Breakdown of Se ele fizer batota, vai pagar caro.
ele
he
caro
expensive
ir
to go
pagar
to pay
fazer
to do
se
if
a batota
the cheating
Questions & Answers about Se ele fizer batota, vai pagar caro.
Why do we use caro here instead of an adverb ending in -mente?
This highlights the current lesson! In Portuguese, certain adjectives can act directly as adverbs (modifying the verb) without taking the -mente suffix. Pagar caro is a set expression meaning to pay a high price or to "pay dearly," and the word caro stays locked in its base masculine singular form.
If the subject were feminine (ela), would it change to pagar cara?
Why is the verb fizer used after se instead of the present tense faz?
When se (if) introduces a condition that is a possibility in the future, Portuguese requires the future subjunctive tense. Fizer is the irregular future subjunctive form of fazer. You would only use the present tense faz with se when talking about established facts or general habits (e.g., "If he [habitually] cheats, I always leave").
Is fazer batota considered slang for cheating?
It is not just slang; it is the standard, everyday European Portuguese expression for cheating at games, sports, rules, or tests. As a bonus vocabulary tip: a person who cheats is called a batoteiro.
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