Question 1

Why do we use fosse instead of the regular past tense era?

Accepted Answer

The conjunction embora (although) always triggers the subjunctive mood. Because the sentence is talking about an ongoing state in the past, as seen with fazia (did/used to do), we must use the Imperfect Subjunctive of the verb ser (to be). Fosse is the irregular form for the third-person singular.

Question 2

I remember fosse being the subjunctive form of ir (to go). Why is it used for ser (to be) here?

Accepted Answer

The verbs ser and ir share the exact same forms in the Imperfect Subjunctive, just like they do in the simple past (Pretérito Perfeito). You have to rely on context to tell them apart. Here, saying the fairy 'went magical' doesn't make sense, so it must be ser (was magical).

Question 3

Why does the sentence use a double negative (não fazia nada)?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, if a negative word like nada (nothing/anything) appears after the verb, you must also use não before the verb. To say 'she didn't do anything', you literally say 'she didn't do nothing'. If you moved nada to the front of the clause, the não would be dropped.

Question 4

Why doesn't embora force the second verb (fazia) into the subjunctive as well?

Accepted Answer

Trigger words like embora only affect the clause they are directly attached to. The first clause takes the subjunctive, but the second clause (não fazia nada) is the main action stating a fact about her habits in the past. Therefore, it stays in the normal Imperfect Indicative.

Embora a fada fosse mágica, não fazia nada.

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