Breakdown of Talvez ele receba um salário maior do que o anterior.
um
a
ele
he
receber
to receive
do que
than
talvez
maybe
o salário
the salary
maior
higher
o anterior
the previous
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Questions & Answers about Talvez ele receba um salário maior do que o anterior.
Why is the verb receba in the subjunctive mood rather than the indicative form?
In Portuguese, the adverb talvez (meaning “maybe”) introduces uncertainty or possibility. When a sentence expresses doubt or a non-definite situation, the verb that follows is typically conjugated in the subjunctive mood. Although the indicative form (recebe) might seem appropriate for a statement of fact, using the subjunctive (receba) correctly signals that the action is uncertain.
What does the phrase um salário maior do que o anterior mean, and how is it constructed?
The phrase translates to “a higher salary than the previous one.” Here, um salário maior indicates that the salary is increased or higher, while do que o anterior is a comparative construction that directly compares the current salary with the previous one. Notice that o anterior serves as a pronoun referring back to salário, thereby avoiding unnecessary repetition.
Can I use the indicative form after talvez instead of the subjunctive?
Although in informal speech some speakers might occasionally use the indicative form, the correct and standard grammatical practice in Portuguese is to use the subjunctive mood after talvez. The subjunctive, as seen in receba, conveys the uncertainty or possibility inherent in the statement.
Why is the noun salário not repeated after o anterior in this sentence?
Portuguese often employs ellipsis in comparative constructions to avoid repetition. In this sentence, once salário is mentioned, o anterior (“the previous one”) is understood to refer back to it. This concise structure keeps the sentence clear and avoids redundancy.
How does the contraction do que function in this comparative phrase?
The contraction do que comes from de + o que, and it is used to construct comparisons in Portuguese. It essentially functions like “than” in English, linking the element being compared—in this case, indicating that the current salary is higher than the previous salary mentioned as o anterior.