Breakdown of Nós havíamos de organizar os apontamentos e o cronograma.
e
and
nós
we
organizar
to organize
haver de
shall / will / ought to / should
os apontamentos
the notes
o cronograma
the schedule
Questions & Answers about Nós havíamos de organizar os apontamentos e o cronograma.
How is havíamos de organizar different from saying devíamos organizar?
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!
Learn Nós havíamos de organizar os apontamentos e o cronograma and more in Portuguese
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free