Breakdown of O cliente perguntou se o tarifário é caro.
ser
to be
caro
expensive
o cliente
the client
perguntar
to ask
se
if
o tarifário
the plan (pricing, tariff)
Questions & Answers about O cliente perguntou se o tarifário é caro.
Why do we use se in this sentence?
Since perguntou is in the past tense, shouldn't é change to the past tense era?
Normally, yes! In reported speech, if the main verb is in the past, the reported verb usually shifts back a tense. However, you can keep the present tense (é) if the information is still a general truth at the time of speaking. Since the plan is still currently expensive, keeping the present tense is completely correct here.
Does the word order change when forming this indirect question?
No, the word order stays exactly the same. In Portuguese, you simply take the original question (O tarifário é caro?) and place se right in front of it to connect it to the main sentence. There is no need to swap words around.
What kind of "plan" does tarifário refer to?
While it translates literally to "tariff" or "rates", in everyday Portuguese tarifário is the standard word for a recurring service pricing plan, most commonly a mobile phone plan, internet package, or electricity rate.
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