Breakdown of Eles mostraram aptidão; não obstante, não foram admitidos nesta fase.
ser
to be
não
not / no
eles
they (m)
em
in / on / at
este
this (este, esta, estes, estas)
mostrar
to show
não obstante
notwithstanding
a aptidão
the aptitude
admitir
to admit
a fase
the phase
Questions & Answers about Eles mostraram aptidão; não obstante, não foram admitidos nesta fase.
Why doesn't não obstante trigger the subjunctive in this sentence?
Não obstante only triggers the subjunctive when it acts as a subordinating conjunction meaning "even though" (sometimes as não obstante que). In this sentence, it is used as an independent adverbial connector meaning "nevertheless". Because it simply bridges two independent clauses rather than subordinating one, the verb remains in the indicative mood.
Is não obstante common in everyday spoken Portuguese?
Why is the verb phrase foram admitidos rather than estavam admitidos?
This is the passive voice describing a completed past action (the event of not being admitted). To express an action that was done to the subject, Portuguese uses the verb ser (here as foram) plus the past participle. If you used estavam (from estar), it would describe a continuous state rather than the specific event of rejection. Notice that admitidos ends in -os to agree with the masculine plural subject, eles.
Why is there a semicolon before não obstante?
Because both halves of this sentence are complete, independent clauses. In Portuguese, just as in English, joining two complete clauses with only a comma creates a grammar error known as a comma splice. The semicolon correctly separates the clauses while the connector não obstante highlights the contrast between them.
Learn Eles mostraram aptidão; não obstante, não foram admitidos nesta fase 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