Breakdown of Enquanto trabalhas aqui, não pagas a subscrição exceto se ignorares as regras.
não
not / no
aqui
here
trabalhar
to work
pagar
to pay
enquanto
while
a regra
the rule
ignorar
to ignore
a subscrição
the subscription
exceto se
unless
Questions & Answers about Enquanto trabalhas aqui, não pagas a subscrição exceto se ignorares as regras.
Why is the verb ignorares in the future subjunctive here, rather than the present subjunctive?
The conjunction exceto se (except if / unless) introduces a condition. Because the possibility of ignoring the rules is a potential event in the future, it requires the future subjunctive. For a regular verb like ignorar in the informal "you" (tu) form, that gives us ignorares.
Could I use a não ser que instead of exceto se in this sentence?
Yes, both can translate to "unless", but they behave differently with verbs! While exceto se takes the future subjunctive for future possibilities, a não ser que generally requires the present subjunctive. If you swapped it in, the clause would change to a não ser que ignores as regras.
Can I replace exceto se with salvo se or contanto que without changing the meaning?
You can perfectly replace it with salvo se (save if / unless), as it means the exact same thing and also triggers the future subjunctive (salvo se ignorares). However, contanto que means "provided that" or "as long as". Using it here would completely reverse the logic of the condition!
Why doesn't the first part of the sentence use the subjunctive (enquanto trabalhares)?
The word enquanto can trigger the future subjunctive when it implies a hypothetical "as long as [something happens]" in the future. However, in this sentence, the speaker is talking about a present, ongoing fact: the person is already working there. Because it's an established reality, the present indicative trabalhas is used.
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