Breakdown of Se o xarope não ajudar, vou marcar nova consulta.
ir
to go
novo
new
não
not
se
if
ajudar
to help
a consulta
the appointment
o xarope
the syrup
marcar
to book
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Questions & Answers about Se o xarope não ajudar, vou marcar nova consulta.
Why does ajudar look like the infinitive here? Isn’t it supposed to be conjugated?
It is conjugated—this is the future subjunctive. After se (if) referring to a future, uncertain condition, Portuguese uses the future subjunctive. For regular -ar verbs, the 1st and 3rd person singular forms of the future subjunctive are identical to the infinitive, so ajudar here is “he/it help” in the future subjunctive (not a bare infinitive). Compare:
- Future subjunctive: se ele ajudar
- Present subjunctive: se ele ajude (not used here)
- Imperfect subjunctive: se ele ajudasse (hypothetical/unlikely)
- Infinitive: ajudar (dictionary form)
Could I say Se o xarope não ajude?
No. With se for a real future possibility, Portuguese uses the future subjunctive, so it should be Se o xarope não ajudar. The present subjunctive (ajude) goes after triggers like é possível que, talvez, embora, etc., not after se in this meaning.
Why not use the present tense: Se o xarope não ajuda?
Se o xarope não ajuda would sound like a general/habitual statement (“If syrup doesn’t help…”). For a specific future contingency (“If the syrup doesn’t help [this time]”), Portuguese prefers the future subjunctive: Se o xarope não ajudar.
Why is there no uma before nova consulta?
In European Portuguese, it’s common and idiomatic to omit the indefinite article in set phrases like marcar consulta. Both vou marcar nova consulta and vou marcar uma nova consulta are correct in Portugal. In Brazil, you’d almost always say uma nova consulta.
Does nova consulta mean “another appointment” or “a brand-new appointment”?
With novo/nova before the noun, it often means “another” rather than brand-new. So nova consulta is naturally understood as “another appointment.” If you put the adjective after the noun—consulta nova—it leans toward “brand-new,” but that wording is rare here.
Is consulta nova wrong?
Not grammatically, but it’s unusual in this context and can sound like you’re emphasizing the quality of being brand-new. The idiomatic expression is nova consulta.
Can I move the clauses and say Vou marcar nova consulta se o xarope não ajudar?
Yes. That’s perfectly natural. In that order, you typically don’t use a comma before se.
Why is there a comma after the se-clause?
In Portuguese, when the dependent clause comes first, you normally separate it from the main clause with a comma: Se …, [main clause]. If you flip the order, the comma is usually dropped.
Is xarope masculine or feminine?
Masculine: o xarope. Hence the article o.
Is ajudar being used without an object on purpose?
Yes. Ajudar can be used intransitively to mean “to help/be of help.” Here it means “If the syrup doesn’t help.” You could add an object if you want: Se o xarope não me ajudar… (“doesn’t help me”).
Would Se o xarope não fizer efeito be more idiomatic for medicine?
Very idiomatic in Portugal. For treatments/medications, fazer efeito (“to take effect/work”) and resultar are common:
- Se o xarope não fizer efeito, vou marcar nova consulta.
- Se o xarope não resultar, vou marcar nova consulta. Funcionar is fine for machines/systems; for meds, it’s less natural in European Portuguese.
Why use vou marcar instead of marcarei?
Both are correct. Vou marcar (ir + infinitive) is the everyday way to talk about intended or near future actions. Marcarei (simple future) is more formal/literary and less common in speech in Portugal.
Could I say irei marcar?
Yes, but it’s formal/emphatic. In normal conversation, vou marcar sounds more natural.
Any pronunciation tips (Portugal)?
Approximate EP pronunciation:
- Se: “suh” (very short, reduced vowel)
- o: “oo”
- xarope: “sha-RO-p(uh)” (x = sh; final e is a very light uh)
- não: nasal “now” (like “nown” through the nose)
- ajudar: “uh-zhoo-DAR” (j = zh)
- vou: “voh”
- marcar: “mar-KAR” (final r is a guttural/strong r in many accents)
- nova: “NO-vuh”
- consulta: “kõn-SOOL-tuh” (first o is nasal)
Could I say Se o xarope não ajudar, marcarei uma nova consulta?
Yes. That’s correct; it just sounds more formal than vou marcar.
What if I want a more hypothetical or counterfactual tone?
- Remote/less likely (present-time hypothesis): Se o xarope não ajudasse, marcaria nova consulta.
- Counterfactual past: Se o xarope não tivesse ajudado, teria marcado nova consulta.
Is marcar the right verb for “to schedule/book” in Portugal?
Yes. Marcar (uma) consulta is the standard. Agendar also exists and is common in institutional contexts. To reschedule: remarcar.
Any difference in Brazil?
Main points:
- Brazilians would usually include the article: vou marcar uma nova consulta.
- Pronunciation is different (less vowel reduction, different r’s).
- Grammar here (future subjunctive after se) is the same in both varieties.