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O atraso faz a reunião começar tarde.

O atraso faz a reunião começar tarde.
The delay makes the meeting start late.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of O atraso faz a reunião começar tarde.

tarde
late
começar
to start
a reunião
the meeting
fazer
to make
o atraso
the delay

Questions & Answers about O atraso faz a reunião começar tarde.

What does O atraso mean in this sentence?
O atraso translates to "the delay" in English. It is the subject that causes the meeting to start later than scheduled.
What is the function of the verb faz here?
Faz is the third person singular form of the verb fazer, meaning "to make" or "to cause." In this sentence, it indicates that the delay is causing the meeting to begin late.
Why is começar in the infinitive form rather than conjugated?
In Portuguese, when using causative verbs such as fazer, the structure is to have a direct object (here, a reunião) followed by an infinitive verb (in this case, começar). This construction functions much like saying "makes the meeting start late" in English.
What role does tarde play in the sentence?
Tarde is an adverb meaning "late." It modifies the verb começar, specifying that the meeting begins at a later time than expected.
Can this sentence be rephrased using an extended causative structure?
Yes, it can. An equivalent version is "O atraso faz com que a reunião comece tarde." In this structure, "com que" is added and the verb comece is in the subjunctive mood, which is commonly used in formal or written Portuguese for causative expressions.
Is there any difference in meaning between the two constructions: "faz a reunião começar tarde" and "faz com que a reunião comece tarde"?
Both constructions convey the idea that the delay causes the meeting to start late. The version with "com que" and the subjunctive (comece) is often considered more formal and emphasizes the causal relationship, while the original structure is more straightforward and commonly used in everyday speech.
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