Talk About Weather Plans in Portuguese: If It Rains, We’ll Stay In
For a realistic future possibility, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the present tense after se and the future or present in the result clause.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
When you describe a possible condition, Portuguese commonly uses the present tense after se. The result can use the future with vai + infinitive, or a present form when the plan is clear from context.
Use se + present for a real possibility
English often says “if it rains, we’ll…,” which can tempt learners to use a future tense after se. In this everyday conditional, say se chover, not se vai chover, when you mean “if it rains.”
Se chover, a gente fica em casa.
If it rains, we’ll stay home.
Se fizer sol, vamos à praia.
If it’s sunny, we’ll go to the beach.
Se esfriar à noite, vou levar um casaco.
If it gets cool tonight, I’ll bring a jacket.
Make a flexible backup plan
Weather plans often change, so add a result that leaves options open. A gente pode… means “we can…,” while senão introduces the alternative you will choose if the first condition does not happen.
Use the same structure for practical situations beyond weather: if the store is open, we will go in; if not, we will come back tomorrow.
Se o tempo melhorar, a gente faz a caminhada.
If the weather improves, we’ll go for the walk.
Se continuar chovendo, podemos pedir comida.
If it keeps raining, we can order food.
Se não der hoje, tentamos amanhã.
If it doesn’t work out today, we’ll try tomorrow.
Put it into practice
For an open future possibility, use se + present or subjunctive form as required by the verb—se chover, se fizer sol—and state the plan in the result clause.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “If it rains, we’ll stay home”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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