mais animados se o tempo estivesse bom. (We would be more excited if the weather was good.)
5. Vós estaríeis - You would be (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Vós estaríeis mais envolvidos se participásseis ativamente. (You would be more involved if you actively participated.)
6. Eles/Elas/Vocês estariam - They/You would be (plural)
   • Eles estariam mais motivados se vissem resultados positivos. (They would be more motivated if they saw positive results.)

Subjunctive Mood

Present Subjunctive Tense

1. Que eu esteja - That I be
   • É importante que eu esteja presente na reunião de amanhã. (It’s important that I be present at tomorrow’s meeting.)
2. Que tu estejas - That you be (informal singular)
   • É necessário que tu estejas calmo diante dos desafios. (It’s necessary that you be calm in the face of challenges.)
3. Que ele/ela/você esteja - That he/she/you be (formal singular)
   • É fundamental que ele esteja comprometido com o projeto. (It’s fundamental that he be committed to the project.)
4. Que nós estejamos - That we be
   • É importante que nós estejamos unidos para alcançar nossos objetivos. (It’s important that we be united to achieve our goals.)
5. Que vós estejais - That you be (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Não é justo que vós estejais ausentes nas discussões importantes. (It’s not fair that you be absent from important discussions.)
6. Que eles/elas/vocês estejam - That they/you be (plural)
   • É recomendável que eles estejam abertos a novas ideias. (It’s advisable that they be open to new ideas.)

Imperfect Subjunctive Tense

1. Que eu estivesse - That I were
   • Eu desejava que eu estivesse mais motivado para estudar. (I wished that I were more motivated to study.)
2. Que tu estivesses - That you were (informal singular)
   • Seria bom que tu estivesses mais confiante nas tuas habilidades. (It would be good if you were more confident in your abilities.)
3. Que ele/ela/você estivesse - That he/she/you were (formal singular)
   • Era importante que ele estivesse presente no evento. (It was important that he be present at the event.)
4. Que nós estivéssemos - That we were
   • Eu preferiria que nós estivéssemos mais relaxados para aproveitar a viagem. (I would prefer that we were more relaxed to enjoy the trip.)
5. Que vós estivésseis - That you were (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Eu desejava que vós estivésseis mais envolvidos no projeto. (I wished that you were more involved in the project.)
6. Que eles/elas/vocês estivessem - That they/you were (plural)
   • Seria bom que eles estivessem mais dispostos a colaborar. (It would be good if they were more willing to collaborate.)

Imperative Mood

1. Está - Be (informal singular)
   • Está calmo e focado nos teus objetivos. (Be calm and focused on your goals.)
2. Esteja - Be (formal singular)
   • Esteja aberto a novas possibilidades. (Be open to new possibilities.)
3. Estejamos - Let’s be
   • Estejamos unidos para enfrentar os desafios que surgirem. (Let’s be united to face the challenges that arise.)
4. Estai - Be (informal plural - rarely used)
   • Estai dispostos a aprender com os erros. (Be willing to learn from mistakes.)
5. Estejam - Be (formal plural)
   • Estejam atentos às oportunidades que surgirem. (Be attentive to the opportunities that arise.)

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, you have delved into the conjugations of the verb “estar” and gained a deeper understanding of how to express states of being, locations, and temporary conditions in the Portuguese language. From the present indicative to the subjunctive mood, you now possess the tools to authentically describe your current state, express temporary situations, and navigate the dynamic nature of existence. Embrace the power of “estar” and allow it to enrich your ability to communicate, connect with others, and fully embrace the diverse facets of existence in the captivating realm of the Portuguese language.