Buscar Conjugation in Portuguese
buscar means “to search” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 433 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to search for and to fetch a person or a thing, and it is regular apart from its spelling: the -car stem keeps its hard c by writing qu before e and i, so the pretérito perfeito eu form is busquei. The present is busco, buscas, busca, and the participle is buscado. Do not confuse it with procurar, which also means to look for something. This page gives you the complete conjugation of buscar — 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 busco a Maria todos os dias.” — “I search for for Maria.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: buscar
- English: to search
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: buscando
- Present participle: buscante
- Past participle: buscado
- 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 buscar, 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 buscar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about buscar
- 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 stem keeps its hard sound by writing qu or gu before e and i, so the eu form is busco and the subjunctive eu form is busque.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle buscado. 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 buscando, the present participle is buscante and the past participle is buscado: 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 buscar. 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 | busco |
| tu | buscas |
| ele/ela | busca |
| nós | buscamos |
| vós | buscais |
| eles/elas | buscam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu busco a Maria todos os dias.” — “I search for for Maria”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | busquei |
| tu | buscaste |
| ele/ela | buscou |
| nós | buscámos |
| vós | buscastes |
| eles/elas | buscaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu busquei a Maria ontem.” — “I searched for for Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscava |
| tu | buscavas |
| ele/ela | buscava |
| nós | buscávamos |
| vós | buscáveis |
| eles/elas | buscavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu buscava a Maria antigamente.” — “I used to search for for Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscara |
| tu | buscaras |
| ele/ela | buscara |
| nós | buscáramos |
| vós | buscáreis |
| eles/elas | buscaram |
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 buscara a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had searched for for Maria”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscarei |
| tu | buscarás |
| ele/ela | buscará |
| nós | buscaremos |
| vós | buscareis |
| eles/elas | buscarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu buscarei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will search for for Maria”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscaria |
| tu | buscarias |
| ele/ela | buscaria |
| nós | buscaríamos |
| vós | buscaríeis |
| eles/elas | buscariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu buscaria a Maria um dia.” — “I would search for for Maria”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho buscado |
| tu | tens buscado |
| ele/ela | tem buscado |
| nós | temos buscado |
| vós | tendes buscado |
| eles/elas | têm buscado |
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 buscado a Maria esta semana.” — “He has searched for for Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha buscado |
| tu | tinhas buscado |
| ele/ela | tinha buscado |
| nós | tínhamos buscado |
| vós | tínheis buscado |
| eles/elas | tinham buscado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha buscado a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had searched for for Maria”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei buscado |
| tu | terás buscado |
| ele/ela | terá buscado |
| nós | teremos buscado |
| vós | tereis buscado |
| eles/elas | terão buscado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei buscado a Maria até amanhã.” — “I will have searched for for Maria”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria buscado |
| tu | terias buscado |
| ele/ela | teria buscado |
| nós | teríamos buscado |
| vós | teríeis buscado |
| eles/elas | teriam buscado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria buscado a Maria ontem.” — “I would have searched for for Maria”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | busque |
| tu | busques |
| ele/ela | busque |
| nós | busquemos |
| vós | busqueis |
| eles/elas | busquem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu busque a Maria.” — “It is important that I search for for Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscasse |
| tu | buscasses |
| ele/ela | buscasse |
| nós | buscássemos |
| vós | buscásseis |
| eles/elas | buscassem |
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 buscasse a Maria.” — “It was important that I search for for Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | buscar |
| tu | buscares |
| ele/ela | buscar |
| nós | buscarmos |
| vós | buscardes |
| eles/elas | buscarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu buscar a Maria, é bom.” — “If I search for for Maria, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | busca |
| ele/ela | busque |
| nós | busquemos |
| vós | buscai |
| eles/elas | busquem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Busca a Maria!” — “Search for for Maria!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não busques |
| ele/ela | não busque |
| nós | não busquemos |
| vós | não busqueis |
| eles/elas | não busquem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não busques a Maria.” — “Do not search for for Maria.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha buscado |
| tu | tenhas buscado |
| ele/ela | tenha buscado |
| nós | tenhamos buscado |
| vós | tenhais buscado |
| eles/elas | tenham buscado |
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 buscado a Maria.” — “It is important that I have searched for for Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse buscado |
| tu | tivesses buscado |
| ele/ela | tivesse buscado |
| nós | tivéssemos buscado |
| vós | tivésseis buscado |
| eles/elas | tivessem buscado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse buscado a Maria.” — “It was important that I had searched for for Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver buscado |
| tu | tiveres buscado |
| ele/ela | tiver buscado |
| nós | tivermos buscado |
| vós | tiverdes buscado |
| eles/elas | tiverem buscado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver buscado a Maria, é bom.” — “If I have searched for for Maria, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | buscando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Buscando a Maria, aprendo muito.” — “While searching for for Maria, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | buscante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle buscante 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 buscante 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 | buscado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho buscado a Maria esta semana.” — “I have searched for for Maria.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with buscar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu busco a Maria todos os dias.” — “I search for for Maria”
- “Tu buscaste a Maria ontem.” — “You searched for for Maria”
- “Ele buscava a Maria antigamente.” — “He used to search for for Maria”
- “Eu buscarei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will search for for Maria”
- “Tu buscarias a Maria um dia.” — “You would search for for Maria”
- “Ele tem buscado a Maria esta semana.” — “He has searched for for Maria”
- “Eu tinha buscado a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had searched for for Maria”
- “Tu terás buscado a Maria até amanhã.” — “You will have searched for for Maria”
- “É importante que eu busque a Maria.” — “It is important that I search for for Maria”
- “Busca a Maria!” — “Search for for Maria!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu buscar a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu busco a Maria todos os dias.”
The infinitive buscar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form busco.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu buscas a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu busco a Maria todos os dias.”
buscas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with busco.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu busco a Maria ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu busquei a Maria ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito busquei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou buscado a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho buscado a Maria esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of buscar is formed with ter plus the past participle buscado: the eu form is tenho buscado. 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 busco a Maria.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu busque a Maria.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use busque here, not the indicative busco.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho buscando a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho buscado a Maria esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle buscado, not the gerund buscando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on buscar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of buscar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) buscas
- B) busco
- C) busca
- D) buscamos
What is the ele/ela form of buscar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) busquei
- B) buscaste
- C) buscou
- D) buscámos
What is the nós form of buscar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) buscava
- B) buscavas
- C) buscáveis
- D) buscávamos
What is the tu form of buscar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) buscarás
- B) buscarei
- C) buscará
- D) buscaremos
What is the eu form of buscar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) buscarias
- B) buscaria
- C) buscaríamos
- D) buscaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of buscar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho buscado
- B) tens buscado
- C) tem buscado
- D) temos buscado
What is the ele/ela form of buscar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) busques
- B) busquemos
- C) busqueis
- D) busque
What is the eu form of buscar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) buscasse
- B) buscasses
- C) buscássemos
- D) buscásseis
What is the gerund of buscar?
- A) buscado
- B) buscando
- C) buscar
- D) busco
What does buscar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to search
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) busco — the correct form is busco. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) buscou — the correct form is buscou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) buscávamos — the correct form is buscávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) buscarás — the correct form is buscarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) buscaria — the correct form is buscaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem buscado — the correct form is tem buscado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) busque — the correct form is busque. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) buscasse — the correct form is buscasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) buscando — the correct form is buscando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to search — the correct form is to search. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does buscar mean in English?
buscar means “to search”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is buscar regular or irregular?
buscar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is buscando and the past participle is buscado.
What are the gerund and past participle of buscar?
The gerund is buscando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is buscado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho buscado.
Which auxiliary does buscar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
buscar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho buscado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle buscado.
How do I say “I search for” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu busco a Maria todos os dias.” — “I search for for Maria” The eu form of the present is busco, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of buscar — every tense of buscar in one place.
- Buscar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Buscar 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 buscar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise buscar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise buscar with the interactive tool.