Breakdown of Se eu apagar as luzes ao sair, talvez poupe energia e ajude a reduzir o barulho do ventilador.
eu
I
de
of
e
and
se
if
sair
to leave
talvez
maybe
ajudar
to help
a luz
the light
o barulho
the noise
apagar
to turn off
poupar
to save
a energia
the energy
reduzir
to reduce
o ventilador
the fan
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Questions & Answers about Se eu apagar as luzes ao sair, talvez poupe energia e ajude a reduzir o barulho do ventilador.
What does "Se eu apagar as luzes ao sair" mean?
It means "If I turn off the lights when I leave." Here, apagar is used to mean “turn off” or “switch off,” and ao sair indicates that this action takes place when leaving.
Why are the verbs poupe and ajude in the subjunctive mood after talvez?
The adverb talvez (meaning "perhaps" or "maybe") expresses uncertainty. In Portuguese, such expressions of possibility or doubt typically trigger the subjunctive mood, which is why poupe (from poupar) and ajude (from ajudar) are in the subjunctive.
What does the contraction ao in ao sair represent?
Ao is the contraction of a + o, and in this context it functions like “when” or “upon.” Therefore, ao sair translates to "when leaving" or "upon leaving."
Why is apagar used for turning off the lights instead of something like desligar?
In European Portuguese, apagar is the standard verb for turning off lights or extinguishing something. While desligar might be used in other contexts or in Brazilian Portuguese (especially for electronic devices), apagar is commonly used in Portugal for this purpose.
How does the structure ajude a reduzir o barulho do ventilador work grammatically?
The verb ajudar (to help) is followed by the preposition a before an infinitive verb, in this case reduzir (to reduce). This construction—ajudar a [verb]—means "help to [verb]." Thus, the phrase indicates that turning off the lights may help reduce the noise of the fan.
Is there any significance in using poupar energia instead of using a word like economizar?
Yes, there is a subtle regional difference. In European Portuguese, poupar is commonly used to mean saving resources like energy, money, or time. In contrast, Brazilian Portuguese speakers often prefer economizar. The use of poupar energia clearly reflects the European Portuguese usage.