1
Listen to the episode
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2
Read the dialogue
A parent asks their child about homework, piano practice, and the cat — getting the same answer every time.
A: Você fez o dever de casa?
Did you do your homework?
B: Ainda não.
Not yet.
A: E o piano, você praticou alguma coisa?
And the piano, did you practice it at all?
B: Ainda não.
Not yet.
A: E o gato, você deu alguma coisa para ele comer?
And the cat, did you give the cat any food?
B: Ainda não.
Not yet..
A: O que você estava fazendo esse tempo todo?
What have you been doing all this time?
B: Nada, quer dizer, assistindo a televisão.
Nothing, that is, watching television.
3
Language focus
Focus 1
Imperfeito contínuo — Estar (imperfeito) + gerúndio
English: was doing (ongoing action in the past)
Estava fazendo (imperfeito of estar + gerúndio) describes an ongoing action in the past, perfect for asking what someone has been up to over a stretch of time.
O que você estava fazendo esse tempo todo?
What have you been doing all this time?Eu estava assistindo televisão.
I was watching television.
What have you been doing all this time?Eu estava assistindo televisão.
I was watching television.
Focus 2
Ainda não — Not yet (review)
English: not yet (reinforcing this pattern from earlier episodes)
Ainda não repeated three times in a row builds comedic tension — a great illustration of how useful and flexible this simple phrase is.
Você fez o dever de casa? Ainda não.
Did you do your homework? Not yet.
Did you do your homework? Not yet.
Focus 3
Quer dizer — That is to say / I mean
English: that is (to say) / I mean (self-correction)
Quer dizer is used to clarify or correct what you just said — very natural when catching yourself mid-sentence.
Nada, quer dizer, assistindo a televisão.
Nothing, I mean, watching television.Ele chegou tarde, quer dizer, não chegou ainda.
He arrived late, I mean, he hasn't arrived yet.
Nothing, I mean, watching television.Ele chegou tarde, quer dizer, não chegou ainda.
He arrived late, I mean, he hasn't arrived yet.
📺 Procrastinação universal
This dialogue captures a universally relatable parent-child moment — the classic pattern of putting off homework, chores, and responsibilities in favor of watching TV!
🔊 Estava fazendo
Note the two-part structure: estava (imperfeito of estar) + gerúndio (fazendo) — both parts are needed to express an ongoing past action.
4
Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — Estava fazendo, ainda não, ou quer dizer?
Fill in each gap to complete the sentence with the correct word(s).
1. 1. Você fez o dever de casa? .
2. 2. O que você esse tempo todo?
3. 3. Nada, , assistindo a televisão.
Exercise 3 — Vocabulário do dia a dia
Match each Portuguese word to its English meaning.
Exercise 4 — Your turn
Write 4–6 sentences about something you've been putting off. Use ainda não, the imperfeito contínuo (estava fazendo), and quer dizer.
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