Breakdown of Se a superfície estiver molhada, podes deslizar e cair, por isso tem cuidado.
estar
to be
ter
to have
e
and
poder
to be able to
se
if
cair
to fall
por isso
so
o cuidado
the care
molhado
wet
a superfície
the surface
deslizar
to slip
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Questions & Answers about Se a superfície estiver molhada, podes deslizar e cair, por isso tem cuidado.
Why is the verb estiver used instead of está in the clause "Se a superfície estiver molhada"?
Estiver is the future subjunctive form of estar. In Portuguese (Portugal), when expressing a condition referring to a possible future situation, the future subjunctive is used after se (if). Here, it indicates that if the surface happens to be wet at some point, then a particular outcome (sliding and falling) might occur, which is why estiver is preferred over the present indicative está.
What does "podes deslizar e cair" mean in English, and why is podes used here?
"Podes deslizar e cair" translates to "you might slide and fall" in English. The verb podes is the informal second person singular form of poder (to be able to), which is commonly used in European Portuguese when addressing someone in a casual context. It indicates that, should the condition of the surface being wet occur, you are at risk of sliding and falling.
How does the phrase "por isso tem cuidado" function within the sentence?
"Por isso tem cuidado" means "therefore, be careful". This phrase links the potential consequences described earlier (sliding and falling) with the advice to exercise caution. It acts as a warning, emphasizing that because the wet surface could lead to dangerous outcomes, caution is necessary. The structure clearly connects the cause (the wet surface) with the advised prevention (being careful).
Can you explain the overall grammatical structure of the sentence?
Certainly. The sentence is a conditional statement combined with a warning. It begins with the conditional clause "Se a superfície estiver molhada" (If the surface is wet), which sets the condition using the future subjunctive. It then follows with "podes deslizar e cair" (you might slide and fall) to describe the potential outcome. Finally, the sentence concludes with "por isso tem cuidado" (therefore, be careful), providing advice linked causally to the earlier condition and consequence. This structure effectively presents a cause-and-effect relationship.
Why are informal forms like podes and tem used instead of more formal equivalents?
The use of podes (informal second person singular of poder) and tem (informal imperative form of ter) indicates that the speaker is addressing someone in a familiar or casual context. In European Portuguese, it’s common to use these informal forms among friends, family, or in relaxed situations. If a more formal tone were required, the speaker would likely use pode and tenha cuidado instead.