Breakdown of Como podes justificar a ausência ontem, se não avisaste ninguém?
poder
to be able to
ontem
yesterday
não
not
se
if
como
how
justificar
to justify
a ausência
the absence
avisar
to tell
ninguém
anyone
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Questions & Answers about Como podes justificar a ausência ontem, se não avisaste ninguém?
What is the significance of podes in this sentence?
podes is the second person singular (tu) form of poder, meaning "can you". It indicates that the speaker is addressing someone informally and is asking them if they are able to justify their absence. This form is typical in European Portuguese when speaking to someone with whom you share a casual relationship.
Why is the verb avisaste used in this sentence, and what does it tell us about the context?
Avisaste is the second person singular form of the verb avisar in the simple past tense (pretérito perfeito). It means "you informed" or "you notified." Its use here shows that the action of not notifying anyone happened in the past—specifically, the day referred to by ontem (yesterday). This conjugation reinforces the informal address and situates the event in a completed timeframe.
What does the phrase "justificar a ausência" mean in this context?
The phrase "justificar a ausência" translates to "to justify your absence" in English. In this context, it asks how the person can provide a reasonable explanation or excuse for not being present, given that they did not notify anyone about their absence.
How does the word se function in the sentence?
In this sentence, se translates to "if" in English. It introduces the conditional clause "if you didn’t notify anyone", linking it to the main question. This connection implies that not notifying anyone makes it more difficult to justify the absence, highlighting a cause-and-effect relationship.
Is the sentence structure typical in European Portuguese, and can it be rearranged without changing its meaning?
Yes, the structure of the sentence is quite typical in European Portuguese. It begins with the question word "como" (how), followed by the main clause ("podes justificar a ausência ontem") and then a conditional clause introduced by "se". While it might be possible to rearrange some elements in casual conversation, the given construction effectively conveys the intended meaning and emphasis. Altering the structure could potentially affect clarity or nuance, especially in formal settings.