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Passo o rolo pela parede até que a primeira camada fique perfeita.

Passo o rolo pela parede até que a primeira camada fique perfeita.
I pass the roller over the wall until the first layer is perfect.
From Lesson 268:Until (até que)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Passo o rolo pela parede até que a primeira camada fique perfeita.

Why do we use the subjunctive verb fique here instead of the normal present tense fica?
The phrase até que (until) sets a limit for an action. When it refers to a goal or a future event that hasn't been reached yet (the layer becoming perfect), it triggers the subjunctive mood. That is why we use fique.
Could I just use até instead of até que?
Yes, but the grammar would change. If you only use the preposition até, you must use the infinitive form of the verb instead of the subjunctive. So the end of the sentence would become: ...até a primeira camada ficar perfeita.
Why use fique (from ficar) to mean "is" instead of the verb estar?
While estar means "to be" for temporary states, ficar is heavily used in Portuguese to mean "to become" or to emphasize an end result. Saying fique perfeita focuses on the final outcome of the painting process: "until it turns out perfect."
Why is "over the wall" translated as pela parede?
Pela is the contraction of the preposition por and the feminine article a. Por is used to indicate movement along, through, or across a surface. Since passing a roller involves moving it across the surface of the wall, pela parede is the natural choice.

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