Usar
to use
Presente
Current actions, habits, and general truths.
| eu | uso | Eu uso o mesmo caderno há dois anos — quase acabou. — I use the same notebook for two years — it's almost finished. |
| você/ele/ela | usa | Ela usa o celular como extensão do cérebro. — She uses her phone as an extension of her brain. |
| nós | usamos | Nós usamos o espaço de um jeito que ninguém mais usaria. — We use the space in a way nobody else would. |
| eles/elas | usam | Eles usam tecnologia velha com eficiência nova. — They use old technology with new efficiency. |
I use silence as a tool — it's the most powerful one I have. My friend uses every conversation to learn something. We use the same apps in completely different ways. How we use time says a lot about who we are.
Pret. Perfeito
Completed past actions — what happened.
| eu | usei | Eu usei aquele truque e funcionou como nunca. — I used that trick and it worked like never before. |
| você/ele/ela | usou | Ela usou o desconto antes de vencer. — She used the discount before it expired. |
| nós | usamos | Nós usamos o tempo com sabedoria naquela semana. — We used our time wisely that week. |
| eles/elas | usaram | Eles usaram todos os recursos disponíveis. — They used all available resources. |
The hackathon was a real test. I used techniques I had learned years ago and never applied. My team used the constraints as fuel. We used fewer resources and delivered more — that was the lesson. Those who used more tools didn't necessarily deliver better.
Pret. Imperfeito
Ongoing or habitual past — what used to happen or was happening.
| eu | usava | Eu usava agenda de papel quando ninguém mais usava. — I used to use a paper diary when nobody else did. |
| você/ele/ela | usava | Ela usava óculos de sol mesmo em dia nublado. — She used to wear sunglasses even on cloudy days. |
| nós | usávamos | Nós usávamos o mesmo dicionário de turma por anos. — We used to use the same class dictionary for years. |
| eles/elas | usavam | Eles usavam a sala de reuniões como escritório extra. — They used to use the meeting room as an extra office. |
Before apps, I used to use a paper map folded a thousand times. I used to use an address book and knew by heart the numbers that mattered. My mum used to use the encyclopaedia as the standard reference. We used to use time more deliberately — things arrived more slowly.
Futuro Informal
Plans and intentions — "going to." The most common future form in spoken BR Portuguese.
| eu | vou usar | Vou usar esse conhecimento no projeto de amanhã. — I'm going to use this knowledge in tomorrow's project. |
| você/ele/ela | vai usar | Ela vai usar o vestido que nunca teve ocasião. — She's going to wear the dress that never had an occasion. |
| nós | vamos usar | Vamos usar uma abordagem diferente dessa vez. — We're going to use a different approach this time. |
| eles/elas | vão usar | Eles vão usar a verba de forma mais estratégica. — They're going to use the budget more strategically. |
The new version of the system is ready. I'm going to use it in production from tomorrow. My developer is going to use user feedback to adjust the details. We're going to use the new interface and see what the team thinks. Those who are going to use it more will have more context to suggest improvements.
Futuro Formal
Formal future — "shall/will." More common in writing than speech.
| eu | usarei | Usarei cada ferramenta disponível para resolver isso. — I will use every available tool to solve this. |
| você/ele/ela | usará | A equipe usará o novo sistema a partir de segunda. — The team will use the new system from Monday. |
| nós | usaremos | Usaremos os dados coletados para embasar a decisão. — We will use the collected data to support the decision. |
| eles/elas | usarão | Os pesquisadores usarão metodologia inovadora no estudo. — The researchers will use innovative methodology in the study. |
The manual was distributed: The company will use resources responsibly. We will use renewable energy in all units. Suppliers will use recyclable packaging compulsorily. I will use my position to ensure this commitment is fulfilled.
Condicional
Hypotheticals and polite requests — "would."
| eu | usaria | Eu usaria um idioma diferente se soubesse. — I would use a different language if I knew one. |
| você/ele/ela | usaria | Ela usaria o espaço de outro jeito se fosse dela. — She would use the space differently if it were hers. |
| nós | usaríamos | Usaríamos o orçamento melhor com mais planejamento. — We would use the budget better with more planning. |
| eles/elas | usariam | Eles usariam a tecnologia com mais eficiência com treinamento. — They would use the technology more efficiently with training. |
If time were an unlimited resource, I would use every hour with more intention. My friend would use the talent he has if he weren't afraid of failing. We would make better use of what we have if we stopped comparing with what others have. Organisations would use data more wisely if there were more diversity in teams.
Usar across the tenses
A short story using usar in multiple tenses
Minha professora favorita usava perguntas onde outros usavam respostas. Usava o silêncio como uma técnica — e a gente pensava mais. Nós usávamos a aula dela como exemplo de como as coisas deveriam ser.
Hoje eu uso essa mesma técnica com quem ensino. Ontem usei uma pergunta simples e ela abriu uma conversa de uma hora. Usamos assim as lições que recebemos — passando adiante.
No próximo semestre, vou usar uma metodologia nova na turma. Se funcionar, usarei para sempre.
Perguntei a ela uma vez o que usaria se tivesse só um recurso pedagógico. Ela não hesitou: Usaria a curiosidade dos alunos. Nunca falha.
My favourite teacher used to use questions where others used answers. She used to use silence as a technique — and we thought more. We used to use her class as an example of how things should be. Today I use that same technique with those I teach. Yesterday I used a simple question and it opened a conversation of an hour. We use the lessons we received like this — passing them on. Next semester, I'm going to use a new methodology with the class. If it works, I will use it forever. I asked her once what she would use if she had only one teaching resource. She didn't hesitate: I would use the students' curiosity. It never fails.
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