Breakdown of O realizador muda a fala para os atores chorarem.
para
to / for
o ator
the actor
chorar
to cry
mudar
to change
o realizador
the director (film)
a fala
the line (of dialogue)
Questions & Answers about O realizador muda a fala para os atores chorarem.
Why is the verb chorarem used instead of just the normal infinitive chorar?
In Portuguese, when the subject changes after a preposition like para, we use the Personal Infinitive. The first action (muda) is done by the director, but the second action (chorarem) is done by the actors. The ending -em added to the infinitive chorar tells us that "they" (the actors) are the ones who need to cry.
Could I use the subjunctive here and say para que os atores chorem?
Yes, you could! para que followed by the Present Subjunctive and para followed by the Personal Infinitive have the exact same meaning. However, European Portuguese speakers use the Personal Infinitive very often because it feels a bit simpler and more direct when you already have a clearly stated subject like os atores.
Why is the subject os atores placed right after para?
When using the Personal Infinitive, the subject of that new action typically sits exactly between the preposition (para) and the infinitive verb itself (chorarem). This structure cleanly separates the two halves of the sentence so we know exactly who is performing the second action.
I thought fala was a verb meaning "he or she speaks". Why does it mean "line" here?
You are right that fala is a conjugation of the verb falar, but it is also a noun. As a noun, a fala generally means "speech" or "the act of speaking". In the specific context of movies or theater, it translates to an actor's "line" or piece of dialogue.
Learn O realizador muda a fala para os atores chorarem and more in Portuguese
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free