Breakdown of Não é fácil esperar quando estamos com pressa.
ser
to be
estar
to be
quando
when
com
with
não
not
esperar
to wait
fácil
easy
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Questions & Answers about Não é fácil esperar quando estamos com pressa.
What does the verb esperar mean in this sentence, and why is it in the infinitive form?
In this context, esperar means “to wait.” It appears in the infinitive because it follows the impersonal expression “Não é fácil,” which is similar to the English construction “It is not easy to wait.” In Portuguese, when describing a general difficulty or ease regarding an action, the verb is typically left in its infinitive form.
Why is there no explicit subject in “Não é fácil esperar quando estamos com pressa”?
Portuguese often uses impersonal constructions in sentences like this one. The structure “Não é fácil...” implies a dummy subject (comparable to the English “it” in “It is not easy…”). This allows the speaker to make a general statement without needing to specify who or what is being referred to.
How does the phrase com pressa translate into English, and what does it imply?
The phrase com pressa literally translates as “with hurry,” but it is naturally rendered in English as “in a hurry.” It’s a common fixed expression used to indicate that someone is rushing or feels pressed for time.
What role does the conjunction quando play in this sentence?
Quando means “when.” It introduces the subordinate clause “quando estamos com pressa,” which sets the time or condition under which the main clause applies. In other words, it tells us that the difficulty of waiting occurs specifically when we are in a hurry.
Why is the main clause structured with a negation at the beginning (“Não é fácil”)?
Starting with “Não” (not) followed by “é fácil” (is easy) is a common way in Portuguese to express that something is not simple or straightforward to do. This construction emphasizes the challenge of the action—in this case, waiting—especially under the conditions described in the subordinate clause.
Can you break down the grammatical structure of this sentence?
Certainly. The sentence is divided into two parts:
- Main Clause: “Não é fácil esperar”
- Não: Negates the statement (not)
- é: Impersonal form of “ser” (is)
- fácil: Adjective meaning easy
- esperar: Infinitive verb meaning to wait
- Subordinate Clause: “quando estamos com pressa”
- quando: Conjunction meaning when
- estamos: First person plural of “estar” (are)
- com pressa: Fixed expression meaning in a hurry
This structure conveys the idea that waiting is generally difficult under the condition of being in a hurry.