Breakdown of Talvez o trilho seja longo.
ser
to be
o
him/it (m)
longo
long
talvez
perhaps
o trilho
the trail (path)
Questions & Answers about Talvez o trilho seja longo.
Why is seja used here instead of é?
The word talvez (perhaps/maybe) expresses doubt or uncertainty. In Portuguese, when you start a statement with talvez, it must be followed by the subjunctive mood. seja is the present subjunctive form of the verb ser (to be) for a single thing like o trilho. If you were stating a fact without talvez, you would just use the normal present tense: O trilho é longo.
Is seja an irregular verb form?
Yes, seja is highly irregular. It comes from the verb ser (to be). Because ser is an irregular verb in the normal present tense, its present subjunctive forms are also irregular: seja, sejas, seja, sejamos, and sejam. It is one of the most important subjunctive verbs to memorize early on!
Could I use se calhar instead of talvez in this sentence?
Yes, but you would have to change the verb! Both talvez and se calhar mean maybe or perhaps. However, se calhar is an exception and is followed by the normal indicative mood, not the subjunctive. So, if you swap the word, the sentence becomes: Se calhar o trilho é longo.
What kind of path does trilho refer to?
A trilho is usually a trail or track in nature, like a hiking trail or a dirt path through the mountains. You might also hear it used for train tracks. For a more generic path or way, you would usually use the word caminho.
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