Breakdown of É provável que o lixo destrua a natureza.
ser
to be
que
that (conjunction)
o lixo
the trash
a natureza
the nature
Questions & Answers about É provável que o lixo destrua a natureza.
Why do we use destrua instead of the regular present tense destrói?
We use the present subjunctive, destrua, because the sentence starts with É provável que (It's likely that). Impersonal expressions that show probability, doubt, or an opinion trigger the subjunctive mood for the action that follows.
The English translation says 'will destroy', but isn't destrua the present subjunctive?
Yes! In Portuguese, the present subjunctive is frequently used to talk about things that might happen in the future. Because É provável que introduces a possibility rather than a guaranteed fact, the present subjunctive handles the future meaning perfectly.
What is the infinitive of destrua, and how do we form this subjunctive version?
The infinitive is destruir (to destroy). To form the present subjunctive, you start with the normal eu form (destruo). You drop the -o and add the 'opposite' vowel ending. For an -ir verb like this, you add -a, giving us destrua.
Why is it a natureza when the English translation is just 'nature'?
In Portuguese, general concepts and broad elements like 'nature', 'life', or 'time' almost always need a definite article (o or a) in front of them, whereas English usually leaves it out.