Breakdown of Tenho esperança de que façamos tudo sem atrasos, mas farei uma exceção se houver imprevistos.
eu
I
de
of
nós
we
mas
but
ter
to have
fazer
to do
sem
without
que
that
tudo
everything
se
if
o atraso
the delay
a esperança
the hope
fazer exceção
to make an exception
o imprevisto
the unexpected thing
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Questions & Answers about Tenho esperança de que façamos tudo sem atrasos, mas farei uma exceção se houver imprevistos.
Why is façamos written in the subjunctive mood instead of the indicative?
Façamos is the first-person plural form of fazer used in the present subjunctive. In Portuguese, after expressions of hope or desire such as tenho esperança de que, the subordinate clause employs the subjunctive mood to signal that the action is wished for but not guaranteed.
Why does the phrase tenho esperança de que require a subordinate clause with de que and the subjunctive mood?
In Portuguese, when you express hope or expectation with phrases like tenho esperança de que (I have hope that), it is customary to introduce the following clause with de que. Because the outcome is uncertain and desired rather than factual, the verb in that clause is conjugated in the subjunctive mood.
Why is houver in the subjunctive in the clause se houver imprevistos?
Houver is the present subjunctive form of haver. The clause se houver imprevistos (if there are unforeseen events) is a conditional statement referring to possible, non-certain events. In Portuguese, when stating such conditions with se (if), the subjunctive is used to underline the uncertainty of the occurrence.
What does the expression fazer uma exceção mean in this context?
The phrase fazer uma exceção literally translates to "to make an exception." In this sentence, it means that although there is hope for everything to proceed without delays, the speaker is prepared to allow a deviation from the norm if unforeseen events occur.
Can you explain how the two parts of the sentence relate to each other?
Certainly. The sentence is composed of two contrasting parts joined by mas (but). The first part, tenho esperança de que façamos tudo sem atrasos, expresses the speaker's hope that everything proceeds without delays. The second part, mas farei uma exceção se houver imprevistos, introduces a condition under which the speaker is willing to alter the normal proceedings—specifically, making an exception if unforeseen events (imprevistos) occur. The use of the subjunctive in both clauses highlights the aspects of hope and conditionality.