Phrase · 🎚️ Nuance & positioning
A questão não é se o metrô vai chegar ao bairro, mas quando.
The question isn't whether the metro will reach the neighbourhood, but when.
C1expressing attitudesAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
A1determinertheo · fem. · sing. · definitequestão1nounquestionfem. · sing.não1adverbnoté1verbisser · present · 3rd sing.se2conjunctionwhetherodeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitemetrô3nounmetromasc. · sing.vaiverbis going toir · present · 3rd sing.chegarverbreachinfinitiveao4prepositionto thea+o · masc. · sing. · definitebairronounneighbourhoodmasc. · sing.,mas1conjunctionbutquando1adverbwhen.
- A → quando: a questão não é… mas…
- questão → é: subject–verb
- vai → chegar: ir + infinitive
- chegar → ao: chegar a
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1A questão não é X, mas Y reframes a debate around what really matters.
- 2se = "whether" opens an indirect question.
- 3metrô, with a circumflex, is the Brazilian word for the metro.
- 4Careful language says chegar a: chegar ao bairro; speech often says chegar no. Formal regência (normative verb government) →