Dever Conjugation in Portuguese
dever means “to have to” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 10 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It is a modal verb meaning to have to, and it is always followed by another verb in the infinitive: devo estudar. Its present is devo, deves, deve, devemos, deveis, devem, and its pretérito perfeito is devi, deveste, deveu. It also means to owe, as in owing money. Do not confuse it with precisar, which means to need. This page gives you the complete conjugation of dever — 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 devo estudar todos os dias.” — “I have to study.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: dever
- English: to have to
- Verb type: Regular -er verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: devendo
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: devido
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -er verbs; pattern er in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for dever, 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 dever in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about dever
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -er 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 devido. 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 devendo and the past participle is devido: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. There is no present participle form listed for this verb in the verified tables. If you know those two 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 dever. 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 | devo |
| tu | deves |
| ele/ela | deve |
| nós | devemos |
| vós | deveis |
| eles/elas | devem |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu devo estudar todos os dias.” — “I have to study”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | devi |
| tu | deveste |
| ele/ela | deveu |
| nós | devemos |
| vós | devestes |
| eles/elas | deveram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu devi estudar ontem.” — “I had to study”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | devia |
| tu | devias |
| ele/ela | devia |
| nós | devíamos |
| vós | devíeis |
| eles/elas | deviam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu devia estudar antigamente.” — “I used to have to study”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | devera |
| tu | deveras |
| ele/ela | devera |
| nós | devéramos |
| vós | devéreis |
| eles/elas | deveram |
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 devera estudar antes do jantar.” — “I had had to study”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | deverei |
| tu | deverás |
| ele/ela | deverá |
| nós | deveremos |
| vós | devereis |
| eles/elas | deverão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu deverei estudar amanhã.” — “I will have to study”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | deveria |
| tu | deverias |
| ele/ela | deveria |
| nós | deveríamos |
| vós | deveríeis |
| eles/elas | deveriam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu deveria estudar um dia.” — “I would have to study”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho devido |
| tu | tens devido |
| ele/ela | tem devido |
| nós | temos devido |
| vós | tendes devido |
| eles/elas | têm devido |
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 devido estudar esta semana.” — “He has had to study”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha devido |
| tu | tinhas devido |
| ele/ela | tinha devido |
| nós | tínhamos devido |
| vós | tínheis devido |
| eles/elas | tinham devido |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha devido estudar antes do jantar.” — “I had had to study”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei devido |
| tu | terás devido |
| ele/ela | terá devido |
| nós | teremos devido |
| vós | tereis devido |
| eles/elas | terão devido |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei devido estudar até amanhã.” — “I will have had to study”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria devido |
| tu | terias devido |
| ele/ela | teria devido |
| nós | teríamos devido |
| vós | teríeis devido |
| eles/elas | teriam devido |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria devido estudar ontem.” — “I would have had to study”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | deva |
| tu | devas |
| ele/ela | deva |
| nós | devamos |
| vós | devais |
| eles/elas | devam |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu deva estudar.” — “It is important that I have to study”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | devesse |
| tu | devesses |
| ele/ela | devesse |
| nós | devêssemos |
| vós | devêsseis |
| eles/elas | devessem |
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 devesse estudar.” — “It was important that I have to study”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | dever |
| tu | deveres |
| ele/ela | dever |
| nós | devermos |
| vós | deverdes |
| eles/elas | deverem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu dever estudar, é bom.” — “If I have to study, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | deve |
| ele/ela | deva |
| nós | devamos |
| vós | devei |
| eles/elas | devam |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Deve estudar!” — “Have to study!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não devas |
| ele/ela | não deva |
| nós | não devamos |
| vós | não devais |
| eles/elas | não devam |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não devas estudar.” — “Do not have to study.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha devido |
| tu | tenhas devido |
| ele/ela | tenha devido |
| nós | tenhamos devido |
| vós | tenhais devido |
| eles/elas | tenham devido |
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 devido estudar.” — “It is important that I have had to study”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse devido |
| tu | tivesses devido |
| ele/ela | tivesse devido |
| nós | tivéssemos devido |
| vós | tivésseis devido |
| eles/elas | tivessem devido |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse devido estudar.” — “It was important that I had had to study”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver devido |
| tu | tiveres devido |
| ele/ela | tiver devido |
| nós | tivermos devido |
| vós | tiverdes devido |
| eles/elas | tiverem devido |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver devido estudar, é bom.” — “If I have had to study, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | devendo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Devendo estudar, aprendo muito.” — “While having to study, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | devido |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho devido estudar esta semana.” — “I have had to study.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with dever, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu devo estudar todos os dias.” — “I have to study”
- “Tu deveste estudar ontem.” — “You had to study”
- “Ele devia estudar antigamente.” — “He used to have to study”
- “Eu deverei estudar amanhã.” — “I will have to study”
- “Tu deverias estudar um dia.” — “You would have to study”
- “Ele tem devido estudar esta semana.” — “He has had to study”
- “Eu tinha devido estudar antes do jantar.” — “I had had to study”
- “Tu terás devido estudar até amanhã.” — “You will have had to study”
- “É importante que eu deva estudar.” — “It is important that I have to study”
- “Deve estudar!” — “Have to study!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu dever estudar.”
✓ Right: “Eu devo estudar todos os dias.”
The infinitive dever never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form devo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu deves estudar.”
✓ Right: “Eu devo estudar todos os dias.”
deves is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with devo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu devo estudar ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu devi estudar ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito devi for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou devido estudar.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho devido estudar esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of dever is formed with ter plus the past participle devido: the eu form is tenho devido. 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 devo estudar.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu deva estudar.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use deva here, not the indicative devo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho devendo estudar.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho devido estudar esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle devido, not the gerund devendo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on dever. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of dever in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) deves
- B) devo
- C) deve
- D) devemos
What is the ele/ela form of dever in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) devi
- B) deveste
- C) deveu
- D) devemos
What is the nós form of dever in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) devia
- B) devias
- C) devíeis
- D) devíamos
What is the tu form of dever in the Futuro do presente?
- A) deverás
- B) deverei
- C) deverá
- D) deveremos
What is the eu form of dever in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) deverias
- B) deveria
- C) deveríamos
- D) deveríeis
What is the ele/ela form of dever in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho devido
- B) tens devido
- C) tem devido
- D) temos devido
What is the ele/ela form of dever in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) devas
- B) devamos
- C) devais
- D) deva
What is the eu form of dever in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) devesse
- B) devesses
- C) devêssemos
- D) devêsseis
What is the gerund of dever?
- A) devido
- B) devendo
- C) dever
- D) devo
What does dever mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to have to
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) devo — the correct form is devo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) deveu — the correct form is deveu. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) devíamos — the correct form is devíamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) deverás — the correct form is deverás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) deveria — the correct form is deveria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem devido — the correct form is tem devido. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) deva — the correct form is deva. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) devesse — the correct form is devesse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) devendo — the correct form is devendo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to have to — the correct form is to have to. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does dever mean in English?
dever means “to have to”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is dever regular or irregular?
dever is regular: it follows the ordinary -er pattern in every tense. The gerund is devendo and the past participle is devido.
What are the gerund and past participle of dever?
The gerund is devendo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is devido — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho devido.
Which auxiliary does dever take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
dever takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho devido. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle devido.
How do I say “I have to” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu devo estudar todos os dias.” — “I have to study” The eu form of the present is devo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of dever — every tense of dever in one place.
- Dever in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Dever 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.
- Receber conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Vender 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 dever with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise dever with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise dever with the interactive tool.