Fechar Conjugation in Portuguese
fechar means “to close” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 66 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to close, and it is completely regular: fecho, fechas, fecha, fechamos, fechais, fecham. Its pretérito perfeito is fechei, fechaste, fechou, and its participle is fechado. It is the natural opposite of abrir. This page gives you the complete conjugation of fechar — 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 fecho a porta todos os dias.” — “I close the door.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: fechar
- English: to close
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: fechando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: fechado
- 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 fechar, 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 fechar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about fechar
- 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 fechado. 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 fechando and the past participle is fechado: 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 fechar. 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 | fecho |
| tu | fechas |
| ele/ela | fecha |
| nós | fechamos |
| vós | fechais |
| eles/elas | fecham |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu fecho a porta todos os dias.” — “I close the door”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fechei |
| tu | fechaste |
| ele/ela | fechou |
| nós | fechámos |
| vós | fechastes |
| eles/elas | fecharam |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu fechei a porta ontem.” — “I closed the door”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fechava |
| tu | fechavas |
| ele/ela | fechava |
| nós | fechávamos |
| vós | fecháveis |
| eles/elas | fechavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu fechava a porta antigamente.” — “I used to close the door”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fechara |
| tu | fecharas |
| ele/ela | fechara |
| nós | fecháramos |
| vós | fecháreis |
| eles/elas | fecharam |
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 fechara a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had closed the door”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fecharei |
| tu | fecharás |
| ele/ela | fechará |
| nós | fecharemos |
| vós | fechareis |
| eles/elas | fecharão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu fecharei a porta amanhã.” — “I will close the door”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fecharia |
| tu | fecharias |
| ele/ela | fecharia |
| nós | fecharíamos |
| vós | fecharíeis |
| eles/elas | fechariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu fecharia a porta um dia.” — “I would close the door”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho fechado |
| tu | tens fechado |
| ele/ela | tem fechado |
| nós | temos fechado |
| vós | tendes fechado |
| eles/elas | têm fechado |
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 fechado a porta esta semana.” — “He has closed the door”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha fechado |
| tu | tinhas fechado |
| ele/ela | tinha fechado |
| nós | tínhamos fechado |
| vós | tínheis fechado |
| eles/elas | tinham fechado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha fechado a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had closed the door”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei fechado |
| tu | terás fechado |
| ele/ela | terá fechado |
| nós | teremos fechado |
| vós | tereis fechado |
| eles/elas | terão fechado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei fechado a porta até amanhã.” — “I will have closed the door”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria fechado |
| tu | terias fechado |
| ele/ela | teria fechado |
| nós | teríamos fechado |
| vós | teríeis fechado |
| eles/elas | teriam fechado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria fechado a porta ontem.” — “I would have closed the door”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | feche |
| tu | feches |
| ele/ela | feche |
| nós | fechemos |
| vós | fecheis |
| eles/elas | fechem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu feche a porta.” — “It is important that I close the door”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fechasse |
| tu | fechasses |
| ele/ela | fechasse |
| nós | fechássemos |
| vós | fechásseis |
| eles/elas | fechassem |
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 fechasse a porta.” — “It was important that I close the door”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fechar |
| tu | fechares |
| ele/ela | fechar |
| nós | fecharmos |
| vós | fechardes |
| eles/elas | fecharem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu fechar a porta, é bom.” — “If I close the door, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | fecha |
| ele/ela | feche |
| nós | fechemos |
| vós | fechai |
| eles/elas | fechem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Fecha a porta!” — “Close the door!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não feches |
| ele/ela | não feche |
| nós | não fechemos |
| vós | não fecheis |
| eles/elas | não fechem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não feches a porta.” — “Do not close the door.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha fechado |
| tu | tenhas fechado |
| ele/ela | tenha fechado |
| nós | tenhamos fechado |
| vós | tenhais fechado |
| eles/elas | tenham fechado |
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 fechado a porta.” — “It is important that I have closed the door”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse fechado |
| tu | tivesses fechado |
| ele/ela | tivesse fechado |
| nós | tivéssemos fechado |
| vós | tivésseis fechado |
| eles/elas | tivessem fechado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse fechado a porta.” — “It was important that I had closed the door”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver fechado |
| tu | tiveres fechado |
| ele/ela | tiver fechado |
| nós | tivermos fechado |
| vós | tiverdes fechado |
| eles/elas | tiverem fechado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver fechado a porta, é bom.” — “If I have closed the door, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | fechando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Fechando a porta, aprendo muito.” — “While closing the door, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | fechado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho fechado a porta esta semana.” — “I have closed the door.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with fechar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu fecho a porta todos os dias.” — “I close the door”
- “Tu fechaste a porta ontem.” — “You closed the door”
- “Ele fechava a porta antigamente.” — “He used to close the door”
- “Eu fecharei a porta amanhã.” — “I will close the door”
- “Tu fecharias a porta um dia.” — “You would close the door”
- “Ele tem fechado a porta esta semana.” — “He has closed the door”
- “Eu tinha fechado a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had closed the door”
- “Tu terás fechado a porta até amanhã.” — “You will have closed the door”
- “É importante que eu feche a porta.” — “It is important that I close the door”
- “Fecha a porta!” — “Close the door!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu fechar a porta.”
✓ Right: “Eu fecho a porta todos os dias.”
The infinitive fechar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form fecho.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu fechas a porta.”
✓ Right: “Eu fecho a porta todos os dias.”
fechas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with fecho.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu fecho a porta ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu fechei a porta ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito fechei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou fechado a porta.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho fechado a porta esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of fechar is formed with ter plus the past participle fechado: the eu form is tenho fechado. 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 fecho a porta.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu feche a porta.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use feche here, not the indicative fecho.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho fechando a porta.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho fechado a porta esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle fechado, not the gerund fechando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on fechar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of fechar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) fechas
- B) fecho
- C) fecha
- D) fechamos
What is the ele/ela form of fechar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) fechei
- B) fechaste
- C) fechou
- D) fechámos
What is the nós form of fechar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) fechava
- B) fechavas
- C) fecháveis
- D) fechávamos
What is the tu form of fechar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) fecharás
- B) fecharei
- C) fechará
- D) fecharemos
What is the eu form of fechar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) fecharias
- B) fecharia
- C) fecharíamos
- D) fecharíeis
What is the ele/ela form of fechar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho fechado
- B) tens fechado
- C) tem fechado
- D) temos fechado
What is the ele/ela form of fechar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) feches
- B) fechemos
- C) fecheis
- D) feche
What is the eu form of fechar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) fechasse
- B) fechasses
- C) fechássemos
- D) fechásseis
What is the gerund of fechar?
- A) fechado
- B) fechando
- C) fechar
- D) fecho
What does fechar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to close
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) fecho — the correct form is fecho. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) fechou — the correct form is fechou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) fechávamos — the correct form is fechávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) fecharás — the correct form is fecharás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) fecharia — the correct form is fecharia. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem fechado — the correct form is tem fechado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) feche — the correct form is feche. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) fechasse — the correct form is fechasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) fechando — the correct form is fechando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to close — the correct form is to close. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does fechar mean in English?
fechar means “to close”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is fechar regular or irregular?
fechar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is fechando and the past participle is fechado.
What are the gerund and past participle of fechar?
The gerund is fechando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is fechado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho fechado.
Which auxiliary does fechar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
fechar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho fechado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle fechado.
How do I say “I close” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu fecho a porta todos os dias.” — “I close the door” The eu form of the present is fecho, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of fechar — every tense of fechar in one place.
- Fechar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Fechar 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.
- Pagar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Comprar 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 fechar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise fechar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise fechar with the interactive tool.