Breakdown of É importante que eu pesquise a reputação dessa empresa antes de enviar o meu currículo.
eu
I
ser
to be
meu
my
de
of
antes de
before
que
that
importante
important
enviar
to send
essa
that
a empresa
the company
pesquisar
to research
a reputação
the reputation
o currículo
the résumé
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Questions & Answers about É importante que eu pesquise a reputação dessa empresa antes de enviar o meu currículo.
Why is the verb pesquise in the subjunctive mood instead of the indicative form?
In Portuguese, expressions that convey necessity or subjective evaluation—such as "É importante que" (It is important that)—require the subordinate clause to be in the subjunctive mood. Here, pesquise is the first person singular present subjunctive of pesquisar (to research), emphasizing that it is desirable or necessary that I research the company's reputation rather than stating it as a fact.
What does dessa mean in "dessa empresa" and how is it formed?
Dessa is a contraction of the preposition de (of) and the demonstrative pronoun essa (that). It translates as "of that" in English, linking the reputation directly to that specific company. This form is frequently used in Portuguese to succinctly indicate origin or association.
Why is the subject pronoun eu explicitly included in the subordinate clause "que eu pesquise"?
Although Portuguese verb conjugations often imply the subject, including eu here adds clarity and emphasis. In subordinate clauses—especially those using the subjunctive—the explicit subject helps avoid ambiguity about who is expected to perform the action, ensuring that it is clear I am the one who must research.
Why does the sentence use "o meu currículo" instead of simply "meu currículo"?
In European Portuguese, it is common to use the definite article before possessive adjectives when referring to personal items. "O meu currículo" (my CV) is the standard form, lending a formal and clear reference to the speaker’s curriculum vitae. Although omitting the article is sometimes acceptable in informal contexts, including it is generally preferred in written or formal language.
Can the sentence be rearranged without changing its meaning, and if so, what is an alternative construction?
Yes, the sentence's meaning remains the same if the order is altered. For example, you could say:
"Antes de enviar o meu currículo, é importante que eu pesquise a reputação dessa empresa."
This rearrangement moves the time clause "antes de enviar o meu currículo" to the beginning, but the overall message—that researching the company’s reputation is important before sending one’s CV—stays intact.