The future subjunctive — futuro do conjuntivo — is the single most characteristic tense a learner of European Portuguese acquires. Spanish-speakers lost it centuries ago; English has nothing remotely like it; but in EP it is alive in every conversation, every news bulletin, every text message. Where English says when you get home, call me, Portuguese says quando chegares a casa, liga-me — with a dedicated future-subjunctive form of the verb. This page covers the most common use of that tense: after quando and its family of temporal conjunctions. If you do not master this, your Portuguese will sound foreign. If you do, you have unlocked one of the language's defining structures.
The three-way contrast: quando chega / quando chegou / quando chegar
Start with the minimal pair that organises everything else. The temporal conjunction quando takes three different tenses depending on when the event lives.
| Form | Tense | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quando ele chega a casa, liga a televisão. | present indicative | habitual (every day) |
| Quando ele chegou a casa, ligou a televisão. | preterite indicative | specific past event |
| Quando ele chegar a casa, liga a televisão. | future subjunctive | future, not yet happened |
The three forms look almost identical for an -ar verb — chega / chegou / chegar — but they carry entirely different temporal content. The future subjunctive chegar is unmistakably future: it refers to an arrival that has not yet happened and may or may not happen.
Quando chegas a casa, ligas sempre a televisão.
When you get home, you always turn on the TV. (habitual — present indicative)
Quando chegaste a casa, ligaste a televisão.
When you got home, you turned on the TV. (specific past — preterite indicative)
Quando chegares a casa, liga-me.
When you get home, call me. (future event — future subjunctive)
Why the future subjunctive exists
The future subjunctive is what a linguist calls a prospective irrealis — a tense for events that are projected forward in time and treated as not yet part of reality. When you say quando chegar, you are asserting neither that the arrival will happen nor that it won't; you are merely sketching the scenario in which the main clause would play out. This is exactly the slot where English uses the bare present (when you arrive) and Spanish uses the present subjunctive (cuando llegues). Portuguese gives it its own dedicated tense.
Because the future subjunctive is built from the same stem as the preterite (the third-person plural, minus the -ram ending), it is often the only tense that clearly marks the scenario as future and hypothetical. Portuguese grammar has kept this distinction alive while its sister languages let it fade.
Form reminder
Brief refresher, since this page focuses on usage. The future subjunctive is built on the preterite third-person plural stem (eles chegaram → chegar-) with these endings:
| chegar (regular -ar) | beber (regular -er) | partir (regular -ir) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | chegar | beber | partir |
| tu | chegares | beberes | partires |
| ele / ela / você | chegar | beber | partir |
| nós | chegarmos | bebermos | partirmos |
| vocês / eles | chegarem | beberem | partirem |
Crucially, irregular verbs are built on the preterite stem too: ter → tiver-, fazer → fizer-, vir → vier-, pôr → puser-, dizer → disser-, ver → vir-, trazer → trouxer-, saber → souber-, poder → puder-, querer → quiser-. For full paradigms see the future subjunctive irregular forms page.
Quando — the default temporal conjunction
Quando is by far the most common conjunction that triggers the future subjunctive. Any time a when-clause refers to something that has not yet happened, Portuguese uses quando + future subjunctive.
Quando souberes a nota, diz-me.
When you find out your grade, tell me.
Quando fizeres trinta anos, damos-te uma festa.
When you turn thirty, we'll throw you a party.
Vais perceber quando tiveres filhos.
You'll understand when you have kids.
Notice that the main clause can be present indicative (passa), imperative (diz-me), future indicative (damos, vais perceber), or periphrastic future (vamos). The future subjunctive lives in the subordinate quando-clause; the main clause is free to take whichever tense fits.
Assim que / logo que / mal — "as soon as"
Three conjunctions all translate as as soon as, and all three take the future subjunctive when the event is future. They are ordered below roughly by frequency in modern EP speech.
- Assim que — as soon as (most common, neutral)
- Logo que — as soon as (slightly more formal, but everyday)
- Mal — as soon as, the moment (informal, very frequent in speech)
Assim que souber alguma coisa, aviso-te.
As soon as I know anything, I'll let you know.
Logo que der, passo aí.
As soon as I can, I'll come by. (der = future subj. of dar — very idiomatic)
Mal chegares, manda-me uma mensagem.
The moment you arrive, send me a message.
Mal o telefone tocar, atende.
The moment the phone rings, pick up.
Enquanto — "while"
Enquanto (while, as long as) takes the future subjunctive when it refers to a future or projected period. With past or habitual meaning, it takes the indicative.
Enquanto estiveres cá, podes usar o quarto.
While you're here, you can use the room.
Enquanto não chover, jogamos lá fora.
As long as it doesn't rain, we'll play outside.
Vou ler enquanto tu fazes o jantar.
I'll read while you make dinner. (simultaneous present — indicative, because the event is happening now)
Enquanto eu era pequena, passávamos o verão no Algarve.
When I was little, we used to spend the summer in the Algarve. (past habit — imperfect indicative)
Notice the split. If enquanto refers to a real, ongoing, or past period, you use the indicative. If it refers to a future period, you use the future subjunctive. This parallels quando exactly.
Sempre que — "whenever"
Sempre que (whenever, every time that) is slightly more nuanced. If the speaker means an established habit, it takes the indicative. If the speaker means a future open invitation — "whenever you want, any time you decide to" — it takes the future subjunctive.
Sempre que quero café, vou àquele café em frente.
Whenever I want coffee, I go to that café across the street. (habit — indicative)
Sempre que quiseres café, podes usar a máquina.
Whenever you want coffee, you can use the machine. (open future invitation — future subjunctive)
Sempre que precisares, estou aqui.
Whenever you need me, I'm here.
Depois que — "after"
Depois que introduces a clause referring to an event that must happen before the main clause. With future reference, the future subjunctive appears.
Depois que terminares o trabalho, podemos jantar.
After you finish work, we can have dinner.
Depois que eles saírem, fechamos a porta.
After they leave, we'll close the door.
With past reference, depois que takes the indicative (depois que ele saiu, fechámos a porta — "after he left, we closed the door").
Conforme — "as, according to"
Conforme as a temporal conjunction means as, in the way that, depending on how. With a future scenario, it takes the future subjunctive.
Conforme forem chegando, vou servindo.
As they arrive, I'll keep serving. (forem chegando = future subj. progressive)
Conforme puderes, vai pagando.
As you're able to, pay it off gradually.
Conforme o tempo estiver, decidimos se vamos à praia.
Depending on what the weather's like, we'll decide whether to go to the beach.
This usage of conforme overlaps with à medida que (as, to the extent that), which likewise takes the future subjunctive in future contexts: à medida que forem chegando.
Até — until, with a twist
Até (until) is a bit special. Portuguese splits it into two closely related constructions:
- Até + future subjunctive — when the "until" clause has its own subject and refers to a future event. This is common in EP.
- Até que + present subjunctive — slightly more formal, interchangeable in meaning.
Both are heard; até + future subjunctive is somewhat more colloquial, até que + present subjunctive slightly more formal. In practice, most EP speakers use them interchangeably.
Espera até eu chegar.
Wait until I arrive. (até + future subjunctive)
Espera até que eu chegue.
Wait until I arrive. (até que + present subjunctive — equally correct)
Vou esperar até ele decidir.
I'll wait until he decides.
Não desligues até ouvires o sinal.
Don't hang up until you hear the signal.
Ficamos aqui até melhorar o tempo.
We'll stay here until the weather gets better.
When até refers to a past event, Portuguese uses até + (personal) infinitive: esperámos até ele chegar ("we waited until he arrived") — the same até + infinitive pattern but anchored in the past by the main clause. Note that for most verbs the personal infinitive and the future subjunctive are identical in form (chegar, chegares, chegar, chegarmos, chegarem), which is why this construction feels seamless to Portuguese speakers without their having to consciously choose.
Minimal pair: the meaning really flips
Get this pair clear in your head. It is the core of the page.
Quando chegas a casa, ligas-me sempre.
When you get home, you always call me. (habitual — indicative) — a statement about what you routinely do.
Quando chegares a casa, liga-me.
When you get home, call me. (future — future subjunctive) — an instruction for after an arrival that hasn't happened yet.
These two sentences are not interchangeable. The first describes your routine. The second tells you what to do after an event we are waiting for. If a Portuguese speaker hears quando chegas a casa, liga-me when the arrival is in the future, they will interpret it as grammatically wrong — or as an odd observation about your habit.
Register: not optional
A crucial point for learners: the future subjunctive in temporal clauses is not a literary register. It is not an elevated form you can skip in casual speech. Every Portuguese speaker, from a five-year-old to a university professor, uses it automatically in every conversation. Compare:
Quando tiveres tempo, lê este livro.
When you have time, read this book. (casual) — still future subjunctive.
Quando Vossa Excelência tiver tempo, agradeço que leia este livro.
When Your Excellency has time, I would be grateful if you could read this book. (formal) — same future subjunctive.
There is no spoken register in which the future subjunctive is replaced by the indicative in these clauses. If you use quando chegas for a future arrival in any conversation — casual, professional, intimate — you will sound wrong.
A dialogue: future subjunctive in the wild
Two friends planning to meet.
— Quando sais do trabalho?
What time do you get off work? (indicative — asking about a habit/schedule)
— Por volta das seis. Assim que sair, mando-te mensagem.
Around six. As soon as I get off, I'll text you.
— Logo que puderes, avisa-me. Estou em casa.
As soon as you can, let me know. I'm home.
— Mal chegar a casa, ligo-te.
The moment I get home, I'll call you.
— Enquanto não chegares, vou adiantando o jantar.
Until you arrive, I'll get started on dinner. (enquanto não = as long as... not)
Count the future-subjunctive forms: sair, puderes, chegar, chegares. Five sentences, four future subjunctives. This density is typical in EP conversation when plans are being made.
Common mistakes
❌ Quando chegas a Lisboa, manda-me mensagem.
Incorrect if you mean a future arrival — the event hasn't happened yet.
✅ Quando chegares a Lisboa, manda-me mensagem.
When you get to Lisbon, send me a message.
❌ Assim que sei a resposta, aviso-te.
Incorrect — a future event requires the future subjunctive, not the present indicative.
✅ Assim que souber a resposta, aviso-te.
As soon as I know the answer, I'll let you know.
❌ Enquanto estás aqui, podes usar o quarto.
Incorrect if the visit is in the future — this reads as 'while you are here (right now).'
✅ Enquanto estiveres aqui, podes usar o quarto.
While you're here (future stay), you can use the room.
❌ Logo que podes, passa por cá.
Incorrect — the event is a future capability, not a current one.
✅ Logo que puderes, passa por cá.
As soon as you can, come by.
❌ Espera até eu chego.
Incorrect — 'até' takes the future subjunctive when the subject changes and the event is future.
✅ Espera até eu chegar.
Wait until I arrive.
All five errors share the same root: using the indicative for an event that hasn't happened. English speakers transfer the pattern when X arrives with a present-indicative verb, which is exactly what does not work in Portuguese.
Key takeaways
- Quando, assim que, logo que, mal, enquanto, sempre que, depois que, conforme, and até take the future subjunctive when they refer to events that have not yet happened.
- The same conjunctions take the indicative when they refer to past events (quando cheguei) or habitual routines (quando chego sempre).
- The three-way contrast chega / chegou / chegar forces you to decide every time: habit, past, or future.
- The future subjunctive is not formal or literary. It is the everyday tense every EP speaker uses in every conversation that involves planning, instructions, or any future event.
- Até + future subjunctive and até que + present subjunctive are interchangeable; the former is slightly more colloquial.
Cross-references
- Future Subjunctive with Se Clauses — the other major use, for open conditionals.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive — when each is required.
- Future Subjunctive: Relative Clauses — quem, o que, onde
- future subjunctive.
- Subjunctive: Conjunctions — all subjunctive-triggering conjunctions.
- Subjunctive Mood: Overview — the big picture.
Related Topics
- Future Subjunctive with Se (Open Conditionals)B1 — How European Portuguese builds open conditional sentences with se + future subjunctive, the three-way conditional typology (open / hypothetical / counterfactual), and why English speakers consistently get this wrong.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive: Choosing the Right OneB2 — The decision framework for choosing between the future subjunctive and the present subjunctive in European Portuguese — trigger types, minimal pairs, and the crucial insight that only some contexts allow the future subjunctive.
- Future Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Quem, O que, Onde)B2 — Using the future subjunctive after quem, o que, onde, como, and conforme — the construction European Portuguese uses for whoever, whatever, wherever, and however references to indefinite future participants.
- Subjunctive Mood OverviewB1 — What the conjuntivo is in European Portuguese, why it exists, and when the language requires it — a tour of irrealis across the present, imperfect, and future subjunctive
- Conjunctions That Trigger the Subjunctive (Para que, Embora, Sem que)B1 — The conjunctions that always, sometimes, or never trigger the present subjunctive in European Portuguese — organized by meaning.