Learn Portuguese (Portugal): A administração lamenta profundamente o erro. - The board of directors deeply regrets the mistake.

A administração lamenta profundamente o erro.

The board of directors deeply regrets the mistake.

Breakdown of A administração lamenta profundamente o erro.

to regret, to be sorry

a administração

the board of directors

Questions & Answers about A administração lamenta profundamente o erro.

Since this lesson is about dropping the conjunction que, how would that formal rule apply if this sentence included a subordinate clause?

Here, lamenta is followed by a simple noun (o erro), so there is no subordinate clause. However, lamentar is a verb of emotion that triggers the subjunctive. If we expanded this to 'regrets that the error occurred', it would normally be lamenta que o erro tenha ocorrido. In the highly formal register taught in this lesson, the que could be dropped: lamenta tenha ocorrido o erro.

Why translate administração as 'board of directors' instead of 'administration'?

In business contexts in Portugal, a administração (short for o conselho de administração) is the standard term for a company's board of directors or executive management. While it translates to 'administration' in government or public sectors, 'board of directors' is the most natural English fit for a corporate apology.

Is there a difference between using lamenta and pede desculpa here?

Yes, there is a nuance in register and liability. Lamentar (to regret) is very common in formal public relations statements because it expresses deep sorrow without explicitly admitting fault. Pedir desculpa (to apologize) is more direct and takes institutional ownership of the mistake.

Could the adverb profundamente be placed at the very end of the sentence?