Terminar Conjugation in Portuguese
terminar means “to end” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 68 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to finish and to end, and it is completely regular: termino, terminas, termina, terminamos, terminais, terminam. It is the natural partner of começar, and it appears with a noun or an infinitive. This page gives you the complete conjugation of terminar — 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 termino o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I finish the work.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: terminar
- English: to end
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: terminando
- Present participle: terminante
- Past participle: terminado
- 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 terminar, 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 terminar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about terminar
- 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 terminado. 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 terminando, the present participle is terminante and the past participle is terminado: 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 terminar. 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 | termino |
| tu | terminas |
| ele/ela | termina |
| nós | terminamos |
| vós | terminais |
| eles/elas | terminam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu termino o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I finish the work”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminei |
| tu | terminaste |
| ele/ela | terminou |
| nós | terminámos |
| vós | terminastes |
| eles/elas | terminaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu terminei o trabalho ontem.” — “I finished the work”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminava |
| tu | terminavas |
| ele/ela | terminava |
| nós | terminávamos |
| vós | termináveis |
| eles/elas | terminavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu terminava o trabalho antigamente.” — “I used to finish the work”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminara |
| tu | terminaras |
| ele/ela | terminara |
| nós | termináramos |
| vós | termináreis |
| eles/elas | terminaram |
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 terminara o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had finished the work”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminarei |
| tu | terminarás |
| ele/ela | terminará |
| nós | terminaremos |
| vós | terminareis |
| eles/elas | terminarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu terminarei o trabalho amanhã.” — “I will finish the work”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminaria |
| tu | terminarias |
| ele/ela | terminaria |
| nós | terminaríamos |
| vós | terminaríeis |
| eles/elas | terminariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu terminaria o trabalho um dia.” — “I would finish the work”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho terminado |
| tu | tens terminado |
| ele/ela | tem terminado |
| nós | temos terminado |
| vós | tendes terminado |
| eles/elas | têm terminado |
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 terminado o trabalho esta semana.” — “He has finished the work”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha terminado |
| tu | tinhas terminado |
| ele/ela | tinha terminado |
| nós | tínhamos terminado |
| vós | tínheis terminado |
| eles/elas | tinham terminado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha terminado o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had finished the work”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei terminado |
| tu | terás terminado |
| ele/ela | terá terminado |
| nós | teremos terminado |
| vós | tereis terminado |
| eles/elas | terão terminado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei terminado o trabalho até amanhã.” — “I will have finished the work”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria terminado |
| tu | terias terminado |
| ele/ela | teria terminado |
| nós | teríamos terminado |
| vós | teríeis terminado |
| eles/elas | teriam terminado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria terminado o trabalho ontem.” — “I would have finished the work”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | termine |
| tu | termines |
| ele/ela | termine |
| nós | terminemos |
| vós | termineis |
| eles/elas | terminem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu termine o trabalho.” — “It is important that I finish the work”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminasse |
| tu | terminasses |
| ele/ela | terminasse |
| nós | terminássemos |
| vós | terminásseis |
| eles/elas | terminassem |
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 terminasse o trabalho.” — “It was important that I finish the work”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terminar |
| tu | terminares |
| ele/ela | terminar |
| nós | terminarmos |
| vós | terminardes |
| eles/elas | terminarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu terminar o trabalho, é bom.” — “If I finish the work, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | termina |
| ele/ela | termine |
| nós | terminemos |
| vós | terminai |
| eles/elas | terminem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Termina o trabalho!” — “Finish the work!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não termines |
| ele/ela | não termine |
| nós | não terminemos |
| vós | não termineis |
| eles/elas | não terminem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não termines o trabalho.” — “Do not finish the work.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha terminado |
| tu | tenhas terminado |
| ele/ela | tenha terminado |
| nós | tenhamos terminado |
| vós | tenhais terminado |
| eles/elas | tenham terminado |
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 terminado o trabalho.” — “It is important that I have finished the work”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse terminado |
| tu | tivesses terminado |
| ele/ela | tivesse terminado |
| nós | tivéssemos terminado |
| vós | tivésseis terminado |
| eles/elas | tivessem terminado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse terminado o trabalho.” — “It was important that I had finished the work”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver terminado |
| tu | tiveres terminado |
| ele/ela | tiver terminado |
| nós | tivermos terminado |
| vós | tiverdes terminado |
| eles/elas | tiverem terminado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver terminado o trabalho, é bom.” — “If I have finished the work, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | terminando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Terminando o trabalho, aprendo muito.” — “While finishing the work, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | terminante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle terminante 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 terminante 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 | terminado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho terminado o trabalho esta semana.” — “I have finished the work.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with terminar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu termino o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I finish the work”
- “Tu terminaste o trabalho ontem.” — “You finished the work”
- “Ele terminava o trabalho antigamente.” — “He used to finish the work”
- “Eu terminarei o trabalho amanhã.” — “I will finish the work”
- “Tu terminarias o trabalho um dia.” — “You would finish the work”
- “Ele tem terminado o trabalho esta semana.” — “He has finished the work”
- “Eu tinha terminado o trabalho antes do jantar.” — “I had finished the work”
- “Tu terás terminado o trabalho até amanhã.” — “You will have finished the work”
- “É importante que eu termine o trabalho.” — “It is important that I finish the work”
- “Termina o trabalho!” — “Finish the work!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu terminar o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu termino o trabalho todos os dias.”
The infinitive terminar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form termino.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu terminas o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu termino o trabalho todos os dias.”
terminas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with termino.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu termino o trabalho ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu terminei o trabalho ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito terminei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou terminado o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho terminado o trabalho esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of terminar is formed with ter plus the past participle terminado: the eu form is tenho terminado. 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 termino o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu termine o trabalho.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use termine here, not the indicative termino.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho terminando o trabalho.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho terminado o trabalho esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle terminado, not the gerund terminando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on terminar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of terminar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) terminas
- B) termino
- C) termina
- D) terminamos
What is the ele/ela form of terminar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) terminei
- B) terminaste
- C) terminou
- D) terminámos
What is the nós form of terminar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) terminava
- B) terminavas
- C) termináveis
- D) terminávamos
What is the tu form of terminar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) terminarás
- B) terminarei
- C) terminará
- D) terminaremos
What is the eu form of terminar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) terminarias
- B) terminaria
- C) terminaríamos
- D) terminaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of terminar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho terminado
- B) tens terminado
- C) tem terminado
- D) temos terminado
What is the ele/ela form of terminar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) termines
- B) terminemos
- C) termineis
- D) termine
What is the eu form of terminar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) terminasse
- B) terminasses
- C) terminássemos
- D) terminásseis
What is the gerund of terminar?
- A) terminado
- B) terminando
- C) terminar
- D) termino
What does terminar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to end
- D) —
Answer key
- B) termino — the correct form is termino. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) terminou — the correct form is terminou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) terminávamos — the correct form is terminávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) terminarás — the correct form is terminarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) terminaria — the correct form is terminaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem terminado — the correct form is tem terminado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) termine — the correct form is termine. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) terminasse — the correct form is terminasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) terminando — the correct form is terminando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to end — the correct form is to end. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does terminar mean in English?
terminar means “to end”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is terminar regular or irregular?
terminar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is terminando and the past participle is terminado.
What are the gerund and past participle of terminar?
The gerund is terminando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is terminado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho terminado.
Which auxiliary does terminar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
terminar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho terminado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle terminado.
How do I say “I finish” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu termino o trabalho todos os dias.” — “I finish the work” The eu form of the present is termino, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of terminar — every tense of terminar in one place.
- Terminar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Terminar 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 terminar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise terminar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise terminar with the interactive tool.