The future perfect for past probability
In a previous lesson, you learned how to use the future perfect (Futuro Composto do Indicativo) to describe actions completed by a future deadline. However, this tense has another very common—and very useful—function in Portuguese: expressing a guess, probability, or supposition about something that already happened.
When piecing together a mystery, investigating a crime, or simply gossiping, you will frequently use this tense to describe what must have happened or what probably occurred.
The structure is exactly the same as before: the future tense of the auxiliary verb ter + the past participle of your main verb.
| They say that the inspector must have arrived late to the scene. | Dizem que o inspetor terá chegado atrasado à cena. |
| Someone must have left the footprint in the mud. | Alguém terá deixado a pegada na lama. |
| The thief must have had an accomplice in the bank. | O ladrão terá tido um cúmplice no banco. |
Asking questions and expressing doubt
When you ask a question using this tense, it expresses doubt, wonder, or speculation. In English, this translates roughly to "Could [someone] have [done]...?" or "I wonder if...".
| Could the inspector have discovered the truth? | O inspetor terá descoberto a verdade? |
| Could the witness have invented the false alibi? | A testemunha terá inventado o álibi falso? |
| Who could have tried to kidnap the girl? | Quem terá tentado raptar a menina? |
Negative suppositions
When you use this tense in a negative sentence, you are guessing that an event most likely did not occur. This translates to "probably didn't" or "must not have".
| the alibi | o álibi |
| The suspect probably did not have a good alibi. | O suspeito não terá tido um bom álibi. |
| They probably did not find any trace of blood on the rug. | Não terão encontrado nenhum vestígio de sangue no tapete. |