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Is the word pudesse the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The word "pundesse" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It is the pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo (imperfect subjunctive) of the verb poder (to be able to/can). The only difference between the two dialects is pronunciation. In Brazilian Portuguese, the vowels are generally more open and the rhythm is more syllable-timed, whereas in Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are often reduced or "hidden," and the rhythm is more stress-timed.
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Se eu pudesse, eu te ajudaria. (If I could, I would help you.)
- Se ele pudesse, ele iria ao shopping. (If he could, he would go to the mall.)
- Eu queria que você pudesse vir hoje. (I wanted you to be able to come today.)
- Se eu pudesse viajar agora, seria muito legal. (If I could travel now, it would be very cool.)
- Se o ônibus pudesse passar logo, seria ótimo. (If the bus could pass by soon, it would be great.)
Continental Portuguese Examples
- Se eu pudesse, ia ao concerto. (If I could, I would go to the concert.)
- Gostava que ele pudesse estar cá. (I would like him to be able to be here.)
- Se o autocarro pudesse chegar a horas, não haveria atraso. (If the bus could arrive on time, there would be no delay.)
- Se ele pudesse, usava o comboio. (If he could, he would use the train.)
- Se o rapaz pudesse, viria ao espetáculo. (If the boy could, he would come to the show.)
vs
· BR vs PT Word Differences