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Quando a eletricidade falhar, usa a lanterna do telemóvel e espera na carruagem.

Quando a eletricidade falhar, usa a lanterna do telemóvel e espera na carruagem.
When the electricity fails, use your phone’s torch and wait in the carriage.
FromLesson 38inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Quando a eletricidade falhar, usa a lanterna do telemóvel e espera na carruagem.

Why is it falhar and not falha after Quando?

Because when a quando-clause refers to a future/uncertain time in Portuguese, you use the future subjunctive. For regular verbs, the 3rd-person future subjunctive of falhar is falhar (same form as the infinitive).

  • Quando a eletricidade falhar = When the power goes out (at some future point).
  • Quando a eletricidade falha = When the power goes out (whenever that happens; habitual).
What tense/mood is falhar here, and how is it formed?
It’s the future subjunctive. For falhar: eu/ele falhar, tu falhares, nós falharmos, eles falharem. It’s common after time/condition words that point to the future: quando, se, assim que, logo que, etc.
Is usa an imperative? Why not use?
Yes. Usa is the affirmative imperative for tu (informal). Use is the imperative for você (more formal/polite in Portugal). Signs and public notices often use Use.
How would I say it formally to one person, or to more than one person?
  • Formal singular (você): Quando a eletricidade falhar, use a lanterna do telemóvel e espere na carruagem.
  • Plural (vocês): Quando a eletricidade falhar, usem a lanterna do telemóvel e esperem na carruagem.
How do I make the command negative?

Use the negative imperative (present subjunctive forms) and put any pronouns before the verb:

  • Tu: Não uses a lanterna do telemóvel e não saias da carruagem.
  • Você: Não use a lanterna do telemóvel e não saia da carruagem.
What does do mean in lanterna do telemóvel?
Do is de + o (of + the). So lanterna do telemóvel = the phone’s flashlight.
Is telemóvel specific to Portugal? What about Brazil?
Yes. In Portugal it’s telemóvel; in Brazil it’s celular. Telefone in Portugal usually means a (landline) phone in general, not specifically a mobile.
Would liga/acende a lanterna do telemóvel be more natural than usa?
Often, yes. Ligar or acender focus on turning it on: Liga/Acende a lanterna do telemóvel. Usa is fine but broader (use it).
What exactly does carruagem mean? Is vagão okay?
  • Carruagem = one passenger coach/car of a train (Portugal).
  • Comboio = the whole train.
  • Vagão is common in Brazil or for freight; in Portugal use carruagem for passenger cars.
Why na carruagem and not em or no?
Na = em + a (in/on + the, feminine). Carruagem is feminine, so na carruagem. No is em + o (masculine). In Portuguese you normally contract em with the article.
Why does it say a eletricidade with the article? Can I drop it?

Portuguese uses definite articles with general/abstract nouns more than English. You can say:

  • Quando a eletricidade falhar… (most natural)
  • Quando falhar a eletricidade… (also fine)
  • Or switch verb and drop the article: Quando faltar eletricidade…
Why is it spelled eletricidade without a c? I also see electricidade.
After the 1990 Orthographic Agreement, many silent consonants were dropped in Portugal. The official spelling is eletricidade. You’ll still see electricidade, but it’s pre‑agreement.
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
  • falhar: lh = palatal “ly” (like the “lli” in English “million”): fa-LYAR.
  • telemóvel: stress on mó: te-le-MÓ-vel.
  • carruagem: rr is a throaty sound (like French r); -gem sounds like “zheng” with a nasal ending.
  • eletricidade: stress the penultimate syllable: e-le-tri-ci-DA-de.
Could I use the infinitive for instructions, like on a sign?
Yes. It’s common in written instructions: Quando a eletricidade falhar, usar a lanterna do telemóvel e esperar na carruagem. In speech, prefer the imperative (usa/espere, etc.).
What if I want to use a pronoun instead of repeating lanterna?
With affirmative imperatives, attach the pronoun with a hyphen: Usa‑a (use it – lanterna is feminine). In the negative, it goes before the verb: Não a uses.
Is the comma after the quando‑clause required?
Yes, when the dependent clause comes first: Quando a eletricidade falhar, usa… If the main clause comes first, you usually omit it: Usa a lanterna do telemóvel e espera na carruagem quando a eletricidade falhar.
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