Portuguese · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 1 of 12
Discussing and debating
Discutir e debater
Argue a point in Portuguese: embora and mesmo que with the subjunctive, apesar de, connectors like no entanto, and polite interruptions.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Defend your position and concede a point in a discussion
- Use embora, mesmo que and não é que with the subjunctive
- Structure an argument with no entanto, além disso and por um lado… por outro
- Interrupt politely and keep your turn
Listen
At a Sunday family lunch in Campo Grande, Otávio and his sister Marta argue about when children should get their first smartphone. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Otávio
Marta, é verdade que vocês só vão dar um celular para o Léo quando ele fizer dezesseis anos?
Marta, is it true that you're only going to give Léo a phone when he turns sixteen?
Marta
É, sim. A gente conversou muito e decidiu assim. Embora todos os amigos dele já tenham celular, a gente acha que é cedo demais.
Yes, it is. We talked about it a lot and decided that. Although all his friends already have a phone, we think it's too early.
Otávio
Olha, eu discordo. Apesar de ser novo, o Léo é muito responsável. E hoje em dia uma criança de doze anos sem celular fica de fora de tudo.
Look, I disagree. Although he's young, Léo is very responsible. And nowadays a twelve-year-old without a phone gets left out of everything.
Marta
Não é que o celular seja ruim. Mas as redes sociais têm muitos perigos, e com doze anos eles ainda não sabem controlar o tempo que passam na frente da tela.
It's not that phones are bad. But social media has a lot of dangers, and at twelve they don't yet know how to control the time they spend in front of a screen.
Otávio
Desculpa te interromper, mas isso acontece com os adultos também. Você mesma passa o dia inteiro no celular.
Sorry to interrupt, but that happens to adults too. You yourself spend all day on your phone.
Marta
Deixa eu terminar. É verdade que a gente também usa demais. No entanto, um adulto sabe a hora de parar; uma criança de doze anos, não.
Let me finish. It's true that we use it too much as well. However, an adult knows when to stop; a twelve-year-old doesn't.
Otávio
Mas é para isso que servem os pais: para impor limites. Por um lado, eu entendo o que você está dizendo; por outro, o celular também tem vantagens. A minha filha pode me ligar se acontecer alguma coisa.
But that's what parents are for: to set limits. On the one hand, I understand what you're saying; on the other, phones have advantages too. My daughter can call me if something happens.
Marta
Para isso existem celulares simples, sem internet. São mais baratos e não têm essas desvantagens.
That's what basic phones without internet are for. They're cheaper and they don't have those disadvantages.
Otávio
Tudo bem, mas mesmo que vocês comprem um desses, o Léo vai querer um igual ao dos amigos.
OK, but even if you buy one of those, Léo is going to want one like his friends'.
Marta
Mesmo que ele queira, a gente não vai comprar. O que a gente quer é conversar com os outros pais da escola: se todo mundo esperar, ninguém fica de fora.
Even if he wants one, we're not going to buy it. What we want is to talk to the other parents at the school: if everybody waits, nobody gets left out.
Otávio
Olha, isso não é má ideia. Lá em casa, aliás, a gente tem uma regra: nada de celular na mesa nem no quarto.
Look, that's not a bad idea. At our place, by the way, we have a rule: no phones at the table or in the bedroom.
Marta
Nisso a gente concorda. Está vendo? Conversando a gente se entende.
On that we agree. See? We understand each other by talking.
Understand
Embora and mesmo que: always the subjunctive
means “although”. Unlike English, Portuguese always puts the verb after in the subjunctive, even when you're talking about a fact: … (Although all his friends already have a phone… and they do).
and mean “even if”. They also take the subjunctive: (Even if he wants one, we won't buy it). When the main verb is in the past, use the imperfect subjunctive: .
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Although it's raining, I'm going out. | |
| Even if it rains, I'm going out. | |
| Although it's expensive, it's worth it. | |
| Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it. | |
| Although she was tired, she went. |
Apesar de, não é que and other connectors
(despite, although) is followed by a noun or an infinitive, not directly by a conjugated verb: (despite the rain), (although he's young). When the subject is different or needs to be clear, use the personal infinitive (B1): .
To reject an idea that someone thinks you hold, say + subjunctive: (It's not that phones are bad). Connectors show how your ideas fit together: adds a point, introduces a contrast, and por um lado… por outro weighs up two sides.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| besides, what's more | |
| however | |
| on the other hand | |
| por um lado… por outro (lado)… | on the one hand… on the other (hand)… |
| é verdade que…, mas… | it's true that…, but… |
| + subjunctive | it's not that… |
Interrupting and keeping your turn
Brazilian discussions are lively and people often talk over each other, so it helps to know how to cut in politely and how to hold your turn. Between friends and family, people say and , with the spoken imperative. In careful speech and with / , use and or .
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| … | Sorry to interrupt, but… |
| Hang on a minute. | |
| Can I say something? | |
| Let me finish. | |
| … | As I was saying… |
| … | What I mean is that… |
More in the grammar: The personal infinitive · Connectors and discourse markers
New words
- emboraalthough · always + subjunctive:
- ficar de forato be left out · : gets left out of everything
- a rede socialsocial network · : social media
- o perigodanger · masculine
- a telascreen · : in front of a screen; Portugal:
- Desculpa te interromper.Sorry to interrupt. · more formal:
- Deixa eu terminar.Let me finish. · written standard:
- no entantohowever
- impor limitesto set limits · is conjugated like
- por um lado… por outro (lado)…on the one hand… on the other (hand)…
- a vantagem / a desvantagemadvantage / disadvantage, drawback · both feminine
- mesmo queeven if · + subjunctive; also
- a regrarule · feminine
- Conversando a gente se entende.We understand each other by talking. (saying)
Practise
1.Complete: “Although all his friends have a phone…” — “Embora todos os amigos dele … celular.”
2.Complete with the subjunctive of : “Even if he wants one, we won't buy it.”
Even if he wants one, we won't buy it.
3.Complete with a connector that means “however”.
We use it too much as well. However, an adult knows when to stop.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Sorry to interrupt, but that isn't true.
5.Match the Portuguese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence is correct?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Desculpa te interromper, mas eu não concordo.
Sorry to interrupt, but I don't agree.
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.