Breakdown of Nós iremos ver um filme depois de jantarmos, desde que o Pedro não se atrase.
Pedro
Pedro
um
a
ir
to go
nós
we
ver
to watch
o filme
the movie
jantar
to have dinner
depois de
after
não
not
desde que
provided that
atrasar-se
to be late
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Questions & Answers about Nós iremos ver um filme depois de jantarmos, desde que o Pedro não se atrase.
Why is the verb form “jantarmos” used after “depois de” instead of the plain infinitive “jantar”?
In European Portuguese, when referring to a future action that hasn’t occurred yet, temporal clauses introduced by “depois de” often use the subjunctive mood. Jantarmos indicates that “having dinner” is a future, uncertain event relative to the time of speaking, emphasizing that the action is yet to be carried out.
What does the phrase “desde que” mean, and why is it used in this sentence?
Desde que means “provided that” or “as long as.” It is used to introduce a condition that must be met—in this case, that Pedro does not arrive late—for the main action (watching a movie) to happen. This sets an explicit requirement, linking the movie plan to the condition regarding Pedro.
Why is “o Pedro não se atrase” in the subjunctive mood, and what role does the reflexive pronoun “se” play here?
The clause “o Pedro não se atrase” is in the subjunctive because it expresses a condition that is uncertain and pertains to a future event. After phrases like desde que, Portuguese mandates the subjunctive to indicate that the outcome (Pedro being punctual) is not guaranteed. The reflexive pronoun se is an inherent component of the pronominal verb atrasar-se, meaning “to be late.” It shows that the action of being late is something that Pedro might do to himself, so to speak, following the standard structure of the verb.
Why is the future form “iremos ver” used in the main clause instead of using a present or another tense?
The future form iremos ver explicitly indicates that the action of “watching a movie” is planned for the future. It clearly states an intention or plan that the speaker has decided upon. This usage parallels the English future simple “we will watch” and provides a clear temporal reference for the listener.
How do the subordinate clauses “depois de jantarmos” and “desde que o Pedro não se atrase” relate to the main clause in terms of meaning and structure?
The main clause “Nós iremos ver um filme” sets the primary plan. The first subordinate clause “depois de jantarmos” establishes when the action should occur—after dinner—indicating a sequence of events. The second subordinate clause “desde que o Pedro não se atrase” introduces a condition that must be met for the plan to proceed. Together, they add essential details about timing and conditions, clarifying that the movie will be watched only after dinner and provided that Pedro is punctual.