seja/sejas/seja/sejamos/sejam
Subjuntivo De Ser
Seja, sejas, seja, sejamos, sejais, sejam are the present subjunctive forms of the verb ser. They are used to express subjectivity, doubt, wishes, or hypothetical situations regarding identity or inherent characteristics.
How It Works
The present subjunctive of ser is essential for expressing non-factual states and giving commands. It is used in several key contexts:
- Wishes and Hopes: Triggered by verbs like esperar que or the common expression tomara que.
- Doubt and Uncertainty: Triggered by the adverb talvez (maybe) or verbs like duvidar que.
- Subordinating Conjunctions: Certain conjunctions always trigger the subjunctive, such as embora (although), caso (in case), or para que (so that).
- Correlative Construction: The repeated form seja... seja... is used to mean "whether... or..." (e.g., "Seja hoje, seja amanhã").
- Imperative (Commands): These forms serve as the official commands for você, nós, and vocês. For tu, sejas is used for negative commands ("não sejas"), while the affirmative command is sê.
Morphology:
The verb ser is highly irregular. It uses the unique stem sej- followed by the endings -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am.
Regional Usage and Register:
- Seja: Used for você, ele, and ela. In Brazil, it is also the most common form used with tu in colloquial speech.
- Sejas: The formal second-person singular form for tu.
- Sejais: The formal second-person plural form for vós, primarily found in religious or very formal literary contexts.
- Sejam: Used for vocês, eles, and elas.
Examples (5)
- Espero que você seja muito feliz.
I hope that you are/will be very happy.
Word by Word: I hope that you be very happy.
The verb 'esperar' (to hope) triggers the subjunctive 'seja' because it expresses a wish rather than a fact.
- Talvez ele seja o novo professor.
Maybe he is the new teacher.
Word by Word: Maybe he be the new teacher.
The adverb 'talvez' (maybe) is a very common trigger for the subjunctive mood to express doubt.
- Tomara que sejamos selecionados!
I hope/God grant that we are selected!
Word by Word: May-it-be that we be selected!
'Tomara que' is a frequent expression in Brazil used to express a strong wish, always requiring the subjunctive.
- Seja bem-vindo à nossa casa!
Be welcome to our home!
Word by Word: Be well-come to our house!
The subjunctive forms of 'ser' are used to give commands or make polite requests (the imperative) for 'você'.
- Procuro um carro que seja econômico.
I am looking for a car that is economical.
Word by Word: I look-for a car that be economical.
In relative clauses, the subjunctive is used when describing something that is desired but not yet found or specific.
Common Mistakes
Using the non-standard form 'seje' instead of 'seja'.
Espero que ele seje feliz.Espero que ele seja feliz.The form 'seje' is a common error in oral speech but is considered non-standard and incorrect in written Portuguese. Always use 'seja'.
Confusing 'seja' (ser) with 'esteja' (estar).
Duvido que ele seja cansado.Duvido que ele esteja cansado.Use 'seja' for inherent characteristics (identity) and 'esteja' for temporary states (like being tired). See ser vs estar.
Confusing 'seja' with the future subjunctive 'for'.
Se eu seja rico, comprarei um barco.Se eu for rico, comprarei um barco.The conjunction 'se' (if) usually triggers the future subjunctive for future possibilities, not the present subjunctive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the irregular subjunctive forms of 'ser' (seja, sejas, etc.), a learner needs a solid grasp of the verb's identity-based meaning, its indicative present tense forms, and the general conjugation patterns of the present subjunctive mood in Portuguese.
- sou/és/é/somos/sãoSer Present Tense
Understanding the basic present tense of the irregular verb 'ser' is essential before learning its subjunctive forms.
Foundations - ser / estarSer vs. Estar Basics
Learners must understand the semantic function of 'ser' (permanent characteristics/identity) to correctly apply its subjunctive forms.
Level 1 - -a/-as/-a/-amos/-ais/-amPresente Do Subjuntivo -ER/-IR
The present subjunctive of 'ser' follows the vowel shift logic (using 'a' endings) common to -ER and -IR verbs in the subjunctive mood.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- esteja/estejas/esteja/estejamos/estejamSubjuntivo De Estar
The subjunctive form of 'estar', used for temporary states and locations.
Level 3 - esperar que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Esperança
One of the most common triggers for using 'seja'.
Level 3 - embora + SubjunctiveEmbora (Although)
A conjunction that always requires the present subjunctive.
Level 5 - for/fores/for/formos/foremFuturo Do Subjuntivo De Ser/Ir
The future subjunctive of 'ser', often confused with 'seja' by learners.
Level 4 - fosse/fosses/fosse/fôssemos/fossemImperfeito Do Subjuntivo De Ser/Ir
The imperfect subjunctive of 'ser', used for past or hypothetical 'if' scenarios.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice seja/sejas/seja/sejamos/sejam in Bubblegum
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