Breakdown of Quando eu for de férias, visitarei o meu sobrinho e verei as novas flores no seu quintal.
eu
I
meu
my
de
of
ir
to go
novo
new
e
and
em
in
quando
when
ver
to see
a flor
the flower
as
the
as férias
vacation
visitar
to visit
o sobrinho
the nephew
seu
his
o quintal
the yard
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Questions & Answers about Quando eu for de férias, visitarei o meu sobrinho e verei as novas flores no seu quintal.
Why is the verb form “for” used in “Quando eu for de férias,” and what does it imply?
The verb “for” is the future subjunctive form of “ir” (to go). In Portuguese, when a clause refers to an event that may happen in the future—especially after temporal conjunctions like quando (“when”)—the future subjunctive is used. It implies that “going on holiday” is a condition that will occur in the future, although it is not yet confirmed.
How are “visitarei” and “verei” constructed, and what do they tell us about the actions described?
Both “visitarei” and “verei” are in the simple future tense. They are formed by adding the future endings (in this case, -ei) to the verb roots of visitar (to visit) and ver (to see). These forms indicate actions that will take place once the condition set by the subordinate clause (“Quando eu for de férias”) is fulfilled.
What does the expression “de férias” mean, and is it a fixed phrase in Portuguese?
“De férias” translates as “on holiday” (or “on vacation”) in English. Yes, it is a fixed expression in Portuguese used to indicate that someone is enjoying a break from work or studies. The construction might appear unusual when translated directly, but it is standard in Portuguese.
To whom does the possessive pronoun “seu” in “seu quintal” refer?
In this context, “seu” is most likely referring to the nephew’s yard. Although Portuguese possessive pronouns like “seu” can sometimes be ambiguous, the sentence’s structure—mentioning “o meu sobrinho” immediately before—suggests that “seu quintal” is the yard of the nephew. For extra clarity, some might opt to say “o quintal dele” to remove any doubt.
Why is there a difference in verb mood between the subordinate clause and the main clause of the sentence?
The subordinate clause “Quando eu for de férias” uses the future subjunctive to introduce an uncertain future condition (i.e., the occasion of going on holiday). In contrast, the main clause uses the simple future (“visitarei” and “verei”) to express specific actions that will occur when that condition is met. This mix of the future subjunctive for conditions and the simple future for resulting actions is a typical feature of Portuguese grammar when discussing future plans.