Breakdown of Ele vai alcançar o auge, a não ser que desista.
ele
he
ir
to go
alcançar
to achieve
desistir
to give up
a não ser que
unless
o auge
the pinnacle
Questions & Answers about Ele vai alcançar o auge, a não ser que desista.
Why is desista in the subjunctive here?
The phrase a não ser que (unless) always triggers the subjunctive. It introduces a condition or exception to the main clause, presenting it as a hypothetical scenario rather than a guaranteed fact, which requires the subjunctive mood.
Since the first half is about the future (vai alcançar), shouldn't we use the future subjunctive here?
It is a logical guess, but no! The expression a não ser que strictly takes the present subjunctive (or imperfect subjunctive for past contexts), even when talking about the future. However, if you rephrased this using se (if), you would use the future subjunctive: ...se ele não desistir (if he doesn't give up).
What exactly does o auge mean and how is it used?
O auge translates to "the pinnacle", "the peak", or "the height". While it can refer to a physical peak, it is most often used abstractly, such as the peak of someone's career (o auge da carreira) or the height of an event or crisis (no auge da crise).
How does a não ser que compare to the reduplicative phrases we are learning, like custe o que custar?
While a não ser que (unless) sets a specific condition that could stop him, reduplicative phrases like custe o que custar (whatever it costs / at all costs) or aconteça o que acontecer (whatever happens) are concessive. They emphasize that the outcome will happen regardless of obstacles. If you wanted to say nothing could stop him, you would use the reduplicative structure: Ele vai alcançar o auge, aconteça o que acontecer.
Learn Ele vai alcançar o auge, a não ser que desista 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