Breakdown of Embora sejam deliciosas, as costelinhas precisam de marinar antes de serem cozinhadas.
ser
to be
precisar de
to need
cozinhar
to cook
antes de
before
embora
although
delicioso
delicious
marinar
to marinate
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Questions & Answers about Embora sejam deliciosas, as costelinhas precisam de marinar antes de serem cozinhadas.
What does embora mean, and why is the subjunctive sejam used in this clause?
Embora translates to although or even though in English. In Portuguese, when a concessive clause is introduced by embora, it typically requires the subjunctive mood—as seen with sejam—to indicate a nuance of concession rather than stating a definite fact.
Why is the adjective deliciosas in the feminine plural form?
The noun costelinhas is feminine and plural, as indicated by the article as. Consequently, the adjective deliciosas must agree in gender and number with costelinhas, hence its feminine plural form.
Why does the sentence use precisam de marinar instead of simply precisam marinar?
In European Portuguese, it is common to use the construction precisar de + infinitive when indicating that something requires undergoing a process. Therefore, precisam de marinar means that the ribs need to go through the marinating process. This structure is standard in Portugal even though other varieties of Portuguese might occasionally omit the preposition.
What does marinar mean in this context?
Marinar means to marinate. It refers to the process of soaking the ribs in a seasoned liquid (a marinade) to enhance their flavor and tenderness before cooking.
What is the function of the phrase antes de serem cozinhadas in the sentence?
The phrase antes de serem cozinhadas specifies the timing of the actions. It translates to before being cooked, indicating that the marinating process must occur prior to cooking. Additionally, it employs a passive construction to show that the ribs are the recipients of the cooking action rather than the performers.
Can you explain how the passive construction serem cozinhadas is formed and why it is used?
Certainly. The passive structure here is formed by using the verb ser in a conjugated form (serem) followed by the past participle cozinhadas. This construction is used to shift the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself being performed on the subject—in this case, emphasizing that the ribs are to be cooked rather than focusing on who cooks them. The past participle also agrees in gender and number with costelinhas.
Why is there a comma after Embora sejam deliciosas?
The comma is used to separate the concessive clause (Embora sejam deliciosas) from the main clause (as costelinhas precisam de marinar antes de serem cozinhadas). This punctuation helps clarify the structure of the sentence by marking the transition from the introductory contrast to the main statement.