Limpar Conjugation in Portuguese
limpar means “to clean” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 105 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to clean, and it is completely regular: limpo, limpas, limpa, limpamos, limpais, limpam. Its pretérito perfeito is limpei, limpaste, limpou, and its participle is limpado. It is the verb for cleaning a house, a room or a car. This page gives you the complete conjugation of limpar — 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 limpo a casa todos os dias.” — “I clean the house.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: limpar
- English: to clean
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: limpando
- Present participle: limpante
- Past participle: limpado
- 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 limpar, 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 limpar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about limpar
- 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 limpado. 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 limpando, the present participle is limpante and the past participle is limpado: 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 limpar. 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 | limpo |
| tu | limpas |
| ele/ela | limpa |
| nós | limpamos |
| vós | limpais |
| eles/elas | limpam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu limpo a casa todos os dias.” — “I clean the house”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpei |
| tu | limpaste |
| ele/ela | limpou |
| nós | limpámos |
| vós | limpastes |
| eles/elas | limparam |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu limpei a casa ontem.” — “I cleaned the house”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpava |
| tu | limpavas |
| ele/ela | limpava |
| nós | limpávamos |
| vós | limpáveis |
| eles/elas | limpavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu limpava a casa antigamente.” — “I used to clean the house”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpara |
| tu | limparas |
| ele/ela | limpara |
| nós | limpáramos |
| vós | limpáreis |
| eles/elas | limparam |
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 limpara a casa antes do jantar.” — “I had cleaned the house”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limparei |
| tu | limparás |
| ele/ela | limpará |
| nós | limparemos |
| vós | limpareis |
| eles/elas | limparão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu limparei a casa amanhã.” — “I will clean the house”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limparia |
| tu | limparias |
| ele/ela | limparia |
| nós | limparíamos |
| vós | limparíeis |
| eles/elas | limpariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu limparia a casa um dia.” — “I would clean the house”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho limpado |
| tu | tens limpado |
| ele/ela | tem limpado |
| nós | temos limpado |
| vós | tendes limpado |
| eles/elas | têm limpado |
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 limpado a casa esta semana.” — “He has cleaned the house”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha limpado |
| tu | tinhas limpado |
| ele/ela | tinha limpado |
| nós | tínhamos limpado |
| vós | tínheis limpado |
| eles/elas | tinham limpado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha limpado a casa antes do jantar.” — “I had cleaned the house”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei limpado |
| tu | terás limpado |
| ele/ela | terá limpado |
| nós | teremos limpado |
| vós | tereis limpado |
| eles/elas | terão limpado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei limpado a casa até amanhã.” — “I will have cleaned the house”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria limpado |
| tu | terias limpado |
| ele/ela | teria limpado |
| nós | teríamos limpado |
| vós | teríeis limpado |
| eles/elas | teriam limpado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria limpado a casa ontem.” — “I would have cleaned the house”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpe |
| tu | limpes |
| ele/ela | limpe |
| nós | limpemos |
| vós | limpeis |
| eles/elas | limpem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu limpe a casa.” — “It is important that I clean the house”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpasse |
| tu | limpasses |
| ele/ela | limpasse |
| nós | limpássemos |
| vós | limpásseis |
| eles/elas | limpassem |
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 limpasse a casa.” — “It was important that I clean the house”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | limpar |
| tu | limpares |
| ele/ela | limpar |
| nós | limparmos |
| vós | limpardes |
| eles/elas | limparem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu limpar a casa, é bom.” — “If I clean the house, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | limpa |
| ele/ela | limpe |
| nós | limpemos |
| vós | limpai |
| eles/elas | limpem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Limpa a casa!” — “Clean the house!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não limpes |
| ele/ela | não limpe |
| nós | não limpemos |
| vós | não limpeis |
| eles/elas | não limpem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não limpes a casa.” — “Do not clean the house.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha limpado |
| tu | tenhas limpado |
| ele/ela | tenha limpado |
| nós | tenhamos limpado |
| vós | tenhais limpado |
| eles/elas | tenham limpado |
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 limpado a casa.” — “It is important that I have cleaned the house”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse limpado |
| tu | tivesses limpado |
| ele/ela | tivesse limpado |
| nós | tivéssemos limpado |
| vós | tivésseis limpado |
| eles/elas | tivessem limpado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse limpado a casa.” — “It was important that I had cleaned the house”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver limpado |
| tu | tiveres limpado |
| ele/ela | tiver limpado |
| nós | tivermos limpado |
| vós | tiverdes limpado |
| eles/elas | tiverem limpado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver limpado a casa, é bom.” — “If I have cleaned the house, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | limpando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Limpando a casa, aprendo muito.” — “While cleaning the house, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | limpante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle limpante 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 limpante 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 | limpado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho limpado a casa esta semana.” — “I have cleaned the house.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with limpar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu limpo a casa todos os dias.” — “I clean the house”
- “Tu limpaste a casa ontem.” — “You cleaned the house”
- “Ele limpava a casa antigamente.” — “He used to clean the house”
- “Eu limparei a casa amanhã.” — “I will clean the house”
- “Tu limparias a casa um dia.” — “You would clean the house”
- “Ele tem limpado a casa esta semana.” — “He has cleaned the house”
- “Eu tinha limpado a casa antes do jantar.” — “I had cleaned the house”
- “Tu terás limpado a casa até amanhã.” — “You will have cleaned the house”
- “É importante que eu limpe a casa.” — “It is important that I clean the house”
- “Limpa a casa!” — “Clean the house!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu limpar a casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu limpo a casa todos os dias.”
The infinitive limpar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form limpo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu limpas a casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu limpo a casa todos os dias.”
limpas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with limpo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu limpo a casa ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu limpei a casa ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito limpei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou limpado a casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho limpado a casa esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of limpar is formed with ter plus the past participle limpado: the eu form is tenho limpado. 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 limpo a casa.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu limpe a casa.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use limpe here, not the indicative limpo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho limpando a casa.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho limpado a casa esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle limpado, not the gerund limpando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on limpar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of limpar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) limpas
- B) limpo
- C) limpa
- D) limpamos
What is the ele/ela form of limpar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) limpei
- B) limpaste
- C) limpou
- D) limpámos
What is the nós form of limpar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) limpava
- B) limpavas
- C) limpáveis
- D) limpávamos
What is the tu form of limpar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) limparás
- B) limparei
- C) limpará
- D) limparemos
What is the eu form of limpar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) limparias
- B) limparia
- C) limparíamos
- D) limparíeis
What is the ele/ela form of limpar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho limpado
- B) tens limpado
- C) tem limpado
- D) temos limpado
What is the ele/ela form of limpar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) limpes
- B) limpemos
- C) limpeis
- D) limpe
What is the eu form of limpar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) limpasse
- B) limpasses
- C) limpássemos
- D) limpásseis
What is the gerund of limpar?
- A) limpado
- B) limpando
- C) limpar
- D) limpo
What does limpar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to clean
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) limpo — the correct form is limpo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) limpou — the correct form is limpou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) limpávamos — the correct form is limpávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) limparás — the correct form is limparás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) limparia — the correct form is limparia. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem limpado — the correct form is tem limpado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) limpe — the correct form is limpe. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) limpasse — the correct form is limpasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) limpando — the correct form is limpando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to clean — the correct form is to clean. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does limpar mean in English?
limpar means “to clean”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is limpar regular or irregular?
limpar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is limpando and the past participle is limpado.
What are the gerund and past participle of limpar?
The gerund is limpando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is limpado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho limpado.
Which auxiliary does limpar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
limpar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho limpado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle limpado.
How do I say “I clean” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu limpo a casa todos os dias.” — “I clean the house” The eu form of the present is limpo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of limpar — every tense of limpar in one place.
- Limpar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Limpar 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 limpar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise limpar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise limpar with the interactive tool.