Breakdown of Se eu colocar o meu telemóvel no bolso, não me atrasarei outra vez no compromisso.
eu
I
meu
my
em
in
não
not
se
if
me
me
outra vez
again
o telemóvel
the cellphone
o compromisso
the appointment
colocar
to put
o bolso
the pocket
atrasar‐se
to be late
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Questions & Answers about Se eu colocar o meu telemóvel no bolso, não me atrasarei outra vez no compromisso.
What does the word telemóvel mean in this sentence?
It refers to a mobile phone or cellphone. In European Portuguese, telemóvel is the common term, whereas in Brazilian Portuguese you’d more likely hear celular.
Why is the verb colocar used in this form, and what tense/mood does it represent?
Colocar is in the future subjunctive form. In conditional sentences about future possibilities in Portuguese, the clause introduced by se (if) uses the future subjunctive to indicate that the action might occur.
What is the function of the reflexive pronoun me in the phrase não me atrasarei?
In Portuguese, the verb atrasar-se (to be late) is reflexive, meaning the action affects the subject. The pronoun me shows that the speaker himself is involved in becoming late.
What does the phrase outra vez imply in this context?
Outra vez means "again." Its use suggests that the speaker has been late on previous occasions and is determined not to repeat that mistake.
How is the sentence structured overall?
The sentence is a conditional one. It has an if-clause—Se eu colocar o meu telemóvel no bolso—that sets a condition, and a main clause—não me atrasarei outra vez no compromisso—that states the result if the condition is met.
What does compromisso refer to in this sentence?
In this context, compromisso means an appointment or a scheduled engagement, indicating that the speaker is keen not to be late for it.