Breakdown of Não cortes o tecido sem a tesoura certa, porque podes estragar o pano facilmente.
porque
because
poder
to be able to
não
not
sem
without
certo
right
o pano
the cloth
facilmente
easily
cortar
to cut
estragar
to ruin
o tecido
the fabric
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Não cortes o tecido sem a tesoura certa, porque podes estragar o pano facilmente.
Why is the negative command phrased as "não cortes" instead of something like "não corte"?
In European Portuguese, the negative imperative for the second person singular (tu) is formed by using the present subjunctive. For the verb cortar, the present subjunctive form is cortes. That’s why the instruction is "não cortes" rather than using the form you might expect in an affirmative command or in Brazilian Portuguese.
Why is "tesoura" used in the singular when in English we say "scissors" (which is plural)?
In Portuguese, tesoura is a singular noun that always refers to a pair of scissors. Despite representing an object that in English is treated as plural, the language treats tesoura as a single unit (much like how pants is plural in English but singular in some languages). Thus, you say "a tesoura certa" to denote the correct pair of scissors.
What is the difference between "tecido" and "pano" as used in the sentence?
Both tecido and pano can translate to "fabric" or "cloth", but there is a subtle nuance. Tecido often refers to the material as it is produced (the woven or knitted substance), whereas pano can indicate a piece of cloth or a finished fabric used in specific contexts. In this sentence, the switch from tecido to pano emphasizes that even if you’re working with fabric, the wrong tool might ruin it entirely.
Who is being addressed in this sentence, and how do you know?
The sentence is directed at the informal second person singular, tu. This is indicated by the verb conjugations cortes and podes. Both forms are used for tu in European Portuguese, making it clear that the speaker is giving a direct command or warning to a single person.
What role does "porque" play in this sentence?
Porque functions as a causal conjunction meaning "because". It introduces the reason for the command: without the right scissors, you may easily ruin the cloth. This structure—giving a command followed by an explanation—is common in Portuguese for making warnings both instructive and clear.