Breakdown of Deves deixar a roupa no balneário, desde que o cacifo esteja vazio.
estar
to be (temporary / location)
em
in / on / at
vazio
empty
o
him/it (m)
dever
should / ought to
a roupa
the clothes
deixar
to leave (behind) / to quit / to let (allow)
desde que
provided that
o balneário
the changing room
o cacifo
the locker
Questions & Answers about Deves deixar a roupa no balneário, desde que o cacifo esteja vazio.
Doesn't desde que usually mean 'since'?
It can mean both 'since' and 'provided that', depending on the grammar that follows it! When followed by the normal indicative mood (like desde que cheguei - since I arrived), it talks about time. But when followed by the subjunctive mood, as it is here, it sets up a condition and translates to 'provided that' or 'as long as'.
Why do we use esteja instead of está in this sentence?
Esteja is the present subjunctive form of estar (to be). We must use the subjunctive here because the phrase desde que introduces a condition that must be met. The locker being empty is a requirement for you to leave your clothes, not a stated fact.
Why is it esteja vazio instead of seja vazio?
Even though we are in the subjunctive mood, the rules for choosing between ser and estar still apply. A locker being empty is a temporary condition, not a permanent characteristic. Because it can easily be full or empty at different times, we use estar (which becomes esteja here).
Why is a roupa singular when the English translation says 'the clothes'?
In Portuguese, a roupa is usually treated as a collective noun, much like 'clothing' or 'laundry' in English. While you can say as roupas, it is much more natural to use the singular a roupa when talking about your clothes in a general sense.
What is the exact difference between a balneário and a cacifo?
A balneário is the entire changing room or locker room, often including showers, like at a gym or public pool. A cacifo is the specific individual locker or cubby where you lock up your personal belongings.
Learn Deves deixar a roupa no balneário, desde que o cacifo esteja vazio 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