In Portuguese, the word mal is often used as a temporal conjunction meaning "as soon as".
| as soon as | mal |
Whether you follow mal with the indicative or the subjunctive depends on when the action takes place.
Mal + Indicative for Past Actions
When describing a sequence of events that has already happened, use mal with the indicative (usually the simple past).
| As soon as we arrived at the circuit, the race began. | Mal chegámos ao circuito, a corrida começou. |
| As soon as the driver passed the curve, he saw the flag. | Mal o piloto passou a curva, viu a bandeira. |
| As soon as he crossed the finish line, the driver left. | Mal cortou a meta, o piloto foi-se embora. |
Mal + Subjunctive for Future Actions
When talking about an action that has not happened yet, use mal with the present subjunctive. Even though English uses the simple present ("As soon as the race starts"), Portuguese requires the subjunctive because the event is still anticipated.
| As soon as the race starts, the cars will set off. | Mal a corrida comece, os carros vão arrancar. |
| As soon as he reaches the curve, the driver needs to brake. | Mal chegue à curva, o piloto precisa de travar. |
| As soon as he wins the race, the driver will be on the podium. | Mal ganhe a corrida, o piloto vai estar no pódio. |
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