Breakdown of Se não tens cuidado, recebes um choque eléctrico.
um
a
ter
to have
não
not
se
if
o cuidado
the care
eléctrico
electric
o choque
the shock
receber
to get
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Questions & Answers about Se não tens cuidado, recebes um choque eléctrico.
In Se não tens cuidado, recebes um choque eléctrico, why is the verb in the “if” clause in the present indicative (tens) rather than the subjunctive (tiveres)?
Portuguese uses the present indicative in real, possible conditions (Type I) to express a likely future outcome. It’s equivalent to English “If you don’t… you get…” The subjunctive (tiveres) would be reserved for hypothetical or unlikely scenarios (Type II).
Could we use the future tense and say Se não tens cuidado, receberás um choque eléctrico?
Yes. Using the simple future (receberás) is grammatically correct and highlights that the action will definitely happen. Native speakers often prefer the present indicative (recebes) in both clauses for real, immediate conditions because it sounds more natural.
What’s the difference between tens and tem? Why not say Se não tem cuidado?
Tens is 2nd-person singular (tu). In Portugal, the informal “you” is tu, so you say tens. Tem is 3rd-person singular or the formal 2nd person (você). If you address someone as você, you’d say Se não tem cuidado instead.
Can we drop the article and say recebes choque eléctrico?
No. Portuguese normally requires an article before a singular countable noun. Um choque eléctrico corresponds to English “an electric shock.” Omitting um would sound abrupt or incomplete.
Why is eléctrico spelled with ct in Portugal but elétrico in Brazil?
European Portuguese retained the Latin/Greek ct cluster in words like eléctrico, whereas Brazilian Portuguese simplified it to t: elétrico. Both spellings are correct in their respective standards.
Is it okay to invert the clauses and say Recebes um choque eléctrico se não tens cuidado?
Yes. In Portuguese you can place the conditional clause either before or after the main clause without changing the meaning.
Could you say Se não tiveres cuidado, vais receber um choque eléctrico?
Absolutely. This version uses the subjunctive in the “if” clause (tiveres) and the periphrastic future (vais receber). It’s correct but slightly more formal or emphatic than the simple present indicative version.
Why is it ter cuidado (“to have care”) instead of tomas cuidado (“take care”)?
Portuguese idiomatically uses ter cuidado to mean “to be careful” or “to have caution.” The literal translation tomas cuidado isn’t used in standard Portuguese.
How do you pronounce cuidado and eléctrico, and where is the stress?
Cuidado: /kujˈða.du/ – stress on da.
Eléctrico: /eˈlɛk.tɾi.ku/ – stress on léc.