Subir Conjugation in Portuguese
subir means “to go up” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 62 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to go up, and it is completely regular: subo, subes, sobe, subimos, subis, subem. Its pretérito perfeito is subi, subiste, subiu, subimos, subistes, subiram, and its participle is subido. It is the opposite of descer, which means to go down. This page gives you the complete conjugation of subir — 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 subo as escadas todos os dias.” — “I go up the stairs.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: subir
- English: to go up
- Verb type: Regular -ir verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: subindo
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: subido
- 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 subir, 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 subir in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about subir
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ir 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 subido. 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 subindo and the past participle is subido: 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 subir. 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 | subo |
| tu | subes |
| ele/ela | sube |
| nós | subimos |
| vós | subis |
| eles/elas | subem |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu subo as escadas todos os dias.” — “I go up the stairs”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subi |
| tu | subiste |
| ele/ela | subiu |
| nós | subimos |
| vós | subistes |
| eles/elas | subiram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu subi as escadas ontem.” — “I went up the stairs”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subia |
| tu | subias |
| ele/ela | subia |
| nós | subíamos |
| vós | subíeis |
| eles/elas | subiam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu subia as escadas antigamente.” — “I used to go up the stairs”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subira |
| tu | subiras |
| ele/ela | subira |
| nós | subíramos |
| vós | subíreis |
| eles/elas | subiram |
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 subira as escadas antes do jantar.” — “I had gone up the stairs”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subirei |
| tu | subirás |
| ele/ela | subirá |
| nós | subiremos |
| vós | subireis |
| eles/elas | subirão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu subirei as escadas amanhã.” — “I will go up the stairs”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subiria |
| tu | subirias |
| ele/ela | subiria |
| nós | subiríamos |
| vós | subiríeis |
| eles/elas | subiriam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu subiria as escadas um dia.” — “I would go up the stairs”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho subido |
| tu | tens subido |
| ele/ela | tem subido |
| nós | temos subido |
| vós | tendes subido |
| eles/elas | têm subido |
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 subido as escadas esta semana.” — “He has gone up the stairs”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha subido |
| tu | tinhas subido |
| ele/ela | tinha subido |
| nós | tínhamos subido |
| vós | tínheis subido |
| eles/elas | tinham subido |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha subido as escadas antes do jantar.” — “I had gone up the stairs”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei subido |
| tu | terás subido |
| ele/ela | terá subido |
| nós | teremos subido |
| vós | tereis subido |
| eles/elas | terão subido |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei subido as escadas até amanhã.” — “I will have gone up the stairs”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria subido |
| tu | terias subido |
| ele/ela | teria subido |
| nós | teríamos subido |
| vós | teríeis subido |
| eles/elas | teriam subido |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria subido as escadas ontem.” — “I would have gone up the stairs”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | suba |
| tu | subas |
| ele/ela | suba |
| nós | subamos |
| vós | subais |
| eles/elas | subam |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu suba as escadas.” — “It is important that I go up the stairs”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subisse |
| tu | subisses |
| ele/ela | subisse |
| nós | subíssemos |
| vós | subísseis |
| eles/elas | subissem |
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 subisse as escadas.” — “It was important that I go up the stairs”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | subir |
| tu | subires |
| ele/ela | subir |
| nós | subirmos |
| vós | subirdes |
| eles/elas | subirem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu subir as escadas, é bom.” — “If I go up the stairs, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | sube |
| ele/ela | suba |
| nós | subamos |
| vós | subi |
| eles/elas | subam |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Sube as escadas!” — “Go up the stairs!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não subas |
| ele/ela | não suba |
| nós | não subamos |
| vós | não subais |
| eles/elas | não subam |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não subas as escadas.” — “Do not go up the stairs.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha subido |
| tu | tenhas subido |
| ele/ela | tenha subido |
| nós | tenhamos subido |
| vós | tenhais subido |
| eles/elas | tenham subido |
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 subido as escadas.” — “It is important that I have gone up the stairs”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse subido |
| tu | tivesses subido |
| ele/ela | tivesse subido |
| nós | tivéssemos subido |
| vós | tivésseis subido |
| eles/elas | tivessem subido |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse subido as escadas.” — “It was important that I had gone up the stairs”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver subido |
| tu | tiveres subido |
| ele/ela | tiver subido |
| nós | tivermos subido |
| vós | tiverdes subido |
| eles/elas | tiverem subido |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver subido as escadas, é bom.” — “If I have gone up the stairs, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | subindo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Subindo as escadas, aprendo muito.” — “While going up the stairs, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | subido |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho subido as escadas esta semana.” — “I have gone up the stairs.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with subir, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu subo as escadas todos os dias.” — “I go up the stairs”
- “Tu subiste as escadas ontem.” — “You went up the stairs”
- “Ele subia as escadas antigamente.” — “He used to go up the stairs”
- “Eu subirei as escadas amanhã.” — “I will go up the stairs”
- “Tu subirias as escadas um dia.” — “You would go up the stairs”
- “Ele tem subido as escadas esta semana.” — “He has gone up the stairs”
- “Eu tinha subido as escadas antes do jantar.” — “I had gone up the stairs”
- “Tu terás subido as escadas até amanhã.” — “You will have gone up the stairs”
- “É importante que eu suba as escadas.” — “It is important that I go up the stairs”
- “Sube as escadas!” — “Go up the stairs!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu subir as escadas.”
✓ Right: “Eu subo as escadas todos os dias.”
The infinitive subir never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form subo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu subes as escadas.”
✓ Right: “Eu subo as escadas todos os dias.”
subes is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with subo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu subo as escadas ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu subi as escadas ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito subi for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou subido as escadas.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho subido as escadas esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of subir is formed with ter plus the past participle subido: the eu form is tenho subido. 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 subo as escadas.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu suba as escadas.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use suba here, not the indicative subo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho subindo as escadas.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho subido as escadas esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle subido, not the gerund subindo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on subir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of subir in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) subes
- B) subo
- C) sube
- D) subimos
What is the ele/ela form of subir in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) subi
- B) subiste
- C) subiu
- D) subimos
What is the nós form of subir in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) subia
- B) subias
- C) subíeis
- D) subíamos
What is the tu form of subir in the Futuro do presente?
- A) subirás
- B) subirei
- C) subirá
- D) subiremos
What is the eu form of subir in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) subirias
- B) subiria
- C) subiríamos
- D) subiríeis
What is the ele/ela form of subir in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho subido
- B) tens subido
- C) tem subido
- D) temos subido
What is the ele/ela form of subir in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) subas
- B) subamos
- C) subais
- D) suba
What is the eu form of subir in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) subisse
- B) subisses
- C) subíssemos
- D) subísseis
What is the gerund of subir?
- A) subido
- B) subindo
- C) subir
- D) subo
What does subir mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to go up
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) subo — the correct form is subo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) subiu — the correct form is subiu. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) subíamos — the correct form is subíamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) subirás — the correct form is subirás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) subiria — the correct form is subiria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem subido — the correct form is tem subido. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) suba — the correct form is suba. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) subisse — the correct form is subisse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) subindo — the correct form is subindo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to go up — the correct form is to go up. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does subir mean in English?
subir means “to go up”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is subir regular or irregular?
subir is regular: it follows the ordinary -ir pattern in every tense. The gerund is subindo and the past participle is subido.
What are the gerund and past participle of subir?
The gerund is subindo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is subido — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho subido.
Which auxiliary does subir take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
subir takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho subido. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle subido.
How do I say “I go up” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu subo as escadas todos os dias.” — “I go up the stairs” The eu form of the present is subo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of subir — every tense of subir in one place.
- Subir in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Subir 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.
- Pedir conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Abrir 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 subir with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise subir with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise subir with the interactive tool.