Question 1

Why is urgências plural if the English translation says A&E closes in the singular?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, the hospital emergency department is usually referred to in the plural as as urgências. Because it is plural, the verb must also be in the plural form, which is why we use fecham (they close) instead of fecha (it closes).

Question 2

Does nunca always come before the verb like it does here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, nunca (never) typically goes immediately before the verb. If you want to place it after the verb, you have to add não before the verb to make a double negative, such as as urgências não fecham nunca. However, putting nunca before the verb as seen in this sentence is the most natural and common way to say it.

Question 3

Is urgências used for any kind of emergency, or just medical ones?

Accepted Answer

When used in the plural like as urgências, it almost always refers specifically to the hospital emergency department (A&E or ER). For a general emergency situation, you would use the singular word uma urgência or uma emergência.

Question 4

Why do we say fecham instead of using a reflexive form?

Accepted Answer

The verb fechar (to close) can be used on its own to describe a business, shop, or department closing its doors. You do not need a reflexive pronoun here; as urgências fecham simply translates to A&E closes.

As urgências nunca fecham.

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