Breakdown of É essencial que os funcionários se comportem profissionalmente quando cumprimentam os clientes.
ser
to be
quando
when
que
that
essencial
essential
cumprimentar
to greet
o funcionário
the employee
comportar-se
to behave
profissionalmente
professionally
o cliente
the customer
Questions & Answers about É essencial que os funcionários se comportem profissionalmente quando cumprimentam os clientes.
Why is the subjunctive mood used in “se comportem” after “É essencial que”?
In Portuguese, expressions that indicate necessity, obligation, or recommendation—such as “É essencial que”—require the subjunctive mood. This mood expresses that the action is expected or desired rather than stating a factual occurrence, which is why we use “se comportem” instead of the indicative form.
Why is the reflexive pronoun “se” included in “se comportem”?
The verb “comportar-se” is a pronominal (reflexive) verb in Portuguese, meaning “to behave” or “to conduct oneself.” The inclusion of “se” shows that the subject (the employees) is acting upon itself. Without the reflexive pronoun, the verb would lose its specific meaning related to personal behavior.
How is the present subjunctive form “se comportem” derived from the base verb “comportar-se”?
For regular -ar verbs in the present subjunctive, the ending typically changes from -am (in the indicative, third person plural) to -em. Thus, the base verb “comportar” becomes “comportem” for “os funcionários” in the subjunctive form, reflecting the necessary conjugation after expressions like “É essencial que.”
Why is the indicative mood used in “cumprimentam” in the clause “quando cumprimentam os clientes” instead of the subjunctive?
The clause “quando cumprimentam os clientes” describes a habitual or factual action—the act of greeting customers—which is presented as a concrete circumstance. In such temporal clauses, where the action is seen as certain and real, the present indicative is used rather than the subjunctive.
What function does the adverb “profissionalmente” serve in the sentence?
The adverb “profissionalmente” modifies the verb “se comportem” by specifying the manner in which the employees should behave. It means “in a professional manner” and emphasizes that their behavior should adhere to professional standards while greeting customers.
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