Breakdown of Ainda bem que o resultado do teu teste é negativo, assim evitamos uma complicação.
ser
to be
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
um
a / an / some (all forms)
teu
your (informal)
o
him/it (m)
assim
like this
o resultado
the result
o teste
the test
evitar
to avoid
ainda bem que
it is a good thing that
negativo
negative
a complicação
the complication
Questions & Answers about Ainda bem que o resultado do teu teste é negativo, assim evitamos uma complicação.
Since this sentence shows relief, why do we use the indicative é instead of the subjunctive seja after ainda bem que?
This is a major exception you just have to memorize! While expressions of emotion usually trigger the subjunctive in Portuguese, ainda bem que (thank goodness / it's a good thing that) always takes the indicative. Because it acknowledges a confirmed, happy reality rather than a subjective feeling about a hypothetical, we use the normal present tense é.
Does ainda bem literally mean "it is a good thing"?
Literally, it means "still well". However, it's a fixed idiom used exactly like "thank goodness", "gladly", or "it's a good thing" in English. It is the standard way to express relief that a situation turned out okay.
Why does "of your test" translate to do teu teste rather than just de teu teste?
As a B2 refresher: in European Portuguese, possessive pronouns almost always need a definite article before them. Here, the masculine article o is required before teu teste. When the preposition de (of) meets o teu, they must contract into do teu.
Could I use então (so/then) instead of assim in the second half of the sentence?
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