Learn Portuguese (Portugal): A mãe receava que o professor tivesse repreendido o filho rebelde. - The mother feared that the teacher had reprimanded the rebellious son.

A mãe receava que o professor tivesse repreendido o filho rebelde.

The mother feared that the teacher had reprimanded the rebellious son.

Breakdown of A mãe receava que o professor tivesse repreendido o filho rebelde.

Questions & Answers about A mãe receava que o professor tivesse repreendido o filho rebelde.

Why do we use the compound tense tivesse repreendido here instead of just the Imperfect Subjunctive (repreendesse)?

The main verb receava (feared) is in the past tense and expresses emotion, which triggers the subjunctive in the second clause. We use the Past Perfect Subjunctive (tivesse repreendido) because the teacher's reprimand happened before the mother's fear. If she feared he was reprimanding him at that exact same time, we would use the Imperfect Subjunctive (repreendesse).

Could we use the Indicative mood (tinha repreendido) instead, since the reprimand is a completed past action?

No. Even though the reprimand already happened, the main verb receava expresses emotion (fear). Verbs of emotion always demand the subjunctive mood in the following clause, regardless of whether the action is completed or not.

If we used the phrase ter medo (to be afraid) instead of recear, how would the sentence change?

You would need to add the preposition de. The sentence would become A mãe tinha medo de que o professor tivesse repreendido o filho rebelde. The verb recear links directly to que, but the noun medo requires de que.

The verb is receava (from recear). Why isn't there an "i" in this conjugation, like in the present tense receia?