Breakdown of O meu pai exigiu que nós tivéssemos terminado a licenciatura.
nós
we
o pai
the father / the parents
ter
to have
meu
my (m/f/pl: meu, minha, meus, minhas)
terminar
to finish
que
that (conjunction)
exigir
to demand
a licenciatura
the bachelor's degree
Questions & Answers about O meu pai exigiu que nós tivéssemos terminado a licenciatura.
Why is tivéssemos terminado used here instead of the simpler Imperfect Subjunctive, terminássemos?
The main verb exigiu (demanded) is in the past, triggering a past subjunctive. We use the compound form (tivéssemos terminado) to emphasize that the action needed to be already completed prior to a certain past deadline. If we used terminássemos, it would mean he demanded that we finish it at some point after his demand, rather than having it already finished by that past reference point.
How exactly is the verb phrase tivéssemos terminado formed?
This is the Mais-Que-Perfeito do Conjuntivo (Pluperfect Subjunctive). It is always formed using the auxiliary verb ter conjugated in the Imperfect Subjunctive (here, tivéssemos for nós) followed by the past participle of your main verb (here, terminado).
Based on this sentence, did we actually finish the degree?
We do not know for sure. Because exigir triggers the subjunctive mood, the clause que nós tivéssemos terminado expresses the father's demand or requirement, not an established fact. It tells us what he required to have happened, but not whether we actually succeeded.
Is licenciatura the standard word for a bachelor's degree in Portugal?
Yes! In Portugal's higher education system, a licenciatura is an undergraduate degree that typically takes three years to complete, making it the exact equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
Learn O meu pai exigiu que nós tivéssemos terminado a licenciatura 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