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2.29: Lição 15

  • Page ID
    55158
    • Severino J. Albuquerque, Mary H. Schil, & Claude E. Leroy
    • UW-Madison
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    Learning Objectives – Objetivos da Lição

    Lição 15 presents:

    • subjunctive tense and its specific usage in noun clauses, and
    • relevant vocabulary.

    After completing this lesson, the student will be able to:

    • recognize and produce the presentsubjunctive in noun clauses.

    Grammar – Gramática

    The presente subjunctive – O presente do subjuntivo

    The present subjunctive is formed by adding the following endings to the stem of the first person singular of the present indicative.

    -AR -ER -IR
    falo como saio
    que eu fale que eu coma que eu saia
    que você, ele, ela fale que você, ele, ela coma que você, ele, ela saia
    que nós falemos que nós comamos que nós saiamos
    que vocês, eles, elas falem que vocês, eles, elas comam que vocês, eles, elas saiam

    It will be noted that the endings for the second and third conjugaton verbs are the same.

    Remember that many verbs have an irregular first person singular form in the present indicative, and therefore are irregular in the present subjunctive as well. Some of these verbs are:

    descer (desço) = desça, etc. poder (posso) = possa, etc.
    dizer (digo) = diga, etc. trazer (trago) = traga, etc.
    pedir (peço) = peça, etc. ver (vejo) = veja, etc.
    perder (perco) = perca, etc. vir (venho) = venha, etc.

    There are seven verbs of common usage which have irregular forms in the present subjunctive:

    dar estar haver ser ir querer saber
    esteja haja seja queira saiba
    esteja haja seja queira saiba
    demos estejamos hajamos sejamos vamos queiramos saibamos
    dêem estejam hajam sejam vão queiram saibam

    Spelling changes are sometimes necessary in the formation of the present subjunctive in order to maintain the hard sound of a consonant before an e.

    When forming the present subjunctive of verbs ending in –car, it is necessary to change the c to qu before adding the endings.

    ficar > fico = fique, fique, fiquemos, fiquem
    praticar > pratico = pratique, pratique, pratiquemos, pratiquem
    tocar > toco = toque, toque, toquemos, toquem

    When forming the present subjunctive of verbs ending in –gar, it is necessary to change the g to gu before adding the endings.

    estragar > estrago = estrague, etc.
    pagar > pago = pague, etc.
    ligar > ligo = ligue, etc.

    Remember that no cedilla is used when a c precedes the letter e. Thus in verbs which end in –çar, no cedilla is used in the subjunctive forms.

    começar > começo = comece, etc.
    dançar > danço = dance, etc.
    lançar > lanço = lance, etc.

    The present subjunctive in noun clauses – O presente do subjuntivo em orações substantivas

    The present subjunctive is rarely used in English in noun clauses. Its place is taken either by the (1) present or (2) future tense, or by (3) an infinitive construction. In the following examples the underlined words are those which in English substitute for the subjunctive.

    1. I don’t believe that he studies so hard. 1. We are glad that she isn’t sick.
    2. He hopes that she will come. 2. I doubt that they will prepare it.
    3. I want you to go. 3. He tells the students to study.

    However, there are rare cases in which we still use the present subjunctive in English. In some instances we recognize its presence by the use of the word may with the verb.

    I prefer that he do it now.
    He asks that we give him the money.
    I’m afraid that they may not be able to come.

    In Portuguese the subjunctive is used very frequently in subordinate noun clauses. The noun clause is always introduced by the word que. The subjunctive is used in this clause when the verb in the independent clause is one of:

    1. Commanding or insisting. Common verbs that express this include: dizer, exigir, fazer, insistir, mandar
    O chefe faz que leiamos o regulamento. [The boss makes us read the rules.]
    Exijo que vocês imprimam a carta de novo. [I insist that you print the letter again.]
    Mandam que cheguemos cedo. [They order us to arrive early.]
    Diz-lhes que não falem tanto. [He tells them not to talk so much.]
    2. Wishing, preferring, requesting, permitting, etc. Common verbs that express this include: aconselhar, deixar, desejar, pedir, permitir, preferir, querer, recomendar, sugerir.
    Não quero que vocês percam o ônibus. [I don’t want you to miss the bus.]
    Aconselham-me que não saia do país agora. [They advise me not to leave the country now.]
    Preferimos que ele não compre o carro. [We prefer that he not buy the car.]
    Ela nos pede que tragamos os sanduíches. [She asks us to bring the sandwiches.]
    Heloísa não permite que eu faça isso. [Heloísa doesn’t let me do that.]
    3. Emotion. Common verbs that express this include: esperar, sentir, temer, ter medo.
    Temo que ela fique zangada. [I’m afraid she is going to get angry.]
    Sentimos que sua mãe esteja doente. [We are sorry that your mother is sick.]
    Meus colegas de trabalho esperam que eu aprenda a usar o computador novo. [My co-workers hope that I will learn to use the new computer.]
    4. Doubting, denial, not believing, uncertainty. Common verbs that express this include: duvidar, negar, não achar, não acreditar, não crer, não estar certo, não estar seguro, não pensar, não ter certeza.
    Duvidamos que ele pagar as contas. [We doubt he will pay the bills.]
    Nego que isto seja verdade. [I deny that this is true.]
    Ninguém acredita que eu saiba dirigir. [No one believes I can drive.]
    Ela não está certa de que tudo saia bem. [She’s not sure that everything will turn out all right.]

    The subjunctive is also used in noun clauses after impersonal expressions which express necessity, probability, possibility, emotion, etc.

    Common impersonal expressions include: é bom que, é impossível que, é necessário que, é pena que, é possível que, é preciso que, é provável que, basta que, pode ser que.
    Não é preciso que você se preocupe tanto. [It’s not necessary for you to worry so much.]
    É possível que eu o veja mais tarde. [I might see him later.]
    Pode ser que Maria se forme em junho. [Perhaps Mary will graduate in June.]
    Não é bom que vocês durmam tão pouco. [It’s not good for you to sleep so little.]
    É triste que não possamos visitá-la. [It’s sad that we can’t visit her.]

    No subjunctive is used after expressions of truth or certainty:

    É certo que ele vai chegar hoje. [It’s certain that he is going to arrive today.]
    É verdade que Anita é ótima funcionária. [It’s true that Anita is an outstanding employee.]
    Temos certeza que o Rogério terá êxito. [We are sure Rogério will be successful.]

    Não duvidar, however, may be followed by either the indicative or the subjunctive, depending on the intent of the speaker.

    Não duvido que ele vem. [I don’t doubt that he will come. (i.e., I’m sure).]
    Não duvido que ele seja honesto. [I don’t doubt that he’s honest. (i.e., I’m not really sure).]

    In some instances, when the subject of both clauses is the same, an infinitive construction can be used to substitute for the dependent clause which is introduced by que:

    Espero poder vê-lo amanhã. [I hope that I can see him tomorrow.]
    Ele sente não ter o dinheiro. [He’s sorry that he doesn’t have the money.]

    The verb pedir may be followed by: (1) a subordinate noun clause with the verb in the subjunctive; or (2) the preposition para followed by an infinitive. Both constructions have the same meaning.

    Ela me pede que eu faça o trabalho. [She asks me to do the work.]
    Ela me pede para eu fazer o trabalho.

    Vocabulary – Vocabulário

    • o cartão (-ões) [greeting card]

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    • o cartão postal [postcard]

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    • o/a chefe [boss]

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    • o computador [computer]

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    • o endereço [address]

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    • o envelope[envelope]

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    • fabricado, -a [made, manufactured]

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    • a impressora[printer]

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    • legível [legible]

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    • a letra [handwriting; words (of a song)]

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    • a máquina [machine]

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    • a máquina de escrever [typewriter]

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    • a marca[make, brand]

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    • péssimo, -a [horrible, awful]

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    • portátil [portable]

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    • preciso [necessary]

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    • provável [probable, likely]

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    • quebrado, -a [broken; out of order]

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    • quieto, -a [quiet]

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    • o/a secretário, -a[secretary]

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    • zangado, -a [angry]

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    Verbs – Verbos

    • aconselhar (a) [to advise, warn]

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    • acreditar (em) [to believe]

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    • bastar [to be sufficient, enough]

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    • datilografar[to type]

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    • duvidar [to doubt]

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    • escrever (bater) à maquina[to type]

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    • estragar [to harm, ruin, spoil]

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    • exigir (exijo) [to demand, insist]

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    • imprimir [to print]

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    • mandar [to order, make]

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    • negar [to deny]

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    • sugerir (sugiro) [to suggest]

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    • temer [to fear]

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    Expressions – Expressões

    • com antecedência[in advance, ahead of time]

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    • hoje em dia [nowadays]

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    • Basta! [Enough!]

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    • Chega! [Enough!]

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    • Deixe ver… [Let’s see…]

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    • Não importa! [Never mind!; It doesn’t make any difference.]

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    • Tenha cuidado![Be careful!]

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    Practice – Prática

    Query \(\PageIndex{15.1 A.}\)

    15.1 B. Complete the following sentences:

    1. Minha chefe quer que eu ______________________________ .
    2. Eu duvido que aquele filme ______________________________ .
    3. É provável que meus tios ______________________________ .
    4. Pode ser que amanhã ______________________________ .
    5. Permitimos que os empregados ______________________________ .
    6. Todos me pedem que eu não ______________________________ .
    7. É verdade que ______________________________ .
    8. Peço a ele para ______________________________ .
    9. Espero ______________________________ .
    10. A carta não chegou ontem. Pode ser que ______________________________ .
    11. Sentimos muito que ela não ______________________________ .
    12. Não é possível que a estas horas a porta ______________________________ .
    13. Eles desejam que nós ______________________________ .
    14. Não acho que os políticos ______________________________ .
    15. Eu não deixo que vocês ______________________________ .

    15.1 C. Repeat each of the following sentences, beginning with the expression: É provável que…

    Teresa vem à aula. É provável que Teresa venha à aula.

    1. Ele está no supermercado.
    2. Os rapazes perdem o dinheiro.
    3. Eu darei o meu endereço a ele.
    4. Nós saímos às oito.
    5. Paula é presidente.
    6. João não quer estudar.
    7. Não há jogo hoje.
    8. O professor não sabe tudo.
    9. As moças têm trabalho demais.
    10. Alguém quer fazer reservas com antecedência.

    15.1 D. Repeat each of the following sentences, beginning with the expression: Ele quer que…

    Ana lhe manda um postal. Ele quer que Ana lhe mande um postal.

    1. Eu aceito o convite.
    2. Nós fazemos muitas perguntas.
    3. O teste não é difícil.
    4. Os turistas ficam naquele hotel.
    5. O jogo começa às oito.
    6. Sua irmã toca uma música alegre.
    7. Nós estamos à vontade.
    8. O companheiro de quarto desliga a televisão.

    15.1 E. Repeat each of the following sentences, beginning with the expression: Diga-lhe que…

    Faz um café. Diga-lhe que faça um café.

    1. Compra umas flores.
    2. Ouve com cuidado.
    3. Vai para casa.
    4. Não perde os discos.
    5. Ela nos esperará no clube.
    6. Estará em casa antes das seis.
    7. Traz outra colher.
    8. Ela nos dá as instruções.

    15.1 F. Answer the questions in the negative. Use a complete sentence.

    Você quer que tenhamos um teste amanhã?
    -Eu não quero que tenhamos um teste amanhã.

    1. É preciso que você assista à aula?
    2. Você tem medo que ele estrague o jantar?
    3. Elas exigem que nós comecemos cedo?
    4. É possível que todos saiam antes das cinco?
    5. Vocês esperam que faça mau tempo amanhã?
    6. Sua namorada deseja que você volte para casa?
    7. É bom que isso aconteça?
    8. Antônio deixa que você use a impressora dele?

    15.1 G. Write in Portuguese:

    1. I want him to be here early.
    2. I doubt that he knows where I live.
    3. Perhaps they will make dinner tonight.
    4. Don’t worry, John. I’m not going to ruin your party.
    5. Enough! You’re making me angry.
    6. It’s not likely that she will help us.
    7. Beto is afraid that his term paper is not good.
    8. It’s too bad that we never do things ahead of time.
    9. He wants me to type his letters.
    10. It’s true that my handwriting is awful.
    11. I tell him not to work so much.
    12. We’re sorry we can’t see you tomorrow.


    This page titled 2.29: Lição 15 is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Severino J. Albuquerque, Mary H. Schil, & Claude E. Leroy.

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