Breakdown of A empresa prefere o trabalho presencial. O funcionário, por seu lado, quer o modelo remoto.
o trabalho
the work / the job
a
to / at (direction)
querer
to want
preferir
to prefer
o
him/it (m)
a empresa
the company
o funcionário
the employee
o modelo
the model
remoto
remote
presencial
in-person
por seu lado
for his/her/its part
Questions & Answers about A empresa prefere o trabalho presencial. O funcionário, por seu lado, quer o modelo remoto.
How does por seu lado function here, and could I use por sua vez instead?
por seu lado translates to "for his part" or "on his side" and introduces a contrasting perspective. You could absolutely use por sua vez here without changing the meaning. Both are excellent B2-level connectors used to contrast the opinions or actions of two different subjects (the company vs. the employee).
Does the possessive seu in por seu lado change depending on who the subject is?
Yes! The possessive pronoun must match the person whose perspective is being shared. Here, it refers to o funcionário (he), so we use seu. If the second sentence were about you ("for your part"), it would be por teu lado (informal) or por seu lado (formal). If it were about "us", it would be por nosso lado.
Why is por seu lado placed between the subject and the verb, and does it have to be there?
Discourse connectors like por seu lado are flexible. Placing it between the subject (O funcionário) and the verb (quer) is a very natural stylistic choice in written Portuguese that emphasizes the contrast. You could also put it at the start of the clause: Por seu lado, o funcionário quer o modelo remoto. Just remember to always set it off with commas when it interrupts the main clause.
Is trabalho presencial the most common way to say "in-person work"?
Yes, trabalho presencial is the standard, professional term used in modern Portuguese business contexts. It is the direct opposite of terms like modelo remoto, trabalho remoto, or teletrabalho (telecommuting).
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