Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu arriscaria mais na minha apresentação, se tivesse garantias de que o público apreciaria a mudança. - I would risk more in my presentation if I had guarantees that the audience would appreciate the change.

Arriscaria comes from the verb arriscar, meaning “to risk” or “to take a risk.” It is in the conditional mood, translating as “I would risk” or “I would take more chances,” because it expresses a hypothetical action that depends on a condition being met.

Why is tivesse used in the sentence, and what form does it represent?

Tivesse is the imperfect subjunctive form of the verb ter (to have). It is used after “se” (if) to introduce a hypothetical situation—“if I had guarantees”—which is required in conditional sentences to express something that isn’t actually the case.

What is the function of apreciaria in the sentence, and how does it relate to the overall conditional structure?

Apreciaria is the conditional form of the verb apreciar, meaning “would appreciate.” It indicates the expected outcome or reaction—in this case, that the audience would appreciate the change—if the condition (having guarantees) were fulfilled. This mirrors the conditional mood used in the main clause, creating a coherent hypothetical scenario.

How is the sentence structured as a conditional, and why is this structure important?

The sentence is divided into two parts: the main clause “Eu arriscaria mais na minha apresentação” (“I would take more risks in my presentation”) and the conditional clause “se tivesse garantias de que o público apreciaria a mudança” (“if I had guarantees that the audience would appreciate the change”). This structure is important because it clearly outlines a hypothetical situation where one action (taking more risks) would occur only if a specific condition (having guarantees) were met.

Why is garantias used in the plural form, and what does it imply?

Garantias is the plural of garantia (guarantee). Its use in the plural implies that the speaker is referring to multiple forms or a sufficient amount of assurance. In other words, the speaker is not asking for a single assurance, but for strong, possibly varied assurances that the audience will appreciate the change.

What role does the comma play in this sentence?

The comma separates the main clause from the conditional clause. This punctuation helps to clearly distinguish the hypothetical condition (“se tivesse garantias de que o público apreciaria a mudança”) from the action that would result if that condition were met (“Eu arriscaria mais na minha apresentação”), thereby improving the sentence’s clarity.

Can the order of the clauses be changed without affecting the meaning of the sentence?

Yes, the clauses can be rearranged without changing the meaning. For example, you could say: “Se tivesse garantias de que o público apreciaria a mudança, eu arriscaria mais na minha apresentação.” Both versions are grammatically correct and convey the same hypothetical situation, although the original order emphasizes the intended action first.

What does the phrase na minha apresentação indicate about the context of the sentence?

Na minha apresentação means “in my presentation.” It specifies that the action of taking more risks is related to the speaker’s presentation or performance. This context helps the listener or reader understand that the hypothetical situation and subsequent action are confined to the setting of the presentation.