Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): O senhor precisa acordar cedo para chegar a tempo. - You polite need to wake up early to arrive on time.

O senhor is a formal and respectful way to address a man. It translates roughly as “sir” or “you” in a very polite context. Unlike você, which is more common in informal situations, o senhor is used to show respect, especially towards someone older or in a position of authority.

Why is the verb precisa conjugated in the third-person singular form here?

The verb precisar is conjugated as precisa because it agrees with the subject o senhor, which is formally treated as a third-person singular noun. Even though you’re addressing someone directly, the respectful form necessitates the third-person conjugation.

Why is the infinitive acordar used after precisa?

In Portuguese, verbs that express necessity or obligation (like precisar) are usually followed by an infinitive that indicates the action required. In this case, acordar (to wake up) is used in its infinitive form to directly link the need (waking up early) with the subject (o senhor).

What does a tempo mean, and how does it function in the sentence?

A tempo means “on time.” It indicates that waking up early is necessary so that the subject can arrive at the intended destination or event in time. The phrase functions to specify the purpose or consequence of waking up early.

What is the role of para in this sentence?

Para is used as a preposition to introduce the purpose or goal of an action. In the sentence, it connects the action of waking up early (acordar cedo) with the intended result (chegar a tempo), functioning similarly to “in order to” in English.

Can I replace o senhor with você? What changes should I expect?

Yes, you can replace o senhor with você if you want a less formal sentence. Interestingly, although você is less formal, it is still conjugated using the third-person singular form in Brazilian Portuguese. So, you would still say você precisa acordar cedo para chegar a tempo, but the tone would be less formal and more typical of everyday conversation.