Breakdown of O stand em que o mecânico trabalha é fiável.
ser
to be
em
in / on / at
trabalhar
to work
que
who / which / that (relative)
o stand
the car dealership
o mecânico
the mechanic
fiável
reliable
Questions & Answers about O stand em que o mecânico trabalha é fiável.
Why do we use em que instead of just que here?
In Portuguese, if the verb in the relative clause requires a preposition, that preposition must come right before que. Because the mechanic works in the dealership (trabalha no stand), the preposition em is moved to sit before que. Unlike in English, you cannot leave the preposition at the end of the sentence (the dealership that he works in).
Could I use onde instead of em que in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely! Because o stand is a physical location, saying O stand onde o mecânico trabalha is completely correct and very common. Both options mean the exact same thing, but using em que here is a great way to practice how prepositions attach to relative clauses.
Is stand an English loanword, and does it just mean a normal stand?
It is an English loanword, but its meaning is more specific in Portugal. A stand (often short for stand de automóveis) specifically refers to a car dealership or a vehicle showroom, rather than a market stall (which is usually called a banca). Even though it is an English word, it is pronounced with a Portuguese accent.
How does the word fiável translate to reliable?
It is related to the reflexive verb fiar-se, which means to trust or to confide in someone or something. By adding the suffix -vel (able to be), something fiável is literally able to be trusted, which translates perfectly to reliable or trustworthy.
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