Breakdown of Quando te despachares, ajuda-me a arrumar a sala.
quando
when
me
me
te
you
ajudar
to help
a sala
the living room
arrumar
to tidy
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Questions & Answers about Quando te despachares, ajuda-me a arrumar a sala.
Why is the verb form “despachares” used here instead of the regular present or past forms?
“Despachares” is in the future subjunctive mood. In European Portuguese, when referring to a future condition or event in a subordinate clause introduced by a word like quando (“when”), the future subjunctive is used. It implies that the action (getting ready or leaving) is not yet completed but is anticipated.
What does the reflexive construction “te despachares” mean in this context?
In this sentence, “despachar-se” is used reflexively with te (“yourself”) to indicate that the person is responsible for finishing up what they are doing or getting ready to go. It carries a nuance similar to “when you’re all set” or “once you’re ready to leave.” The reflexive pronoun stresses that the action is done by the subject for their own benefit.
Why is the pronoun “te” placed before “despachares” in the clause, and not attached to the end?
In conjugated forms like those in the future subjunctive, clitic pronouns in European Portuguese are typically placed before the verb. Therefore, in “te despachares,” the pronoun te is positioned before the conjugated verb. This contrasts with other constructions (for example, affirmative imperatives) where pronouns are attached to the end of the verb, as seen later in the sentence with ajuda-me.
How does the structure “ajuda-me a arrumar a sala” work in this sentence?
“Ajuda-me” is an imperative form meaning “help me,” with the clitic me attached after the verb—which is standard in affirmative commands in European Portuguese. The phrase “a arrumar a sala” is an infinitive clause that specifies what help is needed, namely “to tidy up (or arrange) the room.” The preposition a before the infinitive arrumar is commonly used in such verbal constructions.
What would be a natural English translation of the entire sentence?
A natural translation of “Quando te despachares, ajuda-me a arrumar a sala” is: “When you’re ready, help me tidy up the room.” This conveys the intended sequence of events and the request, reflecting the future condition expressed by the subjunctive mood in Portuguese.