Há, Faz, and Daqui a: Time Expressions in Brazilian Portuguese — Practice

Use há for a duration that reaches the present

When an action or situation began in the past and continues now, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the present tense with há: Moro aqui há dois anos (I have lived here for two years). The present verb shows that the situation is still true.

In this meaning, há is related to haver and is written with an accent. Do not translate English “for” word for word; match the timeline instead.

Use faz to talk about elapsed time

Faz can also express how long a situation has lasted: Faz dois anos que moro aqui. This often corresponds to “It has been two years that I live here” or “I have lived here for two years.” In a simple past event, faz also means that a period of time ago: Cheguei faz dois dias (I arrived two days ago).

Há and faz can overlap in time expressions, but the grammar around them changes. Notice whether you are describing an ongoing situation or counting back from a completed event.

Use daqui a for time from now

Daqui a points forward from the present: daqui a dez minutos (in ten minutes), daqui a uma semana (in a week). A related phrase, dentro de, can also mean “in” or “within” when talking about a future period.

Compare the direction of time: Moro aqui há dois anos means the two-year period reaches today; Vou viajar daqui a dois anos means the trip is two years in the future.

Remember: Make one sentence about a duration that continues today, one about an event that happened ago, and one plan in the future. Label each timeline before choosing há, faz, or daqui a.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I have been studying Portuguese for six months.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estudo português há seis meses.

2. We have worked together for a long time.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente trabalha junto há muito tempo.

3. She has lived in Brazil for a year.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela mora no Brasil há um ano.

4. I have worked at this company for three months.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Faz três meses que trabalho nesta empresa.

5. The appointment was a week ago.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A consulta foi há uma semana.

6. We met not long ago.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Faz pouco tempo que nos conhecemos.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Make one sentence about a duration that continues today, one about an event that happened ago, and one plan in the future. Label each timeline before choosing há, faz, or daqui a.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Há, Faz, and Daqui a: Time Expressions in Brazilian Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.