Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Se pegares nesse copo quente, usa um pano para não te queimares. - If you pick up that hot glass, use a cloth so you won’t burn yourself.

In European Portuguese, the future subjunctive is used in conditional clauses to refer to potential future actions. “Pegares” (from “pegar”) means “if you grab” and “queimares” (from “queimar”) means “burn yourself.” Their use here indicates that the action might occur in the future and is specific to the informal second person singular (“tu”) form.

Why does the sentence give a command with “usa” instead of using a conditional mood?

The second clause uses “usa,” which is the affirmative imperative form for “tu.” This construction directly instructs the listener to “use a cloth” if the condition is met. While the first part of the sentence sets up a possible scenario with “se pegares nesse copo quente” (“if you grab that hot cup”), the imperative “usa um pano” serves as a practical instruction to avoid the consequence.

How is the contraction “nesse” formed and what does it mean in this context?

“Nesse” is a contraction of the preposition “em” (in) and the demonstrative adjective “esse” (that; masculine singular). In the phrase “nesse copo quente,” it specifies which cup is being referred to—the hot cup. This contraction is common in Portuguese and streamlines the language by combining the elements into one word.

What does “não te queimares” mean, and why is the reflexive pronoun “te” positioned before “queimares”?

“Não te queimares” translates as “so that you don’t burn yourself.” The reflexive pronoun “te” refers to “yourself.” In negative commands or clauses—especially when using the future subjunctive—the pronoun is placed before the verb. This is a grammatical rule in Portuguese that clarifies that the action of burning is self-directed.

How does this sentence illustrate a typical conditional instruction in European Portuguese?

The sentence is structured in two parts. The first part is a conditional clause (“Se pegares nesse copo quente”) using the future subjunctive to indicate a possible future event. The second part gives a direct command (“usa um pano para não te queimares”) explaining the recommended action to avoid a negative outcome. This cause-and-effect format is common in Portuguese when giving advice or warnings based on a potential situation.