Breakdown of Talvez faça frio sem a fogueira.
frio
cold
a
to / at (direction)
fazer
to do
sem
without
talvez
perhaps
a fogueira
the campfire
Questions & Answers about Talvez faça frio sem a fogueira.
Why is faça used here instead of faz?
The word talvez expresses doubt or uncertainty. In Portuguese, when you use talvez, the verb that follows must be in the subjunctive mood. Here, faça is the present subjunctive form of the verb fazer.
Why does the sentence use a form of fazer to say it is cold?
In Portuguese, weather conditions usually use the verb fazer (to do or make) rather than ser or estar (to be). So, instead of saying that it is cold, you literally say that it makes cold (faz frio). Because of talvez, it changes to the subjunctive form faça frio.
How is the subjunctive form faça created?
The verb fazer is irregular. To find the present subjunctive for most irregular verbs, you start with the present tense eu (I) form, which is faço. Then you drop the final -o and add the opposite vowel ending. Since fazer is an -er verb, you add -a, giving you faça.
Does talvez always force the verb into the subjunctive mood?
It triggers the subjunctive when it comes right before the verb, which is the most common way to use it. If you were to put talvez after the verb, you would actually use the normal indicative mood, like in faz frio, talvez. But starting with talvez plus the subjunctive is the standard structure you are learning here.
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