Breakdown of Pedro vai abrir o negócio amanhã.
Pedro
Pedro
ir
to go
amanhã
tomorrow
abrir
to open
o negócio
the business
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Questions & Answers about Pedro vai abrir o negócio amanhã.
Why is the future expressed as "vai abrir" instead of using a simple future conjugation such as "abrirá"?
The structure "vai abrir" is a periphrastic future—a construction that uses the present tense of "ir" (to go) followed by an infinitive. This form is common in spoken Portuguese (both in Portugal and Brazil) for expressing a planned future action, much like saying "is going to open" in English.
What does the phrase "o negócio" refer to in this sentence?
"O negócio" literally means "the business." In this sentence, it indicates that Pedro is expecting to open a commercial enterprise or venture. Depending on additional context, it might refer to his own business or a specific establishment he intends to launch.
Why is the verb "abrir" left in its infinitive form after "vai"?
In Portuguese, when forming the near future using "ir" + [infinitive verb], the second verb is always in its infinitive form. Thus, "vai abrir" correctly combines the conjugated "vai" (from "ir") with the infinitive "abrir" to express the idea of something that is going to happen.
Is the placement of "amanhã" at the end of the sentence fixed, or can it be moved around?
While "amanhã" (meaning "tomorrow") is positioned at the end for a standard, straightforward sentence structure, Portuguese word order is relatively flexible. You can reposition it for emphasis—for example, "Amanhã, Pedro vai abrir o negócio"—without changing the overall meaning.
Are there differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese when using the periphrastic future like "vai abrir"?
Both European and Brazilian Portuguese commonly use the periphrastic future (the "ir" + infinitive construction) in everyday speech. Although the simple future (like "abrirá") might appear more in formal writing or in certain contexts, "Pedro vai abrir o negócio amanhã" is perfectly acceptable and widely understood in both variants.
Is there a nuance in meaning between saying "Pedro vai abrir o negócio amanhã" and "Pedro abrirá o negócio amanhã"?
Yes, there is a subtle difference. "Pedro vai abrir o negócio amanhã" (using the periphrastic future) tends to feel more immediate and conversational, emphasizing a planned or imminent action. In contrast, "Pedro abrirá o negócio amanhã" (using the simple future) can sound more formal or written. Both effectively indicate that Pedro’s business will open tomorrow, but the choice of form may affect the sentence’s tone.