Question 1

Why use só que here instead of just saying mas?

Accepted Answer

Both mean "but", but só que is highly common in spoken Portuguese to mean "the thing is" or "only". It introduces a contrast that acts as an obstacle or a twist to what was just said. While mas is neutral, só que adds a conversational, slightly more emphatic tone to the problem (the price exceeding the budget).

Question 2

Does só que always trigger the indicative mood, like excede in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Even though many conjunctions ending in que trigger the subjunctive mood (like para que or ainda que), só que is an exception. Because it functions exactly like mas to state a reality or a factual obstacle, it is always followed by the indicative.

Question 3

Who is the subject of Pediram if no pronoun like eles is used?

Accepted Answer

By leaving the third-person plural verb Pediram without an explicit subject, the sentence creates an "indeterminate subject". It is the Portuguese equivalent of saying "Someone asked" or the general "They asked". It shifts the focus to the action itself rather than who specifically asked for the confirmation.

Question 4

Why do we need the article o before nosso orçamento?

Accepted Answer

In European Portuguese, it is standard and grammatically expected to use the definite article before a possessive pronoun when it modifies a noun. So it is literally "the our budget" (o nosso orçamento). While dropping the article is common in Brazilian Portuguese, a B2 learner in Portugal should aim to include it.

Pediram a confirmação ontem, só que o preço excede o nosso orçamento.

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