Breakdown of Já sabemos que a testemunha é inocente.
ser
to be
já
already
saber
to know
que
that (conjunction)
a testemunha
the witness
inocente
innocent
Questions & Answers about Já sabemos que a testemunha é inocente.
We are learning the subjunctive right now. Why doesn't "sabemos que" trigger the subjunctive for the verb "ser"?
The subjunctive is used for doubt, emotion, and uncertainty. The verb saber (to know) expresses certainty and established facts. Because sabemos que (we know that) states a certainty, the following verb stays in the normal indicative mood (é).
If the witness is a man, would we change the phrase to "o testemunha"?
Does the adjective "inocente" change if it describes a masculine noun instead?
No, adjectives that end in -e in the singular usually have only one form. They do not change to match masculine or feminine nouns. Therefore, whether it describes a male or female subject, it remains inocente.
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