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É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã.

É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã.
It is important that the exam be done tomorrow.
FromLesson 17inHardcore Portuguese (Brazil)

Breakdown of É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã.

ser
to be
amanhã
tomorrow
importante
important
que
that
o exame
the exam
ser feito
to be done

Questions & Answers about É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã.

Why does this sentence use seja instead of é?

Because é importante que... typically triggers the subjunctive mood in the clause that follows.
So É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã uses seja (present subjunctive of ser) to express a requirement/necessity rather than a simple statement of fact.
Using é feito would sound like you’re stating what normally happens (the exam is done...), not that it’s important it happen.

What grammar pattern is É importante que...?

It’s an impersonal expression:

  • É importante = It’s important (no real subject)
  • que + [subjunctive clause] = what is important

This is similar to: É necessário que..., É bom que..., É melhor que..., É possível que... (many of these commonly take the subjunctive).

What tense/mood is seja feito exactly?
Is o exame seja feito passive voice? How would the active version look?

Yes. o exame seja feito means the exam be done (passive: the exam receives the action).
Active versions depend on who does it, for example:

  • É importante que o médico faça o exame amanhã. (the doctor does the exam)
  • É importante que você faça o exame amanhã. (you do/take the exam)
Why is feito masculine? What if the noun were feminine?

The past participle agrees in gender and number with the noun in a ser + participle passive.

  • o exame (masc. singular) → feito
    If it were feminine:
  • É importante que a prova seja feita amanhã. (a prova → feita)
    Plural:
  • É importante que os exames sejam feitos amanhã.
  • É importante que as provas sejam feitas amanhã.
Why do we need que here?

que introduces the subordinate clause that explains what is important.
Without que, the structure breaks: É importante o exame seja feito... is not standard Portuguese.

Can I move amanhã elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes, and it’s common to move it for emphasis:

  • É importante que o exame seja feito amanhã. (neutral)
  • É importante que amanhã o exame seja feito. (emphasizes tomorrow)
  • Amanhã, é importante que o exame seja feito. (sets the time first)
Why is there an article o in o exame? Can it be omitted?

Portuguese often uses definite articles where English may not. o exame can refer to a known/specific exam in context.
Omitting it is possible in some contexts, especially in headlines/notes or a more general tone:

  • É importante que exame seja feito amanhã. (less common; can sound more formal/technical or like a note)

Most everyday speech would keep o.

Is seja feito the only way to say this? What are common alternatives?

Common alternatives include:

  • É importante fazer o exame amanhã. (infinitive; very natural and simpler)
  • É importante que façam o exame amanhã. (indefinite “they”; someone should do it)
  • É importante que você faça o exame amanhã. (directly addresses the person)

Your original sentence is a bit more formal/impersonal, focusing on the exam being completed.

Does this sentence imply obligation, recommendation, or just importance?

É importante que... is softer than é obrigatório que... but stronger than seria bom que....
It expresses that it’s important/necessary in a practical sense—often a recommendation with some pressure, depending on context.

How do I pronounce exame and seja (Brazilian Portuguese)?

Typical Brazilian pronunciation (approximate):

  • exame ≈ eh-ZAH-mee (the x here often sounds like z)
  • seja ≈ SAY-zhah (the j is like the s in measure)

Stress:

  • eXAme (stress on xa)
  • SEja (stress on se)
If I wanted to talk about the past or future importance, how would it change?

You’d adjust the main verb é and/or the subordinate verb:

  • Past importance (imperfect): Era importante que o exame fosse feito amanhã.
  • Past importance (perfect): Foi importante que o exame fosse feito.
  • Future framing: Vai ser importante que o exame seja feito amanhã. / Será importante que o exame seja feito amanhã.

Note: after era/foi/será importante que, Portuguese typically keeps the subjunctive in the subordinate clause.

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