Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Se usas o dedal, podes coser a bainha fácil e perfeitamente. - If you use the thimble, you can sew the hem easily and perfectly.

Se usas o dedal, podes coser a bainha fácil e perfeitamente.

If you use the thimble, you can sew the hem easily and perfectly.

Breakdown of Se usas o dedal, podes coser a bainha fácil e perfeitamente.

Questions & Answers about Se usas o dedal, podes coser a bainha fácil e perfeitamente.

Why does it say fácil e perfeitamente instead of facilmente e perfeitamente?

When you have multiple adverbs ending in -mente in a row, Portuguese drops the suffix from all but the last one. For the earlier adverbs in the list, you just use the feminine singular form of the adjective. Since the adjective fácil is the same for masculine and feminine, it stays as fácil.

If I wanted to say quickly and perfectly instead, would the first word just be rápido?

No, you would use rápida e perfeitamente. When you drop the -mente suffix in a list, you must leave the adjective in its feminine singular form. This is because the suffix -mente originally comes from a feminine Latin word, so it always attaches to feminine adjectives.

Why is the present tense usas used after Se instead of the future subjunctive?

You use the present indicative for real conditionals that state general facts, habits, or highly probable outcomes. Saying Se usas implies a direct, reliable cause and effect. You would use the future subjunctive to frame it as a more hypothetical future event.

I have seen a similar word cozer spelled with a z. Why is it coser here?