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Study Resource: W.E.I.R.D. Expressions that trigger the subjunctive in Brazilian Portuguese

By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira

The following expressions commonly trigger the subjunctive in Brazilian Portuguese. They are called “W.E.I.R.D.” Expressions because they fall into the following categories: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Requests, Doubts.

Idea ofExpressionExamples

W

wishes

*tomara que / oxalá meaning hopefullyDeus queira que meaning God willingesperar que meaning to hopedesejar que meaning to desirequerer que meaning to want

*In some parts of the northeast of Brazil, it’s common to say oxalá instead of tomara que. Both expressions are commonly paired with the present subjunctive. However, tomara que is not combined with the imperfect subjunctive.

Tomara que / Oxalá não chova amanhã!
Translation: I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow!
Tomara que não tenha chovido durante sua viagem!
Translation: Hope it didn’t rain during your trip!
Esperei que eles fossem mais gentis comigo.
Translation: I expected them to be kinder to me.
Espero que você seja feliz.
Translation: I hope you are happy.
Espero que você tenha aproveitado o fim de semana!
Translation: I hope you enjoyed the weekend!
Eu queria comprar um carro que custasse menos.
Translation: I wanted to buy a car that cost less.

E

emotions

lamentar que meaning to regretser uma pena que/se meaning it’s a shameestar contente que meaning to be gladestar triste que meaning to be sadestar surpreso que meaning to surprise
É uma pena que um computador novo seja tão caro.
Translation: It’s a shame that a new computer is so expensive.
Lamento que eles tenham demitido os funcionários.
Translation: I regret that they fired the employees.
Foi uma pena que vocês não estivessem aqui.
Translation: It was a shame you weren't here.
Estou surpresa que eu tenha passado nos exames.
Translation: I’m surprised I passed the exams.
Estou contente que você tenha conseguido a bolsa de estudos.
Translation: I’m glad that you got the scholarship.
Fiquei surpreso que eles se casassem esse ano.
Translation: I was surprised that they got married this year.

I

impersonal expressions

ser necessário que meaning it’s necessary thatser importante que meaning it’s important thatser bom que meaning it’s good thatser essencial que meaning it’s essential thatser maravilhoso que meaning it’s wonderful that
É necessário que as pessoas pensem sobre isso.
Translation: It is necessary for people to think about this.
É bom que você tenha levado um agasalho para a viagem.
Translation: It’s good that you took a sweater for the trip.
Era bom que eles telefonassem antes do meio-dia.
Translation: It was good that they called before noon.
É essencial que vocês tenham paciência.
Translation: It is essential that you have patience.
É maravilhoso que eles tenham ajudado Mateus nas provas finais.
Translation: It’s wonderful that they helped Mateus with his final exams.
Era provável que a Bia não quisesse mais tomar sol.
Translation: It was likely that Bia no longer wanted to sunbathe.

R

requests

pedir que meaning to ask forexigir que meaning to demandpreferir que meaning to preferquerer que meaning to wantsugerir que meaning to suggest
Eu peço que vocês tenham calma.
Translation: I ask that you be calm.
Eu sugiro que você já tenha feito a sobremesa antes de os convidados chegarem.
Translation: I suggest you have already made the dessert before the guests arrive.
Ele pediu que nós não falássemos mais sobre isso.
Translation: He asked us not to talk about it anymore.
Queremos que você vá embora amanhã.
Translation: We want you to leave tomorrow.
Preferimos que você já tenha descansado antes de chegar aqui.
Translation: We prefer that you have already rested before arriving here.
Ela preferiu que a filha ficasse em casa hoje.
Translation: She preferred that her daughter stay home today.
Nós sugerimos que você espere lá fora.
Translation: We suggest that you wait outside.

D

doubt or denial

duvidar que meaning to doubtnão achar que meaning to not thinkpoder ser que meaning it’s possible thatnão acreditar que meaning to not believenão ter certeza que meaning to not be sureser provável que meaning it’s probably
Duvido que esse time ganhe o campeonato.
Translation: I doubt this team will win the championship.
É possível que ele ainda não tenha saído de casa.
Translation: It’s possible that he hasn’t left the house yet.
Ele não acreditou que pudéssemos ganhar o jogo.
Translation: He didn’t believe we could win the game.
Pode ser que o ônibus passe agora.
Translation: It’s possible that the bus will pass now.
Não acho que ele tenha nadado muito bem naquele dia.
Translation: I don’t think he swam very well that day.
Não imaginei que a viagem levasse tanto tempo.
Translation: I didn’t think the trip would take so long.