Se tu adormeceres, perdes o autocarro.

If you fall asleep, you miss the bus.

Breakdown of Se tu adormeceres, perdes o autocarro.

• tu: you
• se: if
• o autocarro: the bus
• adormecer: to fall asleep
• perder: to miss

Questions & Answers about Se tu adormeceres, perdes o autocarro.

Why is the verb form adormeceres used in the sentence?

Adormeceres is the second person singular future subjunctive form of the verb adormecer. In Portuguese (Portugal), conditional clauses referring to a possible future event require the future subjunctive. This form indicates that the action of falling asleep is a potential future occurrence.

Why does the main clause use the present indicative (as in perdes) instead of a future tense?

In Portuguese, especially in conditional sentences, it’s common to use the future subjunctive in the if‑clause and the present indicative in the main clause. Even though the consequence is a future event—missing the bus—the present form perdes is idiomatic and implies that if the condition happens, the result will follow.

What role does the pronoun tu play in this sentence, and is it necessary to include it?

Tu is the informal second person singular pronoun in Portuguese. Although the verb ending on adormeceres or perdes already indicates the subject, including tu adds clarity and an informal tone. It is not mandatory since subject pronouns are often omitted, but it can be used for emphasis or to avoid ambiguity.

How does the use of the future subjunctive here compare to how conditionals are structured in English?

In English, a conditional sentence referring to a future possibility might use the simple present after if (e.g. if you fall asleep, you’ll miss the bus). In Portuguese, however, the if‑clause uses the future subjunctive (i.e. adormeceres) to indicate a future condition, while the main clause adopts the present indicative. Although the structures differ, both languages use forms that communicate the idea of a potential future consequence.

Why is the word autocarro used, and how does it relate to other variants like ônibus?

Autocarro is the standard term for bus in European Portuguese. In Brazilian Portuguese, the word ônibus is used instead. This vocabulary difference reflects regional variations within the Portuguese language, so in the context of Portuguese (Portugal), autocarro is the appropriate choice.