Breakdown of O António não quer ceder o lugar dele no comboio, mesmo que haja pessoas de pé.
querer
to want
dele
his
não
not
a pessoa
the person
em
on
mesmo que
even if
António
António
o comboio
the train
haver
to exist
de pé
standing
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Questions & Answers about O António não quer ceder o lugar dele no comboio, mesmo que haja pessoas de pé.
What does the verb ceder mean in this sentence?
In this context, ceder means “to give up” or “to yield.” It implies that António does not want to relinquish or surrender his seat on the train.
Why is the subjunctive form haja used in the clause “mesmo que haja pessoas de pé” instead of the indicative há?
The subjunctive haja is used because the clause introduced by mesmo que (“even if”) expresses a hypothetical or uncertain condition. The subjunctive mood is typically required in Portuguese after conjunctions that indicate doubt, concession, or possibility, emphasizing that the situation (“people standing”) is not a confirmed fact.
What is the significance of using dele in “o lugar dele” instead of a possessive adjective like seu?
Using dele clearly specifies that the seat belongs to António. In Portuguese, seu can sometimes be ambiguous because it might refer to either the subject’s own possession or someone else’s, whereas dele leaves no doubt that it is António’s seat.
What does the word comboio mean, and is it different from other regional terms?
Comboio means “train” in European Portuguese. It is the standard term used in Portugal, while in Brazilian Portuguese, the word trem is used instead.
How does the conjunction mesmo que function in this sentence?
Mesmo que translates to “even if” and introduces a concessive clause. It indicates that António’s refusal to give up his seat would remain unchanged regardless of the condition that there might be people standing. This construction emphasizes that the hypothetical situation does not influence his decision.
Could this sentence be expressed differently while retaining the same meaning?
Yes, the sentence could be rephrased as: “O António não quer deixar o seu lugar no comboio, mesmo que haja pessoas de pé.” However, the original sentence’s use of ceder (which carries a nuance of yielding) and dele (which clarifies possession) gives it a specific subtlety that might be lost with alternative choices.