Breakdown of Se houver novo atraso, hás de ver como aproveito para degustar mais café.
o café
the coffee
novo
new
mais
more
para
to
se
if
ver
to see
aproveitar
to make the most of
haver
to exist
como
how
o atraso
the delay
haver de
to have to
degustar
to taste
Questions & Answers about Se houver novo atraso, hás de ver como aproveito para degustar mais café.
Why is houver used instead of há in “Se houver novo atraso”?
Because the clause is hypothetical (“if there is”), Portuguese uses the present subjunctive of haver, which is houver, rather than the indicative há. This marks a potential future event, not a statement of fact.
Why is houver in the subjunctive mood?
After se (if) introducing a possible or uncertain situation, European Portuguese typically uses the present subjunctive to signal “if X happens.” Hence Se houver rather than the indicative.
What does hás de ver mean here?
Hás de ver literally comes from the construction haver de + infinitive. It’s the 2nd person singular (“tu”) and means “you will see.” In context, it’s a promise or prediction: “you’ll see how I…”
How is hás de ver different from vais ver?
Both can translate as “you’ll see,” but haver de + infinitive often feels a bit more emphatic or formal in Portugal. Vais ver is the simple periphrastic future with ir, more neutral and common in everyday speech.
Why is aproveito in the 1st person singular present tense?
The speaker is stating what they themselves will do when the delay occurs. Aproveito (“I take advantage”) matches the subject “I” and is natural in the main clause that follows the conditional.
What does the phrase aproveitar para + infinitive express?
Aproveitar para + infinitive means “to take the opportunity to do something.” Here, aproveito para degustar = “I take the opportunity to taste/enjoy.”
Does degustar simply mean “to taste,” or is there more nuance?
Degustar can mean “to taste,” “to sample,” or “to savor,” often implying a more leisurely, appreciative experience (as with wine or fine coffee), rather than just drinking.
Why is there no article before novo atraso (e.g., um novo atraso)?
Portuguese often drops indefinite articles in conditional statements when speaking about any instance in general. Se houver novo atraso means “if there is any new delay,” so um is optional and frequently omitted.
What register or tone does this sentence convey?
It’s conversational and slightly playful. Using hás de ver and degustar gives it a friendly, informal flair typical of spoken European Portuguese.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning PortugueseMaster Portuguese — from Se houver novo atraso, hás de ver como aproveito para degustar mais café to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions