Subjunctive Conjunctions in Portuguese

Howdy, friends! Today, in our Dica, we will talk about the Subjunctive Conjunctions in Portuguese and practice them with an exercise. These conjunctions exist to help the present subjunctive and also the imperfect subjunctive.

Let’s see some of the most common conjunctions below.

Common conjunctions of the subjunctive

Para que / a fim de que (so that / in order…to) – express finality.
Embora / mesmo que (even though / even if) – express ideas that reinforce an opposite idea.
Contanto que / desde que / caso (as long as / in case) – express a condition.
A não ser que / a menos que (unless) – express an idea that something won’t be done in account of something else.
Sem que (without) – express lack of information.
Até que (until) – express an idea for the future.
Antes que (before) – express an idea ahead of time.

Let’s see some examples using some of these conjunctions of the subjunctive in Portuguese:

Examples with the conjunctions

Ele fala Português bem devagar para que todos entendam.
He speaks Portuguese really slowly so that everyone understands.

Eu sempre explico tudo muito bem a fim de que os alunos possam compreender.
I always explain everything really well in order for the students to understand.

Embora eu goste de ir à praia não quero ir hoje.
Even though I like to go to the beach, I don’t want to go today.

Mesmo que você vá à escola hoje não vai encontrar o professor lá.
Even if you go to the school today, you won’t find the teacher there.

Nós vamos viajar para Búzios a não ser que você queira ir para Arraial do Cabo.
We will travel to Búzios, unless you want to go to Arraial do Cabo.

Me ligue caso você precise de alguma coisa.
Call me in case you need anything.

Não faça nada sem que eu saiba. Preciso saber de tudo.
Don’t do anything without my knowledge. I need to know everything.

Ficaremos aqui até que alguém nos atenda.
We will stay here until someone answers us.

Chegue às 10 da manhã antes que eu saia para a minha a reunião.
Get here at 10 in the morning, before I leave for my meeting.

Exercise using the Subjunctive Conjunctions in Portuguese

Let’s practice so that we can learn more? Complete with the common conjunctions of the subjunctive in Portuguese. Remember to pay attention to the verbs:

1. _______ que todos _______ entender, eu explico devagar. (Express finality./ Poder – Subjunctive, 3rd person plural).
2. _______ eu _______ de ir ao cinema, não estou com vontade hoje. (Express ideas that reinforce an opposite idea./ Gostar – Subjunctive, 1st person singular).
3. Pode sair para brincar _______  que você _______ seu dever de casa antes. (Express a condition./ Fazer – Subjunctive, 2nd person singular).
4. Nada me impede de ir ao Rio de Janeiro, _______ eu _______ o voo (Express an idea that something won’t be done in account of something else./ Perder Subjunctive, 1st person singular).
5. _______ eles _______ nós faremos uma festa de casamento surpresa. (Express lack of information/ Saber – Subjunctive, 3rd person plural).
6. _______ você _______ a casa, nós não iremos à festa. (Express an idea for the future./ Arrumar – Subjunctive, 2nd person singular).
7. Vamos sair para a aula de português _______ nós nos _______ (Express an idea ahead of time./ Atrasar – Subjunctive, 1st person plural).

Tough one, right? Well, I believe you went just fine 😉 Why not make it easier by studying Portuguese in Rio? I am sure you’ll love it!

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See you in the next Dica! Bye!

           
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Present Subjunctive in Portuguese
Doubt in Portuguese
Imperfect Subjunctive in Portuguese
Portuguese conjunctions

Answers to the exercise

1. Para que; a fim de que/ Possam
2. Embora; mesmo que/ Goste
3. Contanto que; desde que; caso/ Faça
4. A não ser que; a menos que/ Perca
5. Sem que/ Saibam
6. Até que/ Arrume
7. Antes que/ Atrasemos