Às vezes, o preço menor não significa que a qualidade seja pior.

Sometimes, the lower price does not mean that the quality is worse.

Breakdown of Às vezes, o preço menor não significa que a qualidade seja pior.

• ser: to be
• o: the
• às vezes: sometimes
• que: that
• preço: price
• significar: to mean
• qualidade: quality

Questions & Answers about Às vezes, o preço menor não significa que a qualidade seja pior.

Why is às vezes spelled with the accent on às?

In Portuguese, às is a contraction of a + as, which must take the grave accent (à). When followed by vezes, it forms the expression às vezes (meaning sometimes). Without the accent, as vezes could be misread as simply the times, which would not convey the correct meaning.

Why do we say preço menor here instead of o menor preço?

Both forms are possible in Portuguese, but they can carry slightly different nuances. When you say o menor preço, it can sound like you are talking about the lowest or absolute smallest price. With preço menor, you keep the focus on a lower price, but not necessarily declaring it as the absolute lowest. It’s a subtle distinction in emphasis rather than strict grammar.

Why is the subjunctive seja used in não significa que a qualidade seja pior?

In Portuguese, after expressions like significa que or não significa que, it’s common to use the subjunctive mood to convey some uncertainty or possibility. Since the statement is not definitively saying the quality is worse, but rather suggesting it might or might not be, the subjunctive seja is used to express that hypothetical or uncertain nature.

Can we use é instead of seja in this sentence?

While some speakers might use the indicative é (resulting in não significa que a qualidade é pior) in casual speech, it can sound less precise or even ungrammatical in more formal contexts. The subjunctive seja is generally preferred because it keeps the meaning tied to possibility or hypothesis rather than a definite statement.