Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Parabéns! Espero que tu aproveites o prémio. - Congratulations! I hope you enjoy the prize.

Parabéns! Espero que tu aproveites o prémio.

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy the prize.

Breakdown of Parabéns! Espero que tu aproveites o prémio.

Questions & Answers about Parabéns! Espero que tu aproveites o prémio.

Why do we use the subjunctive aproveites instead of the normal present tense aproveitas?

The phrase espero que (I hope that) expresses a wish or desire. In Portuguese, expressing hopes, wishes, or doubts about what someone else will do requires the subjunctive mood for the following verb.

How do I form the tu form of the present subjunctive for a verb like aproveitar?

For regular -ar verbs like aproveitar, you swap the characteristic a vowel for an e in the subjunctive endings. Since the regular present tense tu ending is -as, the subjunctive tu ending becomes -es. So, aproveitar becomes aproveites.

I learned that "to enjoy" is gostar de. Why does this sentence use aproveitar?

While gostar de means to like or enjoy something in general, aproveitar specifically means to make the most of an opportunity or experience. When someone wins a prize, goes on a trip, or gets a day off, Portuguese speakers use aproveitar to say "make the most of it" or "enjoy it".

Do we have to include the pronoun tu in this sentence?

No, it is not strictly necessary. Because the verb ending -es in aproveites is only ever used for tu, the pronoun can be dropped entirely. Including it just adds a little extra friendliness or emphasis to the sentence.