Breakdown of Embora haja uma trovoada, nós continuamos a caminhar.
nós
we
um
a / an / some (all forms)
haver
to be (there is / there are)
caminhar
to walk
continuar
to continue
embora
even though
a trovoada
the thunderstorm
Questions & Answers about Embora haja uma trovoada, nós continuamos a caminhar.
Why do we use haja in this sentence instead of há?
The word embora (even though or although) introduces a concession, which is a type of obstacle that doesn't stop the main action. In Portuguese, embora always forces the verb that follows it into the subjunctive mood. Therefore, the normal present tense há becomes the present subjunctive haja.
Is haja the subjunctive form of haver?
Yes, haja is the highly irregular present subjunctive of haver. Just as you use the regular present tense há to mean both there is and there are, you use haja for both singular and plural things whenever the subjunctive mood is triggered by a word like embora.
Why do we need the preposition a in continuamos a caminhar?
In European Portuguese, when you use a verb that expresses continuing, starting, or finishing an action (like continuar, começar, or acabar), you generally link it to the next verb using the preposition a followed by the infinitive.
Can the embora clause go at the end of the sentence?
Absolutely. You could say Nós continuamos a caminhar embora haja uma trovoada. The meaning is identical, and embora still triggers the subjunctive haja no matter where its clause appears in the sentence.
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