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Ella prefiere que el niño se porte bien.

Ella prefiere que el niño se porte bien.
She prefers that the boy behaves well.
From Lesson 242:Verbs of volition (querer que)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Ella prefiere que el niño se porte bien.

Why do we use the subjunctive se porte instead of the normal present tense se porta?
The verb prefiere expresses a preference or wish. In Spanish, when you have a verb of preference, the word que, and a new subject for the second action (changing from Ella to el niño), that second verb must be in the subjunctive.
Why is there a se before porte?
The verb for to behave is portarse, which is reflexive. The pronoun se matches el niño (the boy). Without the se, the verb portar usually means to carry, so the reflexive pronoun is essential here for the right meaning!
How do we form this subjunctive word porte?
You start with the yo form of the regular present tense (porto), drop the -o, and add the opposite vowel ending. Because portar is an -ar verb, it takes the -e ending for the he/she/it form in the subjunctive, giving us porte.
What would the sentence look like if she prefers to behave well herself?
If the subject stays the same, you do not use que or the subjunctive. You simply follow the first verb with an infinitive: Ella prefiere portarse bien.

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