Se houver atraso no voo, a hóspede pode ligar para a recepcionista e mudar a reserva.

If there is a delay in the flight, the guest can call the receptionist and change the reservation.

Breakdown of Se houver atraso no voo, a hóspede pode ligar para a recepcionista e mudar a reserva.

• e: and
• se: if
• poder: can
• mudar: to change

Questions & Answers about Se houver atraso no voo, a hóspede pode ligar para a recepcionista e mudar a reserva.

Why is it se houver and not se há or se haverá?

Because after se meaning if, Portuguese often uses the future subjunctive when talking about a possible future situation.

• se houver atraso = if there is / if there happens to be a delay
• houver is the future subjunctive form of haver

Compare:

• há atraso = there is a delay (present statement)
• haverá atraso = there will be a delay (simple future statement)
• se houver atraso = if there is a delay (conditional future idea)

So houver is the form the sentence needs.

What exactly is haver doing here?

Here haver means to exist / to be in the sense of there being something.

So:

• haver atraso = for there to be a delay
• se houver atraso = if there is a delay

This is a common formal or neutral way to say that something exists. In everyday speech, many Brazilians would also use ter in similar situations, but haver is very common in more formal written language.

Why is it no voo instead of em o voo?