Breakdown of O restauro do clássico deve ter sido caro.
ser
to be
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
ter
to have
caro
expensive
dever
should / ought to
o restauro
the restoration
o clássico
the classic
Questions & Answers about O restauro do clássico deve ter sido caro.
Why is deve in the present tense if the sentence is talking about the past?
The modal verb deve stays in the present tense because you are making the assumption right now. To push the action into the past, Portuguese uses the perfect infinitive instead: the auxiliary verb ter plus the past participle sido. This structure forms the past deduction 'must have been.'
What would happen if I used the imperfect or conditional tense, like devia or deveria, instead of deve?
It would completely change the meaning. Using devia or deveria with the perfect infinitive expresses an unfulfilled obligation. For example, O restauro devia ter sido caro means 'The restoration should have been expensive' (implying that it actually wasn't). To make a strong guess or deduction about what happened, you must use the present tense deve.
Why do we use sido (from ser) instead of estado (from estar) for 'been expensive'?
We use sido because the overall cost of a completed project is treated as a permanent, defining characteristic of that event. While a price in a shop might temporarily fluctuate (where you might use estar caro), the final agreed cost of a completed restoration is fixed in history, so it requires ser.
Is restauro the only word for 'restoration' in Portuguese?
You will also see the word restauração, but they are used in slightly different contexts. Restauro is typically used for the meticulous physical repair of specific objects like cars, artwork, or antique furniture. Restauração is broader and often used for historical buildings, political regimes, or even the restaurant and catering industry.
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