Se o acordo for justo, eu fico satisfeito.

If the agreement is fair, I am satisfied.

Breakdown of Se o acordo for justo, eu fico satisfeito.

• eu: I
• ser: to be
• se: if
• ficar: to become

Questions & Answers about Se o acordo for justo, eu fico satisfeito.

Why is it for and not é (Se o acordo for justo… instead of Se o acordo é justo…)?

For here is not the English word for; it’s a Portuguese verb form: the future subjunctive of ser.

• ser (to be) – future subjunctive:
  • eu for
  • tu fores
  • ele/ela/você for
  • nós formos
  • eles/elas/vocês forem

In European Portuguese, when you talk about a future, uncertain condition with se (if), you normally use the future subjunctive, not the present:

• Se o acordo for justo, eu fico satisfeito.
  If the agreement is fair, I’m satisfied.

Using Se o acordo é justo sounds wrong or at least very unnatural in standard Portuguese when you’re referring to a future/uncertain situation. The present indicative with se is used for more “timeless” or factual conditions, not hypothetical future ones.

So what exactly is the future subjunctive and when is it used in Portuguese?