Breakdown of Por constrangedor que seja o silêncio, o comediante não desiste.
ser
to be
não
not / no
por
through / by / for / because of
o silêncio
the silence
que
that (conjunction)
desistir
to give up
o comediante
the comedian
constrangedor
awkward
Questions & Answers about Por constrangedor que seja o silêncio, o comediante não desiste.
Why does this sentence use seja instead of é?
The structure por + adjective + que always triggers the subjunctive because it expresses a hypothetical or extreme degree ('however [adjective] it may be'). Here, seja is the present subjunctive of ser. Even if the silence is definitely awkward right now, the grammar rules for this concessive phrase require the subjunctive.
What is the exact nuance of constrangedor here?
Constrangedor translates to 'awkward,' but it specifically means awkward in an embarrassing, uncomfortable, or cringe-inducing way. It comes from the verb constranger (to embarrass or constrain). It perfectly describes the heavy, uncomfortable silence when a comedian's joke fails, whereas a word like estranho would just mean 'weird' or 'strange'.
Why is the subject o silêncio at the end of the first clause?
In European Portuguese, it is very common and natural to invert the subject and verb in dependent clauses. While por constrangedor que o silêncio seja is grammatically correct, placing o silêncio after the verb sounds more elegant and emphasizes the subject.
How does this structure differ from simply using embora?
If you used embora (although or even though), you would say embora o silêncio seja constrangedor ('although the silence is awkward'). The structure used here, por + adjective + que, is a more advanced phrasing that means 'no matter how awkward' or 'however awkward.' It emphasizes the extreme degree of the adjective rather than just stating a contrasting fact.
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