Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Ela tenta sorrir mesmo quando está cansada. - She tries to smile even when she’s tired.

Tenta is the third person singular form of the verb tentar, which means “to try.” In the sentence, ela tenta sorrir translates as “she tries to smile,” indicating that she makes an effort even under challenging conditions.

Why is the verb sorrir in its infinitive form after tenta?

In Portuguese, when one verb is used to indicate an action that follows another (such as trying, wanting, or needing), the following verb is typically placed in its infinitive form. Here, tenta sorrir means “tries to smile,” with sorrir remaining uninflected because it is governed by tentar.

What does the phrase mesmo quando mean, and how does it function in the sentence?

Mesmo quando translates as “even when” in English. It introduces a subordinate clause that provides a contrasting circumstance—here, it emphasizes that she continues to try to smile despite being tired.

Why is the adjective cansada used with an “-ada” ending instead of “-ado”?

The adjective cansada means “tired” and is in the feminine singular form to agree with the subject ela (she). In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe, so since ela is feminine, the adjective takes the ending -ada.

How is the sentence structured in terms of its main and subordinate clauses?

The sentence is structured with a main clause (Ela tenta sorrir) and a subordinate clause (mesmo quando está cansada). The main clause presents the primary action (“she tries to smile”), while the subordinate clause provides the condition under which that action occurs (“even when she is tired”). This structure helps convey that her effort to smile persists regardless of her tiredness.