Portuguese verb

Conjugation of tentar

The Portuguese verb tentar means "to try". Below are its 7 tenses as tables, 4 example sentences and answers to 3 common questions. Press play next to a present tense form or an example to hear it.

Meaning
to try
Type
Regular -ar verb
Gerund
tentando
Past participle
tentado
Quick answer

The present tense of tentar is eu tento, tu tentas, ele/ela tenta, nós tentamos, vós tentais, eles/elas tentam. It is a regular -ar verb, so every tense takes the standard -ar endings. The tables below cover 7 tenses, from the present to the imperative. Every present form and 4 example sentences have a listen button.

Present tense of tentar

Present Presente
eu tento
tu tentas
ele/ela tenta
nós tentamos
vós tentais
eles/elas tentam

More tenses of tentar

Simple past Pretérito perfeito
eu tentei
tu tentaste
ele/ela tentou
nós tentámos
vós tentastes
eles/elas tentaram
Imperfect Pretérito imperfeito
eu tentava
tu tentavas
ele/ela tentava
nós tentávamos
vós tentáveis
eles/elas tentavam
Future Futuro
eu tentarei
tu tentarás
ele/ela tentará
nós tentaremos
vós tentareis
eles/elas tentarão
Conditional Condicional
eu tentaria
tu tentarias
ele/ela tentaria
nós tentaríamos
vós tentaríeis
eles/elas tentariam
Present subjunctive Presente do subjuntivo
que eu tente
que tu tentes
que ele/ela tente
que nós tentemos
que vós tenteis
que eles/elas tentem
Imperative Imperativo
tu tenta
você tente
nós tentemos
vós tentai
vocês tentem

Notes on tentar

Tentar is regular. Its forms follow the regular -ar pattern, with forms such as tento, tentei, and tentaria.

Meet tentar in real Portuguese books

Lingo7 is an app for reading books in Portuguese with a translation under every sentence and audio, so the forms in these tables come back in context.

Example sentences with tentar

  • Tento cozinhar uma receita nova hoje. I am trying to cook a new recipe today.
  • Ontem tentei ligar para a minha irmã. Yesterday I tried to call my sister.
  • Quando era criança, tentava andar de bicicleta. When I was a child, I used to try to ride a bicycle.
  • Amanhã tentarei chegar mais cedo. Tomorrow I will try to arrive earlier.

Frequently asked questions

Is tentar a regular Portuguese verb?

Yes. Tentar is regular and follows the regular -ar model shown by forms such as tento, tentas, and tentam.

What are the present subjunctive forms of tentar?

The forms are tente, tentes, tente, tentemos, tenteis, and tentem.

Does tentar have any spelling changes in its conjugation?

No spelling change appears in the table. The stem remains tent throughout the conjugated forms, and the participles are tentando and tentado.