Continuar Conjugation in Portuguese
continuar means “to continue” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 447 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to continue and to carry on, and it is completely regular. The stem ends in u, so the forms keep the u throughout — continuo, continuas, continua — and there is no spelling change to watch for. This page gives you the complete conjugation of continuar — 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 continuo o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I continue the work.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: continuar
- English: to continue
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: continuando
- Present participle: continuante
- Past participle: continuado
- 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 continuar, 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 continuar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about continuar
- 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 continuado. 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 continuando, the present participle is continuante and the past participle is continuado: 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 continuar. 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 | continuo |
| tu | continuas |
| ele/ela | continua |
| nós | continuamos |
| vós | continuais |
| eles/elas | continuam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu continuo o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I continue the work”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuei |
| tu | continuaste |
| ele/ela | continuou |
| nós | continuámos |
| vós | continuastes |
| eles/elas | continuaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu continuei o trabalho ontem.” — “I continued the work”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuava |
| tu | continuavas |
| ele/ela | continuava |
| nós | continuávamos |
| vós | continuáveis |
| eles/elas | continuavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu continuava o trabalho antigamente.” — “I used to continue the work”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuara |
| tu | continuaras |
| ele/ela | continuara |
| nós | continuáramos |
| vós | continuáreis |
| eles/elas | continuaram |
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 continuara o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had continued the work”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuarei |
| tu | continuarás |
| ele/ela | continuará |
| nós | continuaremos |
| vós | continuareis |
| eles/elas | continuarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu continuarei o trabalho amanhã.” — “I will continue the work”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuaria |
| tu | continuarias |
| ele/ela | continuaria |
| nós | continuaríamos |
| vós | continuaríeis |
| eles/elas | continuariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu continuaria o trabalho um dia.” — “I would continue the work”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho continuado |
| tu | tens continuado |
| ele/ela | tem continuado |
| nós | temos continuado |
| vós | tendes continuado |
| eles/elas | têm continuado |
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 continuado o trabalho esta semana.” — “He has continued the work”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha continuado |
| tu | tinhas continuado |
| ele/ela | tinha continuado |
| nós | tínhamos continuado |
| vós | tínheis continuado |
| eles/elas | tinham continuado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha continuado o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had continued the work”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei continuado |
| tu | terás continuado |
| ele/ela | terá continuado |
| nós | teremos continuado |
| vós | tereis continuado |
| eles/elas | terão continuado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei continuado o trabalho até amanhã.” — “I will have continued the work”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria continuado |
| tu | terias continuado |
| ele/ela | teria continuado |
| nós | teríamos continuado |
| vós | teríeis continuado |
| eles/elas | teriam continuado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria continuado o trabalho ontem.” — “I would have continued the work”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continue |
| tu | continues |
| ele/ela | continue |
| nós | continuemos |
| vós | continueis |
| eles/elas | continuem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu continue o trabalho.” — “It is important that I continue the work”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuasse |
| tu | continuasses |
| ele/ela | continuasse |
| nós | continuássemos |
| vós | continuásseis |
| eles/elas | continuassem |
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 continuasse o trabalho.” — “It was important that I continue the work”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | continuar |
| tu | continuares |
| ele/ela | continuar |
| nós | continuarmos |
| vós | continuardes |
| eles/elas | continuarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu continuar o trabalho, é bom.” — “If I continue the work, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | continua |
| ele/ela | continue |
| nós | continuemos |
| vós | continuai |
| eles/elas | continuem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Continua o trabalho!” — “Continue the work!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não continues |
| ele/ela | não continue |
| nós | não continuemos |
| vós | não continueis |
| eles/elas | não continuem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não continues o trabalho.” — “Do not continue the work.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha continuado |
| tu | tenhas continuado |
| ele/ela | tenha continuado |
| nós | tenhamos continuado |
| vós | tenhais continuado |
| eles/elas | tenham continuado |
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 continuado o trabalho.” — “It is important that I have continued the work”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse continuado |
| tu | tivesses continuado |
| ele/ela | tivesse continuado |
| nós | tivéssemos continuado |
| vós | tivésseis continuado |
| eles/elas | tivessem continuado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse continuado o trabalho.” — “It was important that I had continued the work”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver continuado |
| tu | tiveres continuado |
| ele/ela | tiver continuado |
| nós | tivermos continuado |
| vós | tiverdes continuado |
| eles/elas | tiverem continuado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver continuado o trabalho, é bom.” — “If I have continued the work, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | continuando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Continuando o trabalho, aprendo muito.” — “While continuing the work, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | continuante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle continuante 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 continuante 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 | continuado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho continuado o trabalho esta semana.” — “I have continued the work.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with continuar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu continuo o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I continue the work”
- “Tu continuaste o trabalho ontem.” — “You continued the work”
- “Ele continuava o trabalho antigamente.” — “He used to continue the work”
- “Eu continuarei o trabalho amanhã.” — “I will continue the work”
- “Tu continuarias o trabalho um dia.” — “You would continue the work”
- “Ele tem continuado o trabalho esta semana.” — “He has continued the work”
- “Eu tinha continuado o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had continued the work”
- “Tu terás continuado o trabalho até amanhã.” — “You will have continued the work”
- “É importante que eu continue o trabalho.” — “It is important that I continue the work”
- “Continua o trabalho!” — “Continue the work!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu continuar o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu continuo o trabalho todos os dias.”
The infinitive continuar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form continuo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu continuas o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu continuo o trabalho todos os dias.”
continuas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with continuo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu continuo o trabalho ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu continuei o trabalho ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito continuei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou continuado o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho continuado o trabalho esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of continuar is formed with ter plus the past participle continuado: the eu form is tenho continuado. 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 continuo o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu continue o trabalho.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use continue here, not the indicative continuo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho continuando o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho continuado o trabalho esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle continuado, not the gerund continuando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on continuar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of continuar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) continuas
- B) continuo
- C) continua
- D) continuamos
What is the ele/ela form of continuar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) continuei
- B) continuaste
- C) continuou
- D) continuámos
What is the nós form of continuar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) continuava
- B) continuavas
- C) continuáveis
- D) continuávamos
What is the tu form of continuar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) continuarás
- B) continuarei
- C) continuará
- D) continuaremos
What is the eu form of continuar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) continuarias
- B) continuaria
- C) continuaríamos
- D) continuaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of continuar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho continuado
- B) tens continuado
- C) tem continuado
- D) temos continuado
What is the ele/ela form of continuar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) continues
- B) continuemos
- C) continueis
- D) continue
What is the eu form of continuar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) continuasse
- B) continuasses
- C) continuássemos
- D) continuásseis
What is the gerund of continuar?
- A) continuado
- B) continuando
- C) continuar
- D) continuo
What does continuar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to continue
- D) —
Answer key
- B) continuo — the correct form is continuo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) continuou — the correct form is continuou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) continuávamos — the correct form is continuávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) continuarás — the correct form is continuarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) continuaria — the correct form is continuaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem continuado — the correct form is tem continuado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) continue — the correct form is continue. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) continuasse — the correct form is continuasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) continuando — the correct form is continuando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to continue — the correct form is to continue. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does continuar mean in English?
continuar means “to continue”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is continuar regular or irregular?
continuar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is continuando and the past participle is continuado.
What are the gerund and past participle of continuar?
The gerund is continuando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is continuado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho continuado.
Which auxiliary does continuar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
continuar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho continuado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle continuado.
How do I say “I continue” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu continuo o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I continue the work” The eu form of the present is continuo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of continuar — every tense of continuar in one place.
- Continuar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Continuar 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.
- Estar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Dar 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 continuar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise continuar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise continuar with the interactive tool.