Ajudar Conjugation in Portuguese
ajudar means “to help” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 80 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to help, and it is completely regular: ajudo, ajudas, ajuda, ajudamos, ajudais, ajudam. It takes the person helped, usually with a: ajudo a Maria. This page gives you the complete conjugation of ajudar — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I help Maria.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: ajudar
- English: to help
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: ajudando
- Present participle: ajudante
- Past participle: ajudado
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ar verbs; pattern ar in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for ajudar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read ajudar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about ajudar
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ar pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle ajudado. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is ajudando, the present participle is ajudante and the past participle is ajudado: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for ajudar. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudo |
| tu | ajudas |
| ele/ela | ajuda |
| nós | ajudamos |
| vós | ajudais |
| eles/elas | ajudam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I help Maria”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudei |
| tu | ajudaste |
| ele/ela | ajudou |
| nós | ajudámos |
| vós | ajudastes |
| eles/elas | ajudaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu ajudei a Maria ontem.” — “I helped Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudava |
| tu | ajudavas |
| ele/ela | ajudava |
| nós | ajudávamos |
| vós | ajudáveis |
| eles/elas | ajudavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu ajudava a Maria antigamente.” — “I used to help Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudara |
| tu | ajudaras |
| ele/ela | ajudara |
| nós | ajudáramos |
| vós | ajudáreis |
| eles/elas | ajudaram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu ajudara a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had helped Maria”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudarei |
| tu | ajudarás |
| ele/ela | ajudará |
| nós | ajudaremos |
| vós | ajudareis |
| eles/elas | ajudarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu ajudarei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will help Maria”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudaria |
| tu | ajudarias |
| ele/ela | ajudaria |
| nós | ajudaríamos |
| vós | ajudaríeis |
| eles/elas | ajudariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu ajudaria a Maria um dia.” — “I would help Maria”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho ajudado |
| tu | tens ajudado |
| ele/ela | tem ajudado |
| nós | temos ajudado |
| vós | tendes ajudado |
| eles/elas | têm ajudado |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem ajudado a Maria esta semana.” — “He has helped Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha ajudado |
| tu | tinhas ajudado |
| ele/ela | tinha ajudado |
| nós | tínhamos ajudado |
| vós | tínheis ajudado |
| eles/elas | tinham ajudado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha ajudado a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had helped Maria”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei ajudado |
| tu | terás ajudado |
| ele/ela | terá ajudado |
| nós | teremos ajudado |
| vós | tereis ajudado |
| eles/elas | terão ajudado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei ajudado a Maria até amanhã.” — “I will have helped Maria”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria ajudado |
| tu | terias ajudado |
| ele/ela | teria ajudado |
| nós | teríamos ajudado |
| vós | teríeis ajudado |
| eles/elas | teriam ajudado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria ajudado a Maria ontem.” — “I would have helped Maria”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajude |
| tu | ajudes |
| ele/ela | ajude |
| nós | ajudemos |
| vós | ajudeis |
| eles/elas | ajudem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu ajude a Maria.” — “It is important that I help Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudasse |
| tu | ajudasses |
| ele/ela | ajudasse |
| nós | ajudássemos |
| vós | ajudásseis |
| eles/elas | ajudassem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu ajudasse a Maria.” — “It was important that I help Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | ajudar |
| tu | ajudares |
| ele/ela | ajudar |
| nós | ajudarmos |
| vós | ajudardes |
| eles/elas | ajudarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu ajudar a Maria, é bom.” — “If I help Maria, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | ajuda |
| ele/ela | ajude |
| nós | ajudemos |
| vós | ajudai |
| eles/elas | ajudem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Ajuda a Maria!” — “Help Maria!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não ajudes |
| ele/ela | não ajude |
| nós | não ajudemos |
| vós | não ajudeis |
| eles/elas | não ajudem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não ajudes a Maria.” — “Do not help Maria.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha ajudado |
| tu | tenhas ajudado |
| ele/ela | tenha ajudado |
| nós | tenhamos ajudado |
| vós | tenhais ajudado |
| eles/elas | tenham ajudado |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha ajudado a Maria.” — “It is important that I have helped Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse ajudado |
| tu | tivesses ajudado |
| ele/ela | tivesse ajudado |
| nós | tivéssemos ajudado |
| vós | tivésseis ajudado |
| eles/elas | tivessem ajudado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse ajudado a Maria.” — “It was important that I had helped Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver ajudado |
| tu | tiveres ajudado |
| ele/ela | tiver ajudado |
| nós | tivermos ajudado |
| vós | tiverdes ajudado |
| eles/elas | tiverem ajudado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver ajudado a Maria, é bom.” — “If I have helped Maria, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | ajudando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Ajudando a Maria, aprendo muito.” — “While helping Maria, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | ajudante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle ajudante is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet ajudante more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | ajudado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho ajudado a Maria esta semana.” — “I have helped Maria.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with ajudar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I help Maria”
- “Tu ajudaste a Maria ontem.” — “You helped Maria”
- “Ele ajudava a Maria antigamente.” — “He used to help Maria”
- “Eu ajudarei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will help Maria”
- “Tu ajudarias a Maria um dia.” — “You would help Maria”
- “Ele tem ajudado a Maria esta semana.” — “He has helped Maria”
- “Eu tinha ajudado a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had helped Maria”
- “Tu terás ajudado a Maria até amanhã.” — “You will have helped Maria”
- “É importante que eu ajude a Maria.” — “It is important that I help Maria”
- “Ajuda a Maria!” — “Help Maria!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu ajudar a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.”
The infinitive ajudar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form ajudo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu ajudas a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.”
ajudas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with ajudo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu ajudo a Maria ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu ajudei a Maria ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito ajudei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou ajudado a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho ajudado a Maria esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of ajudar is formed with ter plus the past participle ajudado: the eu form is tenho ajudado. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu ajudo a Maria.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu ajude a Maria.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use ajude here, not the indicative ajudo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho ajudando a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho ajudado a Maria esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle ajudado, not the gerund ajudando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on ajudar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of ajudar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) ajudas
- B) ajudo
- C) ajuda
- D) ajudamos
What is the ele/ela form of ajudar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) ajudei
- B) ajudaste
- C) ajudou
- D) ajudámos
What is the nós form of ajudar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) ajudava
- B) ajudavas
- C) ajudáveis
- D) ajudávamos
What is the tu form of ajudar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) ajudarás
- B) ajudarei
- C) ajudará
- D) ajudaremos
What is the eu form of ajudar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) ajudarias
- B) ajudaria
- C) ajudaríamos
- D) ajudaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of ajudar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho ajudado
- B) tens ajudado
- C) tem ajudado
- D) temos ajudado
What is the ele/ela form of ajudar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) ajudes
- B) ajudemos
- C) ajudeis
- D) ajude
What is the eu form of ajudar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) ajudasse
- B) ajudasses
- C) ajudássemos
- D) ajudásseis
What is the gerund of ajudar?
- A) ajudado
- B) ajudando
- C) ajudar
- D) ajudo
What does ajudar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to help
- D) —
Answer key
- B) ajudo — the correct form is ajudo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) ajudou — the correct form is ajudou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ajudávamos — the correct form is ajudávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) ajudarás — the correct form is ajudarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) ajudaria — the correct form is ajudaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem ajudado — the correct form is tem ajudado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ajude — the correct form is ajude. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) ajudasse — the correct form is ajudasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) ajudando — the correct form is ajudando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to help — the correct form is to help. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does ajudar mean in English?
ajudar means “to help”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is ajudar regular or irregular?
ajudar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is ajudando and the past participle is ajudado.
What are the gerund and past participle of ajudar?
The gerund is ajudando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is ajudado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho ajudado.
Which auxiliary does ajudar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
ajudar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho ajudado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle ajudado.
How do I say “I help” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu ajudo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I help Maria” The eu form of the present is ajudo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of ajudar — every tense of ajudar in one place.
- Ajudar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Ajudar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese present tense guide — the full guide to the present tense in Portuguese.
- Estar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Dar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise ajudar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise ajudar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise ajudar with the interactive tool.