Breakdown of Se quiseres matar as saudades do teu amigo, podes ligar-lhe hoje.
hoje
today
o amigo
the friend
de
of
querer
to want
se
if
poder
to be able
teu
your
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Questions & Answers about Se quiseres matar as saudades do teu amigo, podes ligar-lhe hoje.
What does matar as saudades literally mean, and why is the verb matar used in this expression?
Literally, matar means “to kill,” but in this context, matar as saudades is an idiomatic expression. Instead of implying a literal killing, it means “to ease” or “to cure” the feeling of missing someone. It conveys the idea that if you reconnect with your friend, you can alleviate (or “kill”) the longing you feel.
Why is the pronoun lhe attached to the verb ligar, forming ligar-lhe?
In European Portuguese, when an indirect object pronoun follows an infinitive (like ligar), it is joined to the end of the verb with a hyphen. This is known as enclisis. So, ligar-lhe means “to call him,” with lhe referring back to “your friend.”
What are the mood and tense of the verbs quiseres and podes in this sentence?
Quiseres is the second-person singular present subjunctive form of querer. It appears in a conditional clause (beginning with se, meaning “if”), expressing a hypothetical situation: “if you want.” Podes is the second-person singular present indicative form of poder, meaning “you can.” This combination is typical in Portuguese conditional sentences.
Why is the possessive adjective teu used instead of seu?
In European Portuguese, teu is the informal possessive adjective used with the second-person singular pronoun (tu). It indicates a familiar or close relationship. Seu, on the other hand, is typically used in formal contexts or for third-person references. Because the sentence uses the informal address, teu amigo (“your friend”) is appropriate.
What is the function of the comma in the sentence?
The comma separates the dependent conditional clause (Se quiseres matar as saudades do teu amigo) from the main clause (podes ligar-lhe hoje). This clear division helps indicate that the condition (“if you want…”) comes first, followed by the suggestion or suggestion of the action (“you can call him today”).