B2 · Conditions
Conditions without se
Only se takes the future subjunctive; the others take the present one.
At a glance
- Remember
- Only se takes the Futuro do conjuntivo.
- When
If and would — Here the condition decides the form, not the position on the clock.
- Form
- caso (eu) possain case I can
- Signal words
- caso
- a não ser que
- desde que
- senão
- contanto que
- Trap
- Wrong:Podes ficar, desde que não fazes barulho.Right:Podes ficar, desde que não faças barulho.
Your turn
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The form
How the forms are built
Each row gives the meaning first, then the form in Portuguese. The colours show what changes from one form to the next.
stem (irregular) tense marker person ending negation
| in case I can | caso (eu) possa |
| in case you can | caso (tu) possas |
| in case he / she can, in case you can | caso (ele / ela / você) possa |
| in case we can | caso (nós) possamos |
| in case you can, plural and formal | caso (vós) possais |
| in case they can, in case you can (plural) | caso (eles / elas / vocês) possam |
| if I can | se (eu) puder |
| if you can | se (tu) puderes |
| if he / she can, if you can | se (ele / ela / você) puder |
| if we can | se (nós) pudermos |
| if you can, plural and formal | se (vós) puderdes |
| if they can, if you can (plural) | se (eles / elas / vocês) puderem |
| in case it rains | caso chova |
| if it rains | se chover |
| unless it rains | a não ser que chova |
| provided you come | desde que venhas |
| or else you will miss the train | senão perdes o comboio |
| provided there is room | contanto que haja lugar |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
caso takes the Presente do conjuntivo.
Levo o guarda-chuva, caso chova.I will take the umbrella in case it rains.
se takes the Futuro do conjuntivo.
Se chover, fico em casa.If it rains, I will stay at home.
desde que here means « provided that ».
Empresto-te o carro, desde que conduzas devagar.I will lend you the car provided you drive slowly.
senão takes the indicative.
Vai agora, senão perdes o comboio.Go now, or else you will miss the train.
Example sentences
Deixo o número, caso precisem de alguma coisa.I will leave the number in case you need anything.
Vamos à praia, a não ser que esteja frio.We are going to the beach unless it is cold.
Podes ficar, desde que não faças barulho.You can stay provided you do not make any noise.
Despacha-te, senão chegamos atrasados.Hurry up, or else we will be late.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Desde que means two things, and the mood separates them. With the Conjuntivo it is « provided that »: desde que venhas. With the indicative it is « since »: desde que chegou, não parou de chover. Two identical words, two meanings, and only the verb form says which.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
Not every condition begins with se. Caso (in case), a não ser que (unless), desde que and contanto que (provided that) do the same job by other means.
All four take the Conjuntivo — but the ordinary one, not the Futuro do conjuntivo that follows se. Se chover, fico em casa, but caso chova, fico em casa. The same meaning, two different forms.
That is the distinction to look at once and remember: of the words that introduce a condition, only se takes the Futuro do conjuntivo. Every other one takes the Presente do conjuntivo. English gives no help at all here, because « if », « unless » and « in case » are followed by the same plain present.
Senão and caso contrário name the consequence of the opposite: vai agora, senão perdes o comboio. They take the indicative, because they do not introduce a condition but a warning — your « or else ».
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The verbs on this page, in every form: ficar · ir · chover · ser · estar · fazer · chegar · levar