Portuguese conjugation explanation

Subjunctive vs. indicative

<p>

The <strong>indicative</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">indicativo</span>) and <strong>subjunctive</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">subjuntivo</span>) moods are used to express different things in Portuguese. We usually use the indicative mood to talk about things that are considered to be <strong>facts or truths</strong>. In contrast, we use the subjunctive mood to talk about <strong>desires, doubts, emotions, and imaginary situations</strong>. It is also used after certain expressions followed by "que". Let's have a look at examples for the most common uses of the subjunctive mood.</p>

<li><strong>DOUBT:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eu <span class="green_emphasis">duvido que</span> <strong>possamos</strong> fazer isso aqui. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I doubt we can do that here.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>EMOTION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eu <span class="green_emphasis">estou feliz que</span> eles <strong>gostem</strong> disso. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm glad they like it.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>FEAR:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Temo que</span> ela não <strong>aceite</strong> minha explicação. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm afraid she won't accept my explanation.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>IMPROBABILITY:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">É improvável que</span> <strong>se casem</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They're unlikely to get married.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>REGRET:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Lamentamos que</span> não <strong>possamos</strong> ajudá-lo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We are sorry we can't help you. </span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>SUGGESTION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Sugiro que</span> <strong>usemos</strong> as escadas. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I suggest we use the stairs.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>WISH:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eu <span class="green_emphasis">desejo que</span> as senhoras <strong>sejam</strong> amadas. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I want you to be loved.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjunctions with <span style="font-style: italic;">que</span></div>

<ul>

<li><strong>A MENOS QUE</strong> (unless):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ele nunca fala <span class="green_emphasis">a menos que</span> <strong>falem</strong> com ele. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He never speaks unless spoken to.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>A NÃO SER QUE</strong> (unless):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Isso é tudo, <span class="green_emphasis">a não ser que</span> <strong>existam</strong> dúvidas. (<span style="font-style: italic;">That's all, unless there are any questions.</span>)</div>

<li><strong>É IMPORTANTE QUE</strong> (it's important that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">É importante que</span> <strong>cheguemos</strong> a tempo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is important that we arrive on time.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>É MELHOR QUE</strong> (it's better if):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">É melhor que</span> <strong>corramos</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We better hurry.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ATÉ QUE</strong> (until):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Espere aqui <span class="green_emphasis">até que</span> eu <strong>volte</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Wait here until I come back.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PARA QUE</strong> (so that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Está calor demais <span class="green_emphasis">para que</span> <strong>trabalhemos</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It's too hot for us to work.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>POR MAIS QUE</strong> (no matter how much):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Por mais que</span> eu <strong>reflita</strong> sobre isso, não consigo entender. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Regardless of how much I think about it, I can't understand.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUE...</strong> (may..., let...):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> Deus te <strong>abençoe</strong>! (<span style="font-style: italic;">May God bless you!</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> ele <strong>faça</strong> o que quiser. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let him do whatever he wants.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUE + SABER</strong> (as far as I know):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> eu <strong>saiba</strong>, ela continua solteira. (<span style="font-style: italic;">As far as I know, she's still unmarried.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>O QUE QUER QUE</strong> (whatever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Comprarei <span class="green_emphasis">o que quer que</span> <strong>precisem</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will buy whatever they need.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ONDE QUER QUE</strong> (wherever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Desejo-lhes sorte para <span class="green_emphasis">onde quer que</span> <strong>vão</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wish you luck wherever you go.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUEM QUER QUE</strong> (whoever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Vamos descobrir <span class="green_emphasis">quem quer que</span> <strong>tenha</strong> feito isto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We will find out whoever did this.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>SEM QUE</strong> (without):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eu pretendo sair <span class="green_emphasis">sem que</span> ninguém me <strong>veja</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I intend to go out without anyone seeing me.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>TOMARA QUE</strong> (hopefully):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Tomara que</span> <strong>nos vejamos</strong> de novo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Hopefully we will see each other again.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjunctions without <span style="font-style: italic;">que</span></div>

<ul>

<li><strong>CASO</strong> (in case):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Caso</span> isso <strong>aconteça</strong>, o que faríamos é correr. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Should that happen, what we would do then is run.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>EMBORA</strong> (even though):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Embora</span> eu <strong>saiba</strong> falar chinês, não consigo ler. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Even though I can speak Chinese, I can't read it.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>TALVEZ</strong> (maybe, perhaps):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Talvez</span> eu <strong>possa</strong> fazer aquilo hoje. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe I can do that today.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>