Breakdown of Todos os alunos concordam que a desculpa não é válida.
ser
to be
não
not / no
o aluno
the student (m)
a desculpa
the excuse
todo
all / whole
que
that (conjunction)
válido
valid
concordar
to agree
Questions & Answers about Todos os alunos concordam que a desculpa não é válida.
Why do we use the indicative é here instead of the subjunctive?
The main verb is concordam (agree). Just like with affirmative opinions such as achar que (to think that), expressing agreement states a perceived certainty. Therefore, the verb in the following clause stays in the indicative mood (é). If the main clause was negative, like não concordam que, it would trigger the subjunctive (seja).
There is a não in this sentence. Doesn't that usually trigger the subjunctive in this lesson?
A negative word only triggers the subjunctive if it negates the main verb expressing the opinion. Here, the main verb concordam is affirmative. The não is just part of the fact they agree on. If the sentence was 'They do not agree that the excuse is valid' (Não concordam que a desculpa seja válida), then you would need the subjunctive.
Why is it Todos os alunos and not just Todos alunos?
In Portuguese, when todos means 'all of the', it must be followed by the definite article before the noun. So 'all the students' translates to todos os alunos. Leaving out the os would sound incorrect to a native speaker.
Why is the adjective válida ending in an -a?
Adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Because a desculpa (the excuse) is a feminine singular noun, the adjective válido changes to its feminine singular form, válida.
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