Feche a janela quando você sair.

you

Breakdown of Feche a janela quando você sair.

• quando: when
• fechar: to close
• a janela: the window
• sair: to leave

Questions & Answers about Feche a janela quando você sair.

Why is Feche used here instead of a more direct phrase like Fecha?

In Brazilian Portuguese, Feche is the formal imperative form for the verb fechar (to close) when addressing “you” (você). It is the conjugation used to give orders or requests in more polite or standard situations, while Fecha is more common in informal speech (often with “tu” in some regions).

Why do we say quando você sair instead of quando você sai?

In Portuguese, when quando (when) refers to a future event, we typically use the future subjunctive tense. So sair is in the future subjunctive here (quando você sair), because the leaving is a future event that has not happened yet. If you said quando você sai, that would use the present indicative, suggesting a habitual or current action instead.

How do I know sair is in the future subjunctive?

The future subjunctive in Portuguese often appears with time expressions like quando, assim que, se (when they refer to the future), and it usually looks like the first-person singular form of the verb in the infinitive. For sair, the infinitive is sair, and its first-person singular is eu sair; hence, the future subjunctive is also sair.

Is there a difference in formality when using você instead of tu?

Yes, você is the standard form of address in most parts of Brazil and is typically considered polite yet direct. Tu is used in some regions (especially in the South and parts of the Northeast), often among family or close friends. In writing and in most general contexts, você is more common and widely acceptable.