Word
Caso ocorra um sismo, ficamos debaixo da mesa.
Meaning
In case an earthquake occurs, we stay under the table.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Caso ocorra um sismo, ficamos debaixo da mesa.
a mesa
the table
um
a / an / some (all forms)
debaixo de
under
ficar
to stay
Questions & Answers about Caso ocorra um sismo, ficamos debaixo da mesa.
Why is the verb ocorrer in the subjunctive form ocorra?
The conjunction caso (meaning 'in case' or 'if') introduces a hypothetical condition. In Portuguese, this word always triggers the subjunctive mood. Because we are talking about a potential event, we use the Present Subjunctive.
Why does the subject um sismo come after the verb ocorra?
You could say caso um sismo ocorra, but it is very common in Portuguese to put the subject after the verb in these conditional clauses. This inversion flows better and sounds much more natural, especially with verbs about things happening or existing.
The first half is a hypothetical condition, so why does the second half use the present tense ficamos instead of the future tense?
The present indicative (ficamos) is often used in Portuguese to give instructions or state rules, even for future events. Using the present tense instead of the future (ficaremos) makes the plan sound like a guaranteed, immediate fact: if X happens, we do Y.
Why is it debaixo da mesa instead of just debaixo a mesa?
The full phrase for 'under' or 'underneath' is debaixo de. It always requires the preposition de. When you combine de with the feminine article a for mesa, they contract to form da.