Learn Portuguese (Portugal): É preciso que o colecionador seja o mais persuasivo possível. - It is necessary that the collector be as persuasive as possible.

É preciso que o colecionador seja o mais persuasivo possível.

It is necessary that the collector be as persuasive as possible.

Breakdown of É preciso que o colecionador seja o mais persuasivo possível.

Questions & Answers about É preciso que o colecionador seja o mais persuasivo possível.

Why do we use o mais persuasivo possível to mean "as persuasive as possible" instead of translating "as... as" literally?

While you can use the literal translation tão persuasivo como possível (or quanto possível), the structure o mais [adjective] possível is much more commonly used in Portuguese to express "as [adjective] as possible". It literally translates to "the most persuasive possible".

Does the phrase o mais persuasivo possível change if the collector is female or plural?

Yes, the definite article (o), the adjective (persuasivo), and even the word possível must all agree with the noun they describe. If the subject were a female collector, it would be a mais persuasiva possível. If there were multiple female collectors, the entire phrase would become plural: as mais persuasivas possíveis.

Why is the verb ser in the subjunctive form (seja) here?

The sentence begins with É preciso que (It is necessary that). Impersonal expressions of necessity, desire, or opinion followed by que trigger the subjunctive mood in the following verb, because they express a requirement or subjective view rather than an established fact.

In English, a "collector" could be a hobbyist or a debt collector. Does colecionador cover both meanings?