Abrir Conjugation in Portuguese

abrir means “to open” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 65 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to open, and every tense is regular — the only surprise is the past participle, which is aberto, not a regular -ido form, so learn it as a pair with the infinitive: abrir, aberto. Its present is abro, abres, abre, and its pretérito perfeito is abri, abriste, abriu. It is the verb for opening doors, books, shops and conversations. This page gives you the complete conjugation of abrir — 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 abro a porta todos os dias.” — “I open the door.”

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: abrir
  • English: to open
  • Verb type: Irregular -ir verb
  • Irregular in: particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto
  • Gerund: abrindo
  • Present participle: —
  • Past participle: aberto
  • Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
  • Ending: -ir verbs; pattern ir in the verified tables

Pronunciation

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for abrir, 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 abrir in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.

Three things to remember about abrir

  1. It is irregular in 8 tense(s): particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto. Learn those forms as a set instead of guessing them from the infinitive, because the stem changes in ways no rule predicts.
  2. The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle aberto. 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.
  3. The gerund is abrindo and the past participle is aberto: 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 abrir. 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 abro
tu abres
ele/ela abre
nós abrimos
vós abris
eles/elas abrem

The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu abro a porta todos os dias.” — “I open the door”

Pretérito perfeito

Person Form
eu abri
tu abriste
ele/ela abriu
nós abrimos
vós abristes
eles/elas abriram

The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu abri a porta ontem.” — “I opened the door”

Pretérito imperfeito

Person Form
eu abria
tu abrias
ele/ela abria
nós abríamos
vós abríeis
eles/elas abriam

The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu abria a porta antigamente.” — “I used to open the door”

Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples

Person Form
eu abrira
tu abriras
ele/ela abrira
nós abríramos
vós abríreis
eles/elas abriram

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 abrira a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had opened the door”

Futuro do presente

Person Form
eu abrirei
tu abrirás
ele/ela abrirá
nós abriremos
vós abrireis
eles/elas abrirão

The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu abrirei a porta amanhã.” — “I will open the door”

Futuro do pretérito

Person Form
eu abriria
tu abririas
ele/ela abriria
nós abriríamos
vós abriríeis
eles/elas abririam

The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu abriria a porta um dia.” — “I would open the door”

Pretérito perfeito composto

Person Form
eu tenho aberto
tu tens aberto
ele/ela tem aberto
nós temos aberto
vós tendes aberto
eles/elas têm aberto

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 aberto a porta esta semana.” — “He has opened the door”

Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto

Person Form
eu tinha aberto
tu tinhas aberto
ele/ela tinha aberto
nós tínhamos aberto
vós tínheis aberto
eles/elas tinham aberto

The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha aberto a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had opened the door”

Futuro do presente composto

Person Form
eu terei aberto
tu terás aberto
ele/ela terá aberto
nós teremos aberto
vós tereis aberto
eles/elas terão aberto

The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei aberto a porta até amanhã.” — “I will have opened the door”

Futuro do pretérito composto

Person Form
eu teria aberto
tu terias aberto
ele/ela teria aberto
nós teríamos aberto
vós teríeis aberto
eles/elas teriam aberto

The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria aberto a porta ontem.” — “I would have opened the door”

Presente do subjuntivo

Person Form
eu abra
tu abras
ele/ela abra
nós abramos
vós abrais
eles/elas abram

The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu abra a porta.” — “It is important that I open the door”

Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo

Person Form
eu abrisse
tu abrisses
ele/ela abrisse
nós abríssemos
vós abrísseis
eles/elas abrissem

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 abrisse a porta.” — “It was important that I open the door”

Futuro do subjuntivo

Person Form
eu abrir
tu abrires
ele/ela abrir
nós abrirmos
vós abrirdes
eles/elas abrirem

The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu abrir a porta, é bom.” — “If I open the door, that is good”

Imperativo (affirmative)

Person Form
tu abre
ele/ela abra
nós abramos
vós abri
eles/elas abram

The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Abre a porta!” — “Open the door!”

Imperativo (negative)

Person Form
tu não abras
ele/ela não abra
nós não abramos
vós não abrais
eles/elas não abram

The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não abras a porta.” — “Do not open the door.”

Presente do subjuntivo composto

Person Form
eu tenha aberto
tu tenhas aberto
ele/ela tenha aberto
nós tenhamos aberto
vós tenhais aberto
eles/elas tenham aberto

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 aberto a porta.” — “It is important that I have opened the door”

Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto

Person Form
eu tivesse aberto
tu tivesses aberto
ele/ela tivesse aberto
nós tivéssemos aberto
vós tivésseis aberto
eles/elas tivessem aberto

The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse aberto a porta.” — “It was important that I had opened the door”

Futuro do subjuntivo composto

Person Form
eu tiver aberto
tu tiveres aberto
ele/ela tiver aberto
nós tivermos aberto
vós tiverdes aberto
eles/elas tiverem aberto

The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver aberto a porta, é bom.” — “If I have opened the door, that is good”

Gerund

Form Portuguese
Gerund abrindo

The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Abrindo a porta, aprendo muito.” — “While opening the door, I learn a lot.”

Past participle

Form Portuguese
Past participle aberto

The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho aberto a porta esta semana.” — “I have opened the door.”

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with abrir, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.

  1. “Eu abro a porta todos os dias.” — “I open the door”
  2. “Tu abriste a porta ontem.” — “You opened the door”
  3. “Ele abria a porta antigamente.” — “He used to open the door”
  4. “Eu abrirei a porta amanhã.” — “I will open the door”
  5. “Tu abririas a porta um dia.” — “You would open the door”
  6. “Ele tem aberto a porta esta semana.” — “He has opened the door”
  7. “Eu tinha aberto a porta antes do jantar.” — “I had opened the door”
  8. “Tu terás aberto a porta até amanhã.” — “You will have opened the door”
  9. “É importante que eu abra a porta.” — “It is important that I open the door”
  10. “Abre a porta!” — “Open the door!”

Common mistakes

1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

✗ Wrong: “Eu abrir a porta.”

✓ Right: “Eu abro a porta todos os dias.”

The infinitive abrir never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form abro.

2. Using the wrong person’s form

✗ Wrong: “Eu abres a porta.”

✓ Right: “Eu abro a porta todos os dias.”

abres is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with abro.

3. Using the present for a finished past action

✗ Wrong: “Eu abro a porta ontem.”

✓ Right: “Eu abri a porta ontem.”

Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito abri for a finished action yesterday.

4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto

✗ Wrong: “Eu sou aberto a porta.”

✓ Right: “Eu tenho aberto a porta esta semana.”

The pretérito perfeito composto of abrir is formed with ter plus the past participle aberto: the eu form is tenho aberto. 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 abro a porta.”

✓ Right: “É importante que eu abra a porta.”

After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use abra here, not the indicative abro.

6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense

✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho abrindo a porta.”

✓ Right: “Eu tenho aberto a porta esta semana.”

The perfect tenses need the past participle aberto, not the gerund abrindo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on abrir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. What is the eu form of abrir in the Present indicative (presente)?

    • A) abres
    • B) abro
    • C) abre
    • D) abrimos

  2. What is the ele/ela form of abrir in the Pretérito perfeito?

    • A) abri
    • B) abriste
    • C) abriu
    • D) abrimos

  3. What is the nós form of abrir in the Pretérito imperfeito?

    • A) abria
    • B) abrias
    • C) abríeis
    • D) abríamos

  4. What is the tu form of abrir in the Futuro do presente?

    • A) abrirás
    • B) abrirei
    • C) abrirá
    • D) abriremos

  5. What is the eu form of abrir in the Futuro do pretérito?

    • A) abririas
    • B) abriria
    • C) abriríamos
    • D) abriríeis

  6. What is the ele/ela form of abrir in the Pretérito perfeito composto?

    • A) tenho aberto
    • B) tens aberto
    • C) tem aberto
    • D) temos aberto

  7. What is the ele/ela form of abrir in the Presente do subjuntivo?

    • A) abras
    • B) abramos
    • C) abrais
    • D) abra

  8. What is the eu form of abrir in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?

    • A) abrisse
    • B) abrisses
    • C) abríssemos
    • D) abrísseis

  9. What is the gerund of abrir?

    • A) aberto
    • B) abrindo
    • C) abrir
    • D) abro

  10. What does abrir mean in English?

  • A) to ask for
  • B) to receive
  • C) to open
  • D) to pay

Answer key

  1. B) abro — the correct form is abro. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  2. C) abriu — the correct form is abriu. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  3. D) abríamos — the correct form is abríamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  4. A) abrirás — the correct form is abrirás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  5. B) abriria — the correct form is abriria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  6. C) tem aberto — the correct form is tem aberto. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  7. D) abra — the correct form is abra. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  8. A) abrisse — the correct form is abrisse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  9. B) abrindo — the correct form is abrindo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
  10. C) to open — the correct form is to open. The other options are other forms of the same verb.

Frequently asked questions

What does abrir mean in English?

abrir means “to open”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.

Is abrir regular or irregular?

abrir is irregular: it is irregular in particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto. The gerund is abrindo and the past participle is aberto.

What are the gerund and past participle of abrir?

The gerund is abrindo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is aberto — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho aberto.

Which auxiliary does abrir take in the pretérito perfeito composto?

abrir takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho aberto. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle aberto.

How do I say “I open” in Portuguese?

Say “Eu abro a porta todos os dias.” — “I open the door” The eu form of the present is abro, and it is the form you will use most often.

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