Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A corrida ficou emocionante quando o último corredor tentou ultrapassar o favorito. - The race became thrilling when the last runner tried to surpass the favorite.

Ficou is the third person singular simple past form of the verb ficar, meaning “became.” In this sentence, it acts as a linking verb that connects the subject a corrida (“the race”) with the predicate adjective emocionante (“exciting”), indicating a change of state.

How does the subordinate clause introduced by quando work in this sentence, and why is there no comma before it?

The word quando is a subordinating conjunction that introduces an adverbial clause of time—quando o último corredor tentou ultrapassar o favorito. This clause specifies the moment when the race became exciting. In Portuguese, when such subordinate clauses follow the main clause, a comma is often not required unless you want to add extra emphasis or clarity.

What meanings do the adjectives último and favorito convey, and how do they agree with the nouns they modify?

Último means “last,” and favorito translates as “favorite” (referring to the competitor expected to win). Both adjectives agree in gender and number with the masculine singular nouns they modify—corredor in o último corredor and the implied noun in o favorito. They serve to specify which runner is being discussed: the final runner in order and the one considered most likely to win.

What does the verb phrase tentou ultrapassar express in this context?

The phrase combines tentou (the simple past form of tentar, meaning “tried”) with ultrapassar (“to overtake”). Together, they indicate that the last runner made an attempt to overtake the favorite during the race. The structure emphasizes the effort or attempt, regardless of whether the action was successful.

Is it possible to restructure the sentence by starting with the time clause, and what punctuation changes would that involve?

Yes, the sentence can be rephrased to begin with the time clause. For example:
Quando o último corredor tentou ultrapassar o favorito, a corrida ficou emocionante.
In this version, a comma is placed after the subordinate clause to separate it from the main clause. The meaning remains the same, though the emphasis shifts slightly to the timing of the action.