Usar Conjugation in Portuguese
usar means “to use” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 88 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to use, and it is completely regular: uso, usas, usa, usamos, usais, usam. Its pretérito perfeito is usei, usaste, usou, and its participle is usado. It is the verb for using anything, from a computer to a word. This page gives you the complete conjugation of usar — 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 uso um computador todos os dias.” — “I use a computer.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: usar
- English: to use
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: usando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: usado
- 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 usar, 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 usar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about usar
- 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 usado. 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 usando and the past participle is usado: 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 usar. 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 | uso |
| tu | usas |
| ele/ela | usa |
| nós | usamos |
| vós | usais |
| eles/elas | usam |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu uso um computador todos os dias.” — “I use a computer”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usei |
| tu | usaste |
| ele/ela | usou |
| nós | usámos |
| vós | usastes |
| eles/elas | usaram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu usei um computador ontem.” — “I used a computer”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usava |
| tu | usavas |
| ele/ela | usava |
| nós | usávamos |
| vós | usáveis |
| eles/elas | usavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu usava um computador antigamente.” — “I used to use a computer”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usara |
| tu | usaras |
| ele/ela | usara |
| nós | usáramos |
| vós | usáreis |
| eles/elas | usaram |
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 usara um computador antes do jantar.” — “I had used a computer”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usarei |
| tu | usarás |
| ele/ela | usará |
| nós | usaremos |
| vós | usareis |
| eles/elas | usarão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu usarei um computador amanhã.” — “I will use a computer”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usaria |
| tu | usarias |
| ele/ela | usaria |
| nós | usaríamos |
| vós | usaríeis |
| eles/elas | usariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu usaria um computador um dia.” — “I would use a computer”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho usado |
| tu | tens usado |
| ele/ela | tem usado |
| nós | temos usado |
| vós | tendes usado |
| eles/elas | têm usado |
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 usado um computador esta semana.” — “He has used a computer”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha usado |
| tu | tinhas usado |
| ele/ela | tinha usado |
| nós | tínhamos usado |
| vós | tínheis usado |
| eles/elas | tinham usado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha usado um computador antes do jantar.” — “I had used a computer”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei usado |
| tu | terás usado |
| ele/ela | terá usado |
| nós | teremos usado |
| vós | tereis usado |
| eles/elas | terão usado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei usado um computador até amanhã.” — “I will have used a computer”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria usado |
| tu | terias usado |
| ele/ela | teria usado |
| nós | teríamos usado |
| vós | teríeis usado |
| eles/elas | teriam usado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria usado um computador ontem.” — “I would have used a computer”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | use |
| tu | uses |
| ele/ela | use |
| nós | usemos |
| vós | useis |
| eles/elas | usem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu use um computador.” — “It is important that I use a computer”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usasse |
| tu | usasses |
| ele/ela | usasse |
| nós | usássemos |
| vós | usásseis |
| eles/elas | usassem |
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 usasse um computador.” — “It was important that I use a computer”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | usar |
| tu | usares |
| ele/ela | usar |
| nós | usarmos |
| vós | usardes |
| eles/elas | usarem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu usar um computador, é bom.” — “If I use a computer, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | usa |
| ele/ela | use |
| nós | usemos |
| vós | usai |
| eles/elas | usem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Usa um computador!” — “Use a computer!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não uses |
| ele/ela | não use |
| nós | não usemos |
| vós | não useis |
| eles/elas | não usem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não uses um computador.” — “Do not use a computer.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha usado |
| tu | tenhas usado |
| ele/ela | tenha usado |
| nós | tenhamos usado |
| vós | tenhais usado |
| eles/elas | tenham usado |
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 usado um computador.” — “It is important that I have used a computer”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse usado |
| tu | tivesses usado |
| ele/ela | tivesse usado |
| nós | tivéssemos usado |
| vós | tivésseis usado |
| eles/elas | tivessem usado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse usado um computador.” — “It was important that I had used a computer”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver usado |
| tu | tiveres usado |
| ele/ela | tiver usado |
| nós | tivermos usado |
| vós | tiverdes usado |
| eles/elas | tiverem usado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver usado um computador, é bom.” — “If I have used a computer, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | usando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Usando um computador, aprendo muito.” — “While using a computer, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | usado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho usado um computador esta semana.” — “I have used a computer.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with usar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu uso um computador todos os dias.” — “I use a computer”
- “Tu usaste um computador ontem.” — “You used a computer”
- “Ele usava um computador antigamente.” — “He used to use a computer”
- “Eu usarei um computador amanhã.” — “I will use a computer”
- “Tu usarias um computador um dia.” — “You would use a computer”
- “Ele tem usado um computador esta semana.” — “He has used a computer”
- “Eu tinha usado um computador antes do jantar.” — “I had used a computer”
- “Tu terás usado um computador até amanhã.” — “You will have used a computer”
- “É importante que eu use um computador.” — “It is important that I use a computer”
- “Usa um computador!” — “Use a computer!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu usar um computador.”
✓ Right: “Eu uso um computador todos os dias.”
The infinitive usar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form uso.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu usas um computador.”
✓ Right: “Eu uso um computador todos os dias.”
usas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with uso.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu uso um computador ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu usei um computador ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito usei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou usado um computador.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho usado um computador esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of usar is formed with ter plus the past participle usado: the eu form is tenho usado. 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 uso um computador.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu use um computador.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use use here, not the indicative uso.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho usando um computador.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho usado um computador esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle usado, not the gerund usando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on usar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of usar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) usas
- B) uso
- C) usa
- D) usamos
What is the ele/ela form of usar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) usei
- B) usaste
- C) usou
- D) usámos
What is the nós form of usar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) usava
- B) usavas
- C) usáveis
- D) usávamos
What is the tu form of usar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) usarás
- B) usarei
- C) usará
- D) usaremos
What is the eu form of usar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) usarias
- B) usaria
- C) usaríamos
- D) usaríeis
What is the ele/ela form of usar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho usado
- B) tens usado
- C) tem usado
- D) temos usado
What is the ele/ela form of usar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) uses
- B) usemos
- C) useis
- D) use
What is the eu form of usar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) usasse
- B) usasses
- C) usássemos
- D) usásseis
What is the gerund of usar?
- A) usado
- B) usando
- C) usar
- D) uso
What does usar mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to use
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) uso — the correct form is uso. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) usou — the correct form is usou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) usávamos — the correct form is usávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) usarás — the correct form is usarás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) usaria — the correct form is usaria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem usado — the correct form is tem usado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) use — the correct form is use. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) usasse — the correct form is usasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) usando — the correct form is usando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to use — the correct form is to use. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does usar mean in English?
usar means “to use”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is usar regular or irregular?
usar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is usando and the past participle is usado.
What are the gerund and past participle of usar?
The gerund is usando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is usado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho usado.
Which auxiliary does usar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
usar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho usado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle usado.
How do I say “I use” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu uso um computador todos os dias.” — “I use a computer” The eu form of the present is uso, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of usar — every tense of usar in one place.
- Usar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Usar 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.
- Pagar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Comprar 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 usar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise usar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise usar with the interactive tool.