Precisar Conjugation in Portuguese
precisar means “to need” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 496 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to need, and it usually takes de before its object: preciso de ajuda. It is completely regular: preciso, precisas, precisa, precisamos, precisais, precisam. This page gives you the complete conjugation of precisar — 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 preciso de ajuda todos os dias.” — “I need help.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: precisar
- English: to need
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: precisando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: precisado
- 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 precisar, 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 precisar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about precisar
- 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 precisado. 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 precisando and the past participle is precisado: 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 precisar. 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 | preciso |
| tu | precisas |
| ele/ela | precisa |
| nós | precisamos |
| vós | precisais |
| eles/elas | precisam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu preciso de ajuda todos os dias.” — “I need help”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisei |
| tu | precisaste |
| ele/ela | precisou |
| nós | precisámos |
| vós | precisastes |
| eles/elas | precisaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu precisei de ajuda ontem.” — “I needed help”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisava |
| tu | precisavas |
| ele/ela | precisava |
| nós | precisávamos |
| vós | precisáveis |
| eles/elas | precisavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu precisava de ajuda antigamente.” — “I used to need help”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisara |
| tu | precisaras |
| ele/ela | precisara |
| nós | precisáramos |
| vós | precisáreis |
| eles/elas | precisaram |
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 precisara de ajuda antes do jantar.” — “I had needed help”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisarei |
| tu | precisarás |
| ele/ela | precisará |
| nós | precisaremos |
| vós | precisareis |
| eles/elas | precisarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu precisarei de ajuda amanhã.” — “I will need help”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisaria |
| tu | precisarias |
| ele/ela | precisaria |
| nós | precisaríamos |
| vós | precisaríeis |
| eles/elas | precisariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu precisaria de ajuda um dia.” — “I would need help”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho precisado |
| tu | tens precisado |
| ele/ela | tem precisado |
| nós | temos precisado |
| vós | tendes precisado |
| eles/elas | têm precisado |
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 precisado de ajuda esta semana.” — “He has needed help”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha precisado |
| tu | tinhas precisado |
| ele/ela | tinha precisado |
| nós | tínhamos precisado |
| vós | tínheis precisado |
| eles/elas | tinham precisado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha precisado de ajuda antes do jantar.” — “I had needed help”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei precisado |
| tu | terás precisado |
| ele/ela | terá precisado |
| nós | teremos precisado |
| vós | tereis precisado |
| eles/elas | terão precisado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei precisado de ajuda até amanhã.” — “I will have needed help”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria precisado |
| tu | terias precisado |
| ele/ela | teria precisado |
| nós | teríamos precisado |
| vós | teríeis precisado |
| eles/elas | teriam precisado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria precisado de ajuda ontem.” — “I would have needed help”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precise |
| tu | precises |
| ele/ela | precise |
| nós | precisemos |
| vós | preciseis |
| eles/elas | precisem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu precise de ajuda.” — “It is important that I need help”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisasse |
| tu | precisasses |
| ele/ela | precisasse |
| nós | precisássemos |
| vós | precisásseis |
| eles/elas | precisassem |
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 precisasse de ajuda.” — “It was important that I need help”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | precisar |
| tu | precisares |
| ele/ela | precisar |
| nós | precisarmos |
| vós | precisardes |
| eles/elas | precisarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu precisar de ajuda, é bom.” — “If I need help, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | precisa |
| ele/ela | precise |
| nós | precisemos |
| vós | precisai |
| eles/elas | precisem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Precisa de ajuda!” — “Need help!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não precises |
| ele/ela | não precise |
| nós | não precisemos |
| vós | não preciseis |
| eles/elas | não precisem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não precises de ajuda.” — “Do not need help.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha precisado |
| tu | tenhas precisado |
| ele/ela | tenha precisado |
| nós | tenhamos precisado |
| vós | tenhais precisado |
| eles/elas | tenham precisado |
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 precisado de ajuda.” — “It is important that I have needed help”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse precisado |
| tu | tivesses precisado |
| ele/ela | tivesse precisado |
| nós | tivéssemos precisado |
| vós | tivésseis precisado |
| eles/elas | tivessem precisado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse precisado de ajuda.” — “It was important that I had needed help”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver precisado |
| tu | tiveres precisado |
| ele/ela | tiver precisado |
| nós | tivermos precisado |
| vós | tiverdes precisado |
| eles/elas | tiverem precisado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver precisado de ajuda, é bom.” — “If I have needed help, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | precisando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Precisando de ajuda, aprendo muito.” — “While needing help, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | precisado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho precisado de ajuda esta semana.” — “I have needed help.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with precisar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu preciso de ajuda todos os dias.” — “I need help”
- “Tu precisaste de ajuda ontem.” — “You needed help”
- “Ele precisava de ajuda antigamente.” — “He used to need help”
- “Eu precisarei de ajuda amanhã.” — “I will need help”
- “Tu precisarias de ajuda um dia.” — “You would need help”
- “Ele tem precisado de ajuda esta semana.” — “He has needed help”
- “Eu tinha precisado de ajuda antes do jantar.” — “I had needed help”
- “Tu terás precisado de ajuda até amanhã.” — “You will have needed help”
- “É importante que eu precise de ajuda.” — “It is important that I need help”
- “Precisa de ajuda!” — “Need help!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu precisar de ajuda.”
✓ Right: “Eu preciso de ajuda todos os dias.”
The infinitive precisar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form preciso.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu precisas de ajuda.”
✓ Right: “Eu preciso de ajuda todos os dias.”
precisas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with preciso.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu preciso de ajuda ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu precisei de ajuda ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito precisei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou precisado de ajuda.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho precisado de ajuda esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of precisar is formed with ter plus the past participle precisado: the eu form is tenho precisado. 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 preciso de ajuda.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu precise de ajuda.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use precise here, not the indicative preciso.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho precisando de ajuda.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho precisado de ajuda esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle precisado, not the gerund precisando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on precisar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of precisar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) precisas
- B) preciso
- C) precisa
- D) precisamos
What is the ele/ela form of precisar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) precisei
- B) precisaste
- C) precisou
- D) precisámos
What is the nós form of precisar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) precisava
- B) precisavas
- C) precisáveis
- D) precisávamos
What is the tu form of precisar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) precisarás
- B) precisarei
- C) precisará
- D) precisaremos
What is the eu form of precisar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) precisarias
- B) precisaria
- C) precisaríamos
- D) precisaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of precisar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho precisado
- B) tens precisado
- C) tem precisado
- D) temos precisado
What is the ele/ela form of precisar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) precises
- B) precisemos
- C) preciseis
- D) precise
What is the eu form of precisar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) precisasse
- B) precisasses
- C) precisássemos
- D) precisásseis
What is the gerund of precisar?
- A) precisado
- B) precisando
- C) precisar
- D) preciso
What does precisar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to need
- D) —
Answer key
- B) preciso — the correct form is preciso. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) precisou — the correct form is precisou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) precisávamos — the correct form is precisávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) precisarás — the correct form is precisarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) precisaria — the correct form is precisaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem precisado — the correct form is tem precisado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) precise — the correct form is precise. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) precisasse — the correct form is precisasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) precisando — the correct form is precisando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to need — the correct form is to need. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does precisar mean in English?
precisar means “to need”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is precisar regular or irregular?
precisar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is precisando and the past participle is precisado.
What are the gerund and past participle of precisar?
The gerund is precisando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is precisado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho precisado.
Which auxiliary does precisar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
precisar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho precisado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle precisado.
How do I say “I need” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu preciso de ajuda todos os dias.” — “I need help” The eu form of the present is preciso, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of precisar — every tense of precisar in one place.
- Precisar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Precisar 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 precisar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise precisar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise precisar with the interactive tool.