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As pilhas do comando acabaram durante a série.

As pilhas do comando acabaram durante a série.
The remote’s batteries ran out during the series.
FromLesson 36inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of As pilhas do comando acabaram durante a série.

de
of
durante
during
acabar
to run out
o comando
the remote
a série
the series
a pilha
the battery

Questions & Answers about As pilhas do comando acabaram durante a série.

What does the word comando mean here?
In European Portuguese, o comando commonly means the TV remote control. Synonyms you may hear: o telecomando. In Brazil you’d say o controle remoto, but in Portugal that sounds Brazilian.
Why is it do comando and not de o comando?
Do is the contraction of de + o. It marks possession, literally “the batteries of the remote.” So as pilhas do comando = “the remote’s batteries.”
Why pilhas and not baterias?

In Portugal:

  • pilhas = small disposable or AA/AAA-type batteries (what a remote uses).
  • bateria = larger/rechargeable batteries (phones, laptops, cars) or a drum kit. So for a remote, say pilhas.
What exactly does acabaram mean here?

Acabar, when used intransitively with consumables, means “to run out/be used up.” So as pilhas acabaram = “the batteries ran out.”
Note: acabar de + infinitive means “to have just done something” (e.g., acabei de chegar = “I’ve just arrived”), which is a different construction.

Why is the verb in the plural (acabaram)?
The subject is plural: as pilhas. Verbs agree with the subject, so acabaram (they ran out), not acabou (it ran out).
Can I say acabaram-se?

Yes. In Portugal you’ll hear both:

  • As pilhas acabaram. (neutral/standard)
  • As pilhas acabaram-se. (very common in speech) With the clitic, many prefer fronting the noun: Acabaram-se as pilhas do comando. In negatives or questions the clitic goes before the verb: As pilhas não se acabaram; Já se acabaram as pilhas?
Is durante a série idiomatic here? Should it be “during the episode”?

If you mean they died while you were watching a specific episode, more idiomatic options are:

  • durante o episódio
  • a meio do episódio (mid-episode)
  • enquanto estávamos a ver a série
    Durante a série tends to suggest over the course of the whole series, or “while the show was on” in a looser sense.
What’s the difference between série, temporada, and episódio?
  • a série = the show/series (the whole program)
  • a temporada = the season (Season 1, 2, …)
  • o episódio = the episode
    So if you mean “episode,” use o episódio; if you mean a specific season, a temporada.
Other natural ways to say the same idea?
  • O comando ficou sem pilhas a meio do episódio.
  • As pilhas do comando descarregaram durante o episódio.
  • As pilhas do comando foram-se enquanto estávamos a ver a série. (colloquial)
Could I drop do comando if context makes it clear?
Yes. If it’s obvious you’re talking about the remote, As pilhas acabaram is fine.
How would I say “while we were watching the series” in European Portuguese?

Use enquanto + past (often imperfect), or the EP progressive with estar a:

  • enquanto víamos a série
  • enquanto estávamos a ver a série
    Avoid the Brazilian-style gerund (vendo) in Portugal.
Is terminar okay instead of acabar?
For batteries, acabar or descarregar are the usual verbs. Terminar is more natural for events/time periods. As pilhas terminaram isn’t wrong, but it’s less idiomatic.
Can I use the present perfect like in English (“have run out”)?
No. Portuguese present perfect (têm acabado) usually implies repeated/habitual action over time. For a single past event, use simple past: As pilhas acabaram.
Pronunciation tips for tricky parts?
  • pilhas: lh = palatal L (like the “lli” in “million” said together): pi-lyas. Final -s sounds like “sh” in Portugal: [pi-lyash].
  • comando: nasal ã in man: roughly koo-MAN-doo.
  • acabaram: final -am is a nasal sound (not a clear “m”): a-ka-BA-rãw.
  • série: stressed open é (SEH-ree-uh-ish), with a tapped r.
Is comando the only word for “remote” in Portugal?
You’ll mostly hear o comando or o telecomando. O controle remoto is Brazilian; it sounds marked as Brazilian Portuguese in Portugal.
If there was only one battery, how would it change?

Make everything singular:

  • A pilha do comando acabou durante o episódio.
    (But most remotes take two, hence the usual plural pilhas.)
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