Breakdown of Quando o sinal da internet cai, eu não posso mandar uma mensagem.
eu
I
não
not
uma
a
poder
to be able to
quando
when
da
of the
o sinal
the signal
a internet
the internet
mandar
to send
a mensagem
the message
cair
to go down
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Questions & Answers about Quando o sinal da internet cai, eu não posso mandar uma mensagem.
Why is Quando used here instead of Se, since it sounds like a condition?
Quando means “when” and indicates that every time the internet signal drops, the result is the same. Se would mean “if” and suggest it might not happen. Since the speaker experiences the drop regularly or expects it, Quando is more appropriate.
Why do we say o sinal da internet and not o sinal de internet?
Both phrases are understood, but sinal da internet (literally “signal of the internet”) is more idiomatic in Brazilian Portuguese. Using de internet isn’t wrong, but it sounds slightly less natural.
What does cai mean here? Isn’t cair “to fall”?
Yes. Metaphorically, o sinal cai means “the connection drops” or “goes down.” It’s the common way to say your internet “fails” or “cuts out.”
Why is the verb in the present tense (cai, posso) instead of past or subjunctive?
The present indicative is used because the sentence describes a habitual or general truth: whenever the signal drops, you can’t send a message. If you wanted to talk about a one-time event in the past, you’d use the pretérito: Quando o sinal caiu, eu não pude mandar….
Why include the pronoun eu? Could we just say não posso mandar uma mensagem?
Portuguese often drops subject pronouns because verb endings carry person. Não posso mandar uma mensagem is perfectly correct and a bit more natural in everyday speech. Including eu adds emphasis or clarity.
What’s the difference between mandar and enviar a mensagem?
Both mean “send.” Mandar is more colloquial and very common in Brazil. Enviar is a bit more formal or technical. Neither changes the meaning here.
Can I replace não posso with não consigo?
Yes.
Não consigo mandar uma mensagem stresses inability (I’m not able to).
Não posso mandar uma mensagem can also mean “I’m not allowed,” but context (technical failure) makes it clear we mean “I’m unable.”
Why do we use uma mensagem with uma? Could we drop the article?
You need an article or other determiner in Portuguese before most singular nouns. You could say não posso mandar mensagem in very informal speech (omitting both article and plural marker), but mandar uma mensagem is standard.
Could we say Quando o sinal da internet cai, não mando uma mensagem?
That changes the meaning. Não mando means “I don’t send,” implying a choice or habit. Não posso mandar means “I can’t send,” focusing on inability caused by the signal drop.
Is it acceptable to say Quando o sinal da internet cai, eu não consigo enviar mensagem without uma?
Informally, yes. Brazilians often drop the article in casual speech: não consigo enviar mensagem. In formal writing, it’s better to keep uma: não consigo enviar uma mensagem.