Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Não use a escada quando chove.

In Portuguese, especially in commands, the subject pronoun is usually omitted because the verb form itself indicates the person. Here use is the negative imperative for you (formal) – você. Thus saying Não use already tells the listener that it’s addressed to them, making você redundant.

Why is the verb form use and not usa?

In Portuguese, negative commands use the present subjunctive. For você, the present subjunctive of usar is use. The indicative form usa would be used in a statement like (Você) usa a escada (“you use the ladder”), but not in a negative command.

What if the sign were addressed to tu instead of você?

If addressing tu (the informal you in some regions), the negative imperative is also formed from the subjunctive: Não uses a escada. Notice the verb ends in -es instead of -e.

Why is there a definite article a before escada instead of an indefinite article uma?

Portuguese often uses the definite article to talk about things in a general or habitual sense. Não use a escada can be understood as “Don’t use the ladder” meaning “ladders in general” rather than a specific ladder. If you wanted to emphasize “any ladder” in an indefinite sense, you could say Não use uma escada, but it sounds like “don’t use any ladder at all.”

Why is it escada (singular) instead of plural?

Using the singular with the definite article often expresses a general rule. Saying Não use a escada implies “Don’t use the ladder” as a generic concept. You could also say Não use as escadas quando chove (“Don’t use ladders when it rains”) if you prefer plural, but singular is very common in warnings and instructions.

Why is it quando chove instead of na chuva?

Quando chove literally means “when it rains” (a temporal clause with a verb). Na chuva would be “in the rain,” which is also correct: Não use a escada na chuva. The two versions are interchangeable, though quando chove emphasizes the condition as it happens, while na chuva emphasizes the environment.

Why is the verb chove in the present indicative, not in the subjunctive or future?

Here the clause quando chove expresses a general condition or habitual action. In Portuguese, temporal clauses that refer to habitual or past actions normally use the present indicative. If you wanted to warn about a future situation, you could say Quando chover, não use a escada — note the verb changes to the future subjunctive chover.

Is it possible to replace use with a more formal verb like utilize?

Yes. Utilizar is a synonym for usar and is more formal. A sign could read Não utilize a escada quando chove. Both are grammatically correct, but use is shorter and more common in casual or warning contexts.

Could the time clause come first in the sentence?

Absolutely. Portuguese allows both orders. You can say Quando chove, não use a escada or Não use a escada quando chove. The meaning is the same; it’s just a matter of style or emphasis.

What is the nuance between escada meaning “ladder” versus “staircase”?

In Brazilian Portuguese, escada can mean both ladder (the portable tool) and staircase (a set of stairs). Context matters. On a construction site, escada likely means ladder. If it’s a building interior, it could mean stairs. If you want to be specific, you can use escada de mão for a ladder or escadaria for a grand staircase.