Today we’re going to learn a helpful expression to say “I wish”: Quem dera. Literally, it doesn’t make much sense to a non-native speaker, since literally it translates as “who gives.” But it really means “I wish”or “If only!”
Let’s look at some examples.
-Você vai no casamento real? Are you going to the royal wedding?
-Quem dera! I wish!
Quem dera ser famoso. I wish I was famous.
-Vocês irão viajar para a Europa? Will you travel to Europe?
-Quem dera! If only!
Quem dera que fosse verdade. If only that were true.
Quem dera eu tivesse um cachorro. I wish I had a dog.
Here’s a song called Quem Dera, which has even more examples of how to use the expression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=squdJ3Jd-iU
Can you think of any other examples?
Comments:
Troy Bartlett:
Quem dera que um dia eu falasse Portugues como um brasileiro.
Troy Bartlett:
Is the accent for “dera” on the first syllable or the second? In the song, I hear it both ways.
Rachel:
@Troy Bartlett It’s on the first syllable. If it were on the second, it would look like this written: derá.
kelley:
I am confused about the following:
“Quem dera ser famoso.” I wish I was famous.
“Quem dera que fosse verdade.” If only that were true.
How come it is not “Quem dera fosse famoso.”
Aren’t the two sentences above the same tense — subjuntivo pretérito imperfeito?
Thanks!
Kelley
Rachel:
@kelley Hey Kelley, if you use the subjunctive, it must be preceded by “que.”Otherwise you can use it with the infinitive without the que, as you did in the two examples you gave. But you cannot put preterito mais que perfeito tense next to the subjunctive without the que in between.
Adrian Lesher:
Am I wrong in thinking this idiom basically means “who’s going to give that to me?” or “who’s going to make that happen?”
Rachel:
@Adrian Lesher Hi Adrian, I think you’re overthinking it. It really does translate as our “I wish” or “if only.” You’re right in thinking it’s meant to convey something you think is unlikely to happen, but it’s not as complicated as you think.