Subjuntivo em oracoes independentes: optativo e desiderativo
Subjuntivo em oracoes independentes: optativo e desiderativo means “The subjunctive standing alone in a main clause to express wishes, blessings and let-clauses (Que voce seja feliz! = may you be happy!; Seja como for = be that as it may).”. So far you saw the subjunctive after a verb that requires it (ptg019) or after conjunctions (ptg046); here it stands alone in the main clause with nothing to trigger it. Formation: (Que +) V-presente do subjuntivo (oracao principal, sem verbo subordinante)
The subjunctive standing alone in a main clause to express wishes, blessings and let-clauses (Que voce seja feliz! = may you be happy!; Seja como for = be that as it may).
B2Formation
(Que +) V-presente do subjuntivo (oracao principal, sem verbo subordinante)
Explanation
So far you saw the subjunctive after a verb that requires it (ptg019) or after conjunctions (ptg046); here it stands alone in the main clause with nothing to trigger it. In this use the subjunctive itself carries the force of the wish or command: 'Que voce seja muito feliz!', 'Que Deus te abencoe!', 'Que tenham uma boa viagem!'. Start a sentence with 'Que + subjunctive' and it becomes a wish: 'Que de tudo certo!' = may it all work out. In the 3rd person it acts as an indirect command ('Que entre!' = let him in) and appears in many frozen concessive formulas: 'Seja como for' (be that as it may), 'Custe o que custar' (whatever it costs), 'Aconteca o que acontecer' (come what may), 'Venha o que vier'. Fixed exclamations like 'Viva o Brasil!' and 'Deus me livre!' also use a bare subjunctive. Good news for Spanish speakers: the mapping is almost perfect (Que te vaya bien!, Que Dios te bendiga!, sea como sea, cueste lo que cueste, pase lo que pase).
Examples
Note
An initial 'Que' signals the wish, but it is not always there: 'Viva o Brasil!', 'Deus me livre!' and 'Seja como for' are already subjunctive without 'que'. Do not confuse it with the subordinating 'que' after a verb (Espero que voce seja feliz) - here there is no main clause before it.
FAQ
Subjuntivo em oracoes independentes: optativo e desiderativo — what does it mean and how is it used?
The subjunctive standing alone in a main clause to express wishes, blessings and let-clauses (Que voce seja feliz! = may you be happy!; Seja como for = be that as it may).. So far you saw the subjunctive after a verb that requires it (ptg019) or after conjunctions (ptg046); here it stands alone in the main clause with nothing to trigger it. In this use the subjunctive itself carries the force of the wish or command: 'Que voce seja muito feliz!', 'Que Deus te abencoe!', 'Que tenham uma boa viagem!'. Start a sentence with 'Que + subjunctive' and it becomes a wish: 'Que de tudo certo!' = may it all work out. In the 3rd person it acts as an indirect command ('Que entre!' = let him in) and appears in many frozen concessive formulas: 'Seja como for' (be that as it may), 'Custe o que custar' (whatever it costs), 'Aconteca o que acontecer' (come what may), 'Venha o que vier'. Fixed exclamations like 'Viva o Brasil!' and 'Deus me livre!' also use a bare subjunctive. Good news for Spanish speakers: the mapping is almost perfect (Que te vaya bien!, Que Dios te bendiga!, sea como sea, cueste lo que cueste, pase lo que pase).
Subjuntivo em oracoes independentes: optativo e desiderativo — how do you form it?
(Que +) V-presente do subjuntivo (oracao principal, sem verbo subordinante)
Subjuntivo em oracoes independentes: optativo e desiderativo — any usage notes?
An initial 'Que' signals the wish, but it is not always there: 'Viva o Brasil!', 'Deus me livre!' and 'Seja como for' are already subjunctive without 'que'. Do not confuse it with the subordinating 'que' after a verb (Espero que voce seja feliz) - here there is no main clause before it.