Breakdown of Se não colocares selo na carta, o correio não a entrega.
não
not
se
if
em
on
colocar
to put
a carta
the letter
o selo
the stamp
a
it
entregar
to deliver
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Questions & Answers about Se não colocares selo na carta, o correio não a entrega.
Why is the subject pronoun omitted before colocares?
In Portuguese it’s normal to drop subject pronouns (like tu or você) because the verb ending (-es) already tells you it’s second‐person singular. You could say Se tu não colocares… for emphasis or clarity, but it’s optional.
Why is the verb colocares in the subjunctive mood instead of the indicative?
After se when you talk about a potential or future condition, European Portuguese prefers the present subjunctive. So you get Se não colocares rather than the indicative colocas. In English we say “if you don’t put,” but Portuguese uses colocares to show it’s a hypothetical.
Why isn’t there an indefinite article before selo (i.e. why not um selo)?
In many set phrases or when speaking generically, Portuguese speakers drop the indefinite article. Colocar selo is understood as “putting a stamp,” even though you could add um (colocar um selo) without changing the meaning.
Why is it na carta and not em carta or à carta?
Na is the contraction of em + a, meaning “in/on the letter.” You need the definite article (a carta) because you’re referring to a specific piece of mail. Em carta (without article) would sound odd here.
Why is the mail service called o correio in the singular?
In Portugal, o correio refers to mail as an uncountable concept—like English “mail” or British “the post.” You’re not talking about individual post offices or items, but the system as a whole.
What does the pronoun a refer to, and why is it used?
A is the feminine singular direct‐object pronoun replacing a carta. Instead of repeating a carta, you say o correio não a entrega (“the mail doesn’t deliver it”).
Why does the pronoun come before the verb in não a entrega?
When a clause contains negation (here não), Portuguese forces the clitic pronoun to precede the verb (proclisis). That’s why it’s não a entrega and not não entrega‑a.
Why is entrega in the indicative and not in the subjunctive?
Only the “if” clause uses the subjunctive. The main clause states a factual consequence: “the mail doesn’t deliver it.” Consequence clauses stay in the present indicative.
Could I drop the pronoun and just say o correio não entrega a carta?
Yes—you’d just be restating a carta instead of replacing it with a pronoun. Both are correct; using não a entrega is a bit more concise once a carta is already understood.