Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Mesmo sendo otimista, às vezes encontro quem seja muito pessimista à minha volta. - Even though I am optimistic, I sometimes find people around me who are very pessimistic.

“Mesmo sendo otimista” translates roughly to “Even though I’m an optimist.” The gerund “sendo” (meaning “being”) is used to introduce a concessive clause that highlights an ongoing state or characteristic. In Portuguese, using the gerund in this context emphasizes that despite the speaker’s inherent optimism, other circumstances (introduced in the next part of the sentence) occur.

Why is the subjunctive mood used in “quem seja” instead of using the indicative form “quem é”?

The subjunctive in “quem seja” is used because the speaker is referring to an indefinite or non-specific group of people. In Portuguese, when describing a characteristic of an uncertain or hypothetical subject—especially in relative clauses that refer to people or things whose attributes aren’t definitively established—the subjunctive mood is appropriate. This choice reflects the idea that the pessimism observed is a general or variable trait among those people.

What does “às vezes” indicate in this sentence, and how does it influence the overall meaning?

“Às vezes” means “sometimes,” indicating that the encounter with pessimistic people isn’t constant but occurs only on occasion. This adverbial phrase tempers the statement, suggesting that while the speaker is optimistic, the experience of coming across very pessimistic individuals happens intermittently rather than as a regular occurrence.

What is the function of the prepositional phrase “à minha volta,” and could its meaning change if a different expression were used?

“À minha volta” literally translates to “around me” and specifies the spatial or social context in which these encounters occur. It emphasizes that the pessimistic individuals are part of the speaker’s immediate environment or circle. While alternative expressions like “no meu entorno” or “perto de mim” might be used, “à minha volta” is idiomatic in Portuguese and conveys a sense of being encircled or surrounded by those attitudes.

How does the structure of the sentence create a contrast between the speaker's own optimism and the pessimism found in their surroundings?

The sentence is crafted with a concessive clause at the beginning—“Mesmo sendo otimista”—which establishes the speaker’s optimistic nature. This is immediately contrasted with the main clause, where it is revealed that “às vezes encontro quem seja muito pessimista à minha volta.” The juxtaposition of the speaker’s positive trait with the observation of pessimistic people in their immediate environment highlights an ironic or unexpected contradiction, enriching the overall meaning by showing that personal disposition doesn’t always align with the attitudes present in one’s surroundings.