Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Nós havíamos de organizar os apontamentos e o cronograma. - We ought to organize the notes and the schedule.

Both translate to "we should" or "we ought to organize," but using the Imperfeito of haver de often carries a slightly stronger sense of mild reproach or a missed obligation. It sounds like something you were supposed to do but haven't done yet, whereas devíamos is a more standard, neutral "we should."

Does havíamos de refer to a past action here, since it uses the Imperfeito tense?

Not necessarily. Even though havíamos is in the past tense, this specific structure is frequently used to express a present feeling that something "ought to be" done right now. It acts as a polite or slightly passive-aggressive recommendation rather than a strictly past event.

Could I use notas instead of apontamentos for "notes" here?

In the context of studying, meetings, or organizing information, apontamentos is the natural choice in Portugal for written notes. The word notas usually refers to school grades, musical notes, or banknotes, so saying you are organizing your notas might sound like you are sorting your cash or your report cards!

Why is it o cronograma (masculine) when the word ends in "-a"?