tomara que + Subjunctive
Tomara Com Subjuntivo
Use tomara que + subjunctive to express a wish for something possible. It is the idiomatic equivalent of 'I hope' or 'Fingers crossed'.
How It Works
The expression tomara que is one of the most common ways to express hope in Portuguese, especially in Brazil.
1. Morphology:
Although it looks like a verb (it originated from the pluperfect of tomar), it is now an invariable interjection. This means you never conjugate it. Whether you are talking about yourself, a group, or someone else, it remains tomara.
2. Mood Requirement:
Because it expresses a wish or desire for an uncertain outcome, it must be followed by the subjunctive mood.
- Use the Present Subjunctive for realistic hopes: Tomara que ele venha (I hope he comes).
- Use the Imperfect Subjunctive for remote or hypothetical wishes: Tomara que fosse verdade (I wish it were true).
3. Usage as an Interjection:
You can use Tomara! by itself to mean 'I hope so!' or 'Let's hope!'. You can also say Tomara que sim (I hope so) or Tomara que não (I hope not).
4. Regional Nuance:
In Brazil, this is the default 'everyday' way to express hope. In Portugal, while understood, speakers often prefer esperar que or the more formal oxalá.
Examples (5)
- Tomara que não chova amanhã.
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: May-it-be that not rain tomorrow.
The present subjunctive 'chova' is used because the rain is a possible future event.
- Você vai fazer a prova? Tomara que você passe!
Are you going to take the test? I hope you pass!
Word by Word: You go to-do the test? May-it-be that you pass!
A common way to encourage someone, using the present subjunctive 'passe'.
- — Eles vão chegar a tempo? — Tomara!
— Are they going to arrive on time? — I hope so!
Word by Word: — They go to-arrive at time? — May-it-be!
Here, 'tomara' is used as a standalone interjection.
- Tomara que eles tenham recebido o convite.
I hope they have received the invitation.
Word by Word: May-it-be that they have received the invitation.
Using the 'Pretérito Perfeito do Subjuntivo' to express hope about a past action.
- Tomara que nós ganhemos o jogo hoje.
I hope we win the game today.
Word by Word: May-it-be that we win the game today.
Note that 'tomara' does not change even though the subject is 'nós' (we).
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.
Tomara que ele vem.Tomara que ele venha.Expressions of hope like 'tomara que' always trigger the subjunctive mood because the outcome is not a guaranteed fact.
Trying to conjugate 'tomara' to match the subject.
Tomaramos que nós ganhemos.Tomara que nós ganhemos.'Tomara' is an invariable word. It never changes its ending, regardless of who is hoping or what is being hoped for.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'tomara que' correctly, you must first understand how to form the Present Subjunctive for regular verbs. This expression functions as a fixed trigger for the subjunctive mood to express a strong wish or hope.
- -a/-as/-a/-amos/-ais/-amPresente Do Subjuntivo -ER/-IR
The learner must be able to conjugate -ER and -IR verbs in the Present Subjunctive to use this expression with a variety of verbs.
Level 3 - que/quando/se + Pronoun + VerbProclisis with Subordinating Conjunctions
This pattern involves a subordinating conjunction 'que' which triggers specific word order and mood requirements in Portuguese.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- esperar que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Esperança
A more standard way to express 'I hope that' using the verb 'esperar'.
Level 3 - quem me deraIf Only (Quem Me Dera)
Used for impossible or highly unlikely wishes ('If only'), whereas 'tomara' is for possible hopes.
Level 5 - fosse/fosses/fosse/fôssemos/fossemImperfeito Do Subjuntivo De Ser/Ir
The imperfect subjunctive of 'ser', used with 'tomara' for hypothetical or unlikely wishes.
Level 4 - tenha + ParticiplePretérito Perfeito Do Subjuntivo
Used with 'tomara' to express hope that something has already happened (Pretérito Perfeito do Subjuntivo).
Level 4 - querer que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Desejo
Another common construction for expressing desires that requires the subjunctive mood.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice tomara que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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