seja quem for/seja o que for

Whoever/Whatever It May Be

Level 6

Use seja quem for (whoever) or seja o que for (whatever) to express that a specific person or thing doesn't matter to the situation at hand.

How It Works

The expressions seja quem for and seja o que for are used to introduce a concessive clause, indicating that the main statement holds true regardless of the variable introduced.

1. Structure and Agreement:
The pattern follows the structure: [Present Subjunctive of ser] + [Relative word] + [Future Subjunctive of ser].

  • Invariability: These are often treated as fixed pronominal locutions. While you may see plural forms like sejam quais forem in formal writing, the singular seja qual for is standard and widely used even with plural subjects.
  • Relative Words: The middle word can be a pronoun (quem, o que, qual) or an adverb (onde, como, quando).

2. Common Variations:

  • Seja qual for: Whichever it may be.
  • Seja quando for: Whenever it may be.
  • Seja onde for: Wherever it may be.
  • Seja como for: However it may be / Be that as it may.
  • Seja lá...: In spoken Portuguese, the particle lá is frequently inserted (e.g., seja lá o que for) to add emphasis to the sense of indifference or determination.

3. Tense Shifts:
To express this idea in the past, the verbs shift to the imperfect subjunctive: fosse o que fosse (whatever it was/might have been).

4. Usage and Nuance:
Beyond just indifference, this construction expresses inconditionality. It signals that the speaker's determination or the reality of the situation is not affected by the identity, time, or manner of the variable.

Examples (5)

  1. Seja quem for, não abra a porta a esta hora.

    Whoever it may be, don't open the door at this hour.

    Word by Word: Be who it may be, not open the door at this hour.

    The identity of the person is irrelevant; the instruction remains the same regardless of who is there.

  2. Eu vou comprar aquele carro, seja lá o que for que o meu pai diga.

    I am going to buy that car, whatever it is that my father says.

    Word by Word: I go to buy that car, be there the what it be that the my father says.

    The particle 'lá' is added here for emphasis, common in spoken Portuguese to stress the 'no matter what' feeling.

  3. Seja qual for a sua decisão, eu vou apoiar você.

    Whichever your decision may be, I am going to support you.

    Word by Word: Be which be the your decision, I go to support you.

    This variation uses 'qual' to mean 'whichever' among a set of possibilities.

  4. Fosse o que fosse, ele não desistiria do plano.

    Whatever it was, he wouldn't give up on the plan.

    Word by Word: Were the what it were, he not would-give-up of-the plan.

    This shows the past tense version of the expression using the imperfect subjunctive 'fosse'.

  5. Sejam quais forem os motivos, a regra é a mesma.

    Whatever the reasons may be, the rule is the same.

    Word by Word: Be which be the motives, the rule is the same.

    While the singular 'seja' is common even with plural subjects, the plural 'sejam' can be used for formal emphasis.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the same tense for both verbs.

    Seja o que seja.
    Seja o que for.

    The idiom requires the present subjunctive (seja) at the start and the future subjunctive (for) at the end. Using the same tense breaks the 'frozen' idiomatic structure.

  • Using the indicative mood.

    Seja o que é.
    Seja o que for.

    Because the identity is unknown or hypothetical, the subjunctive mood is mandatory. The indicative 'é' makes the sentence sound ungrammatical in this context.

Words in This Pattern

quemo que