Breakdown of Não é possível que ele tenha pago a prestação do empréstimo.
ser
to be
não
not / no
ele
he
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
ter
to have
pagar
to pay
que
that (conjunction)
possível
possible
o empréstimo
the loan
a prestação
the instalment
Questions & Answers about Não é possível que ele tenha pago a prestação do empréstimo.
Why do we use the subjunctive form tenha instead of the indicative tem?
The phrase Não é possível que (It is not possible that) expresses doubt or impossibility. In Portuguese, this type of expression always forces the following verb into the subjunctive mood. Since we are talking about a completed action in the past, we use the Perfect Subjunctive.
How is the Perfect Subjunctive formed in this sentence?
It is formed by combining the Present Subjunctive of the auxiliary verb ter (which is tenha for ele) with the past participle of the main verb (pago). This gives us tenha pago (has paid).
Wait, I learned that with ter, we should use the regular past participle ending in -ado. Why is it pago instead of pagado?
That is a great rule to remember! Usually, we use the regular participle (ending in -ado or -ido) with ter, and the irregular short form with ser or estar. However, pagar (to pay), along with ganhar (to win/earn) and gastar (to spend), are common exceptions in European Portuguese. Native speakers almost always use their short forms (pago, ganho, gasto) for all situations, even with ter.
What does prestação mean here?
While prestação can sometimes refer to a performance or a service, in financial contexts like a loan (empréstimo), it specifically translates to an installment or a regular payment.
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