Eles podem teletransportar-se, além de serem invulneráveis.

Questions & Answers about Eles podem teletransportar-se, além de serem invulneráveis.

Why do we use the plural infinitive serem here instead of just ser?
The phrase além de (in addition to) is a preposition. When a verb follows a preposition and has a clear subject (in this case, Eles), European Portuguese uses the personal infinitive. Because the subject is they, the infinitive ser takes the third-person plural ending to become serem.
Is there a difference between além de and para além de in this sentence?
No, they mean exactly the same thing here. You could easily say para além de serem invulneráveis and it would still mean exactly the same thing. Both require the personal infinitive.
Could the reflexive pronoun in teletransportar-se be placed somewhere else?
Yes. In verb phrases with an auxiliary verb (podem) and an infinitive (teletransportar), you can attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive, as seen here. Alternatively, you can attach it to the auxiliary verb: Eles podem-se teletransportar. Both are perfectly natural in Portugal.
Why does invulneráveis end in -eis?
This is the plural form of invulnerável. In Portuguese, words ending in -el usually form their plural by dropping the -l and adding -is. The adjective must be plural to agree with the subject Eles.

Learn Eles podem teletransportar-se, além de serem invulneráveis 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