Breakdown of Se tu temeres o resultado, podes falar com a professora para receber ajuda extra.
tu
you
a ajuda
the help
com
with
falar
to speak
para
to
se
if
a professora
the teacher
receber
to receive
poder
to be able
o resultado
the result
temer
to fear
extra
extra
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Questions & Answers about Se tu temeres o resultado, podes falar com a professora para receber ajuda extra.
Why does the sentence use the form temeres instead of the present tense temes?
In Portuguese, conditional clauses that refer to future or uncertain events require the future subjunctive. Although in English we simply say “if you fear…”, in Portuguese the correct form is temeres (the future subjunctive of temer), which conveys that the condition is pending or hypothetical.
What role does the word se play in this sentence?
Se translates directly as “if” and is used to introduce the conditional clause. It sets a condition that must be met for the advice in the main clause to apply.
Why is the informal pronoun tu used instead of você?
In Portugal, tu is commonly used for informal, singular addresses. This sentence adopts a friendly and informal tone, which is why it uses tu along with its matching verb forms like temeres and podes. In contrast, Brazilian Portuguese often prefers você in similar contexts.
What is the significance of using professora in the sentence?
The word professora is the feminine form of “teacher”, indicating that the person being referred to is female. Portuguese nouns and adjectives have gender, so here the sentence specifically mentions a female teacher.
How does the phrase para receber ajuda extra function within the sentence?
The phrase para receber ajuda extra explains the purpose of speaking with the teacher. Para means “in order to,” so the phrase indicates that the reason for contacting the teacher is to obtain extra help.