Sentar Conjugation in Portuguese
sentar means “to sit” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 518 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to sit down and to sit, and it is completely regular: sento, sentas, senta, sentamos, sentais, sentam. In everyday speech it often appears with the reflexive pronoun — sentar-se — but the tables on this page give the plain verb. This page gives you the complete conjugation of sentar — 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 sento na cadeira todos os dias.” — “I sit on the chair.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: sentar
- English: to sit
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: sentando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: sentado
- 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 sentar, 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 sentar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about sentar
- 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 sentado. 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 sentando and the past participle is sentado: 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 sentar. 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 | sento |
| tu | sentas |
| ele/ela | senta |
| nós | sentamos |
| vós | sentais |
| eles/elas | sentam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu sento na cadeira todos os dias.” — “I sit on the chair”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentei |
| tu | sentaste |
| ele/ela | sentou |
| nós | sentámos |
| vós | sentastes |
| eles/elas | sentaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu sentei na cadeira ontem.” — “I sat on the chair”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentava |
| tu | sentavas |
| ele/ela | sentava |
| nós | sentávamos |
| vós | sentáveis |
| eles/elas | sentavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu sentava na cadeira antigamente.” — “I used to sit on the chair”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentara |
| tu | sentaras |
| ele/ela | sentara |
| nós | sentáramos |
| vós | sentáreis |
| eles/elas | sentaram |
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 sentara na cadeira antes do jantar.” — “I had sat on the chair”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentarei |
| tu | sentarás |
| ele/ela | sentará |
| nós | sentaremos |
| vós | sentareis |
| eles/elas | sentarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu sentarei na cadeira amanhã.” — “I will sit on the chair”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentaria |
| tu | sentarias |
| ele/ela | sentaria |
| nós | sentaríamos |
| vós | sentaríeis |
| eles/elas | sentariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu sentaria na cadeira um dia.” — “I would sit on the chair”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho sentado |
| tu | tens sentado |
| ele/ela | tem sentado |
| nós | temos sentado |
| vós | tendes sentado |
| eles/elas | têm sentado |
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 sentado na cadeira esta semana.” — “He has sat on the chair”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha sentado |
| tu | tinhas sentado |
| ele/ela | tinha sentado |
| nós | tínhamos sentado |
| vós | tínheis sentado |
| eles/elas | tinham sentado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha sentado na cadeira antes do jantar.” — “I had sat on the chair”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei sentado |
| tu | terás sentado |
| ele/ela | terá sentado |
| nós | teremos sentado |
| vós | tereis sentado |
| eles/elas | terão sentado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei sentado na cadeira até amanhã.” — “I will have sat on the chair”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria sentado |
| tu | terias sentado |
| ele/ela | teria sentado |
| nós | teríamos sentado |
| vós | teríeis sentado |
| eles/elas | teriam sentado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria sentado na cadeira ontem.” — “I would have sat on the chair”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sente |
| tu | sentes |
| ele/ela | sente |
| nós | sentemos |
| vós | senteis |
| eles/elas | sentem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu sente na cadeira.” — “It is important that I sit on the chair”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentasse |
| tu | sentasses |
| ele/ela | sentasse |
| nós | sentássemos |
| vós | sentásseis |
| eles/elas | sentassem |
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 sentasse na cadeira.” — “It was important that I sit on the chair”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sentar |
| tu | sentares |
| ele/ela | sentar |
| nós | sentarmos |
| vós | sentardes |
| eles/elas | sentarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu sentar na cadeira, é bom.” — “If I sit on the chair, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | senta |
| ele/ela | sente |
| nós | sentemos |
| vós | sentai |
| eles/elas | sentem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Senta na cadeira!” — “Sit on the chair!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não sentes |
| ele/ela | não sente |
| nós | não sentemos |
| vós | não senteis |
| eles/elas | não sentem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não sentes na cadeira.” — “Do not sit on the chair.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha sentado |
| tu | tenhas sentado |
| ele/ela | tenha sentado |
| nós | tenhamos sentado |
| vós | tenhais sentado |
| eles/elas | tenham sentado |
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 sentado na cadeira.” — “It is important that I have sat on the chair”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse sentado |
| tu | tivesses sentado |
| ele/ela | tivesse sentado |
| nós | tivéssemos sentado |
| vós | tivésseis sentado |
| eles/elas | tivessem sentado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse sentado na cadeira.” — “It was important that I had sat on the chair”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver sentado |
| tu | tiveres sentado |
| ele/ela | tiver sentado |
| nós | tivermos sentado |
| vós | tiverdes sentado |
| eles/elas | tiverem sentado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver sentado na cadeira, é bom.” — “If I have sat on the chair, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | sentando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Sentando na cadeira, aprendo muito.” — “While sitting on the chair, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | sentado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho sentado na cadeira esta semana.” — “I have sat on the chair.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with sentar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu sento na cadeira todos os dias.” — “I sit on the chair”
- “Tu sentaste na cadeira ontem.” — “You sat on the chair”
- “Ele sentava na cadeira antigamente.” — “He used to sit on the chair”
- “Eu sentarei na cadeira amanhã.” — “I will sit on the chair”
- “Tu sentarias na cadeira um dia.” — “You would sit on the chair”
- “Ele tem sentado na cadeira esta semana.” — “He has sat on the chair”
- “Eu tinha sentado na cadeira antes do jantar.” — “I had sat on the chair”
- “Tu terás sentado na cadeira até amanhã.” — “You will have sat on the chair”
- “É importante que eu sente na cadeira.” — “It is important that I sit on the chair”
- “Senta na cadeira!” — “Sit on the chair!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu sentar na cadeira.”
✓ Right: “Eu sento na cadeira todos os dias.”
The infinitive sentar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form sento.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu sentas na cadeira.”
✓ Right: “Eu sento na cadeira todos os dias.”
sentas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with sento.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu sento na cadeira ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu sentei na cadeira ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito sentei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou sentado na cadeira.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho sentado na cadeira esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of sentar is formed with ter plus the past participle sentado: the eu form is tenho sentado. 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 sento na cadeira.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu sente na cadeira.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use sente here, not the indicative sento.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho sentando na cadeira.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho sentado na cadeira esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle sentado, not the gerund sentando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on sentar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of sentar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) sentas
- B) sento
- C) senta
- D) sentamos
What is the ele/ela form of sentar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) sentei
- B) sentaste
- C) sentou
- D) sentámos
What is the nós form of sentar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) sentava
- B) sentavas
- C) sentáveis
- D) sentávamos
What is the tu form of sentar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) sentarás
- B) sentarei
- C) sentará
- D) sentaremos
What is the eu form of sentar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) sentarias
- B) sentaria
- C) sentaríamos
- D) sentaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of sentar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho sentado
- B) tens sentado
- C) tem sentado
- D) temos sentado
What is the ele/ela form of sentar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) sentes
- B) sentemos
- C) senteis
- D) sente
What is the eu form of sentar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) sentasse
- B) sentasses
- C) sentássemos
- D) sentásseis
What is the gerund of sentar?
- A) sentado
- B) sentando
- C) sentar
- D) sento
What does sentar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to sit
- D) —
Answer key
- B) sento — the correct form is sento. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) sentou — the correct form is sentou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) sentávamos — the correct form is sentávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) sentarás — the correct form is sentarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) sentaria — the correct form is sentaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem sentado — the correct form is tem sentado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) sente — the correct form is sente. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) sentasse — the correct form is sentasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) sentando — the correct form is sentando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to sit — the correct form is to sit. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does sentar mean in English?
sentar means “to sit”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is sentar regular or irregular?
sentar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is sentando and the past participle is sentado.
What are the gerund and past participle of sentar?
The gerund is sentando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is sentado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho sentado.
Which auxiliary does sentar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
sentar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho sentado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle sentado.
How do I say “I sit” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu sento na cadeira todos os dias.” — “I sit on the chair” The eu form of the present is sento, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of sentar — every tense of sentar in one place.
- Sentar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Sentar 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 sentar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise sentar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise sentar with the interactive tool.