Portuguese · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 6 of 12
Solving problems
Resolvendo problemas
Take something broken back to a shop in Portuguese: describe the fault, understand the solutions and use the future subjunctive after se and quando.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Describe a fault: não liga, quebrou, parou de funcionar
- Form the future subjunctive: fizer, tiver, puder, conseguir
- Use se and quando + future subjunctive: se não funcionar, a gente troca
- Ask for a repair, an exchange or a refund
Listen
Marcos Ribeiro takes a blender back to an electrical shop in Uberlândia. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Débora
Bom dia. Em que posso ajudar?
Good morning. How can I help?
Marcos
Bom dia. Comprei este liquidificador aqui há um mês e ele parou de funcionar.
Good morning. I bought this blender here a month ago and it's stopped working.
Débora
Sinto muito. Qual é o problema, exatamente?
I'm sorry. What exactly is the problem?
Marcos
Ele liga, mas faz um barulho estranho e não bate nada. Acho que quebrou.
It switches on, but it makes a strange noise and doesn't blend anything. I think it's broken.
Débora
O senhor está com a nota fiscal?
Do you have the receipt with you?
Marcos
Estou, aqui está. Vocês podem trocar por outro?
Yes, here it is. Can you exchange it for another one?
Débora
Infelizmente, a loja só troca produtos em até sete dias. Mas ele tem um ano de garantia, então a assistência técnica conserta de graça.
Unfortunately, the shop only exchanges products within seven days. But it has a one-year guarantee, so the repair service will fix it free of charge.
Marcos
E quanto tempo demora o conserto?
And how long does the repair take?
Débora
Mais ou menos quinze dias. Se eles não conseguirem consertar, o senhor recebe o reembolso ou um liquidificador novo.
About fifteen days. If they can't fix it, you get a refund or a new blender.
Marcos
Quinze dias? E como eu faço a minha vitamina de manhã?
Fifteen days? And how do I make my smoothie in the morning?
Débora
Se o senhor quiser, pode levar um liquidificador da loja enquanto isso. Quando o seu ficar pronto, a gente liga para o senhor.
If you like, you can take one of the shop's blenders in the meantime. When yours is ready, we'll call you.
Marcos
Ótimo. Muito obrigado, você foi muito gentil.
Great. Thank you very much, that's very kind of you.
Understand
The future subjunctive: se eu puder
Portuguese has a verb form that English doesn't have and Spanish has lost from everyday use: the “future subjunctive” (). Brazilians use it all the time after (if) and (when) when they talk about the future: (if you want), (when it's ready).
To make it, take the form of the preterite and drop -ram: → , → . For regular verbs it looks just like the infinitive: → , → . Then add -mos for and -em for / .
| Infinitive | preterite | / | / | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| / |
Se… and quando… about the future
When the condition is in the future, takes the future subjunctive. The other half can be in the present, the future with , or the imperative: (If it doesn't work, we'll exchange it). (If there's a problem, call me).
The same happens after (when) and (as soon as) for the future: (When yours is ready, we'll call). English uses the present here, so it's easy to get wrong: say , not quando eu chego, for “when I arrive” (tomorrow).
- Se o senhor quiser, pode levar outro.If you like, you can take another one.
- Assim que eu tiver a resposta, te aviso.As soon as I have the answer, I'll let you know.
- Quando vocês vierem a Uberlândia, me liguem.When you come to Uberlândia, call me.
Describing a fault
These phrases help you explain what's wrong. means “to switch on” as well as “to call”, and is “to switch off”.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| It doesn't switch on. | |
| / | It's broken. |
| It stopped working. | |
| It's faulty. | |
| It makes a strange noise. | |
| / | I'd like to exchange it. / I'd like my money back. |
More in the grammar: If-clauses: se · The future subjunctive
New words
- Em que posso ajudar?How can I help? · said by shop staff
- o liquidificadorblender
- ligarto switch on; to call · : to switch off
- baterto blend, to whisk; to hit · : the blender doesn't blend anything
- quebrarto break · : it broke, it's broken
- a nota fiscalreceipt, invoice
- a garantiaguarantee, warranty · : a one-year guarantee
- a assistência técnicarepair service, service centre · where the maker repairs its products
- consertarto repair, to fix
- de graçafree of charge · also
- demorarto take (time); to take long · : how long does it take?
- o consertorepair
- o reembolsorefund
- enquanto issoin the meantime
Practise
1.Complete: “Se o senhor …, pode levar outro.” (want)
2.Complete with the future subjunctive of : “When yours is ready, we'll call you.”
When yours is ready, we'll call you.
3.Complete with the future subjunctive of : “If you have any problem, call me.”
If you have any problem, call me.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.If it doesn't work, we'll exchange it.
5.Match the Portuguese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.What does mean?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Comprei isto aqui e parou de funcionar.
I bought this here and it's stopped working.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.