Breakdown of Embora ele tenha pouco tempo, ainda consegue despender alguns minutos para ajudar-nos.
ele
he
ter
to have
ainda
still
para
to
o tempo
the time
pouco
little
conseguir
to manage
ajudar
to help
nos
us
o minuto
the minute
embora
although
despender
to spend
alguns
a few
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Questions & Answers about Embora ele tenha pouco tempo, ainda consegue despender alguns minutos para ajudar-nos.
What is the function of the conjunction embora and why is the verb tenha in the subjunctive mood?
Embora means "although" or "even though" and introduces a concessive clause. In Portuguese, such clauses typically require the subjunctive mood to express uncertainty or a hypothetical situation. That’s why tenha (the present subjunctive form of ter) is used instead of the indicative tem.
What does the verb despender mean in this sentence, and how is it used in European Portuguese?
Despender means "to spend" in the sense of allocating time or resources. In this sentence, it indicates that despite having little time, he manages to spend (or use) a few minutes to help. This verb is common in European Portuguese and often gives the expression a slightly formal tone compared to more everyday language.
Why is the pronoun nos attached to ajudar as ajudar-nos instead of placed before the verb?
In European Portuguese, when an infinitive follows a preposition such as para, it is standard to attach the clitic pronoun to the end of the verb—this is called enclisis. Thus, para ajudar-nos means "to help us." In other contexts, the pronoun might come before the verb (proclisis), but the construction here follows the norm for infinitives preceded by a preposition.
How does the adverb ainda contribute to the meaning of the sentence?
Ainda translates as "still" or "nevertheless" and functions to emphasize that, despite his limited time, he nevertheless manages to allocate a few minutes to help. It reinforces the contrast between his busy schedule and his willingness to provide assistance.
Can you explain the general structure of this sentence?
Certainly. The sentence is composed of two parts:
- A concessive subordinate clause: "Embora ele tenha pouco tempo" ("Although he has little time"). This clause uses the subjunctive to express the idea of concession.
- The main clause: "ainda consegue despender alguns minutos para ajudar-nos" ("he still manages to spend a few minutes to help us"). This part shows the outcome or action that occurs despite the limitation mentioned in the first part. The overall structure effectively contrasts his lack of time with his ability to contribute a small amount of it to help.