{"id":7655,"date":"2017-08-20T13:10:29","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T13:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/?p=7655"},"modified":"2017-08-18T17:47:29","modified_gmt":"2017-08-18T17:47:29","slug":"how-to-use-the-word-sera-in-portuguese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/portuguese\/how-to-use-the-word-sera-in-portuguese\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use the word ‘ser\u00e1’ in Portuguese"},"content":{"rendered":"

Que ser\u00e1, ser\u00e1. Whatever will be, will be. If you remember this sucessful Doris Day song, popular until today, you\u2019ve probably wondered: but what does <\/span>ser\u00e1 <\/b>means?<\/span><\/p>\n

Strictly speaking, the word <\/span>ser\u00e1<\/b> is the future form of the <\/span>verb to be<\/span> in the third person singular. Take a look at the conjugation of the verb to be in this form:<\/span><\/p>\n

eu <\/span>serei<\/b><\/h3>\n

voc\u00ea <\/span>ser\u00e1<\/b><\/h3>\n

ele\/ela <\/span>ser\u00e1<\/b><\/h3>\n

n\u00f3s <\/span>seremos<\/b><\/h3>\n

voc\u00eas <\/span>ser\u00e3o<\/b><\/h3>\n

eles <\/span>ser\u00e3o<\/b><\/h3>\n

Now read some examples with ser\u00e1\u00a0<\/strong>as verb to be:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Se a previs\u00e3o for de sol, a viagem ser\u00e1<\/em> \u00f3tima (If the forecast is sunny, the trip will be<\/em> great)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Voc\u00ea ser\u00e1<\/em> nosso convidado de honra esse fim de semana (You will be<\/em> our guest of honor this weekend)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Quem ser\u00e1<\/em> o pr\u00f3ximo presidente do Brasil? (Who will be<\/em> Brazil’s next president?)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • As revistas de moda anunciam que o azul-marinho ser\u00e1<\/em> a cor da pr\u00f3xima esta\u00e7\u00e3o (Fashion magazines advertise that navy-blue will be<\/em> next season’s color)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • A campainha est\u00e1 tocando. Quem ser\u00e1<\/em> a essa hora? (The bell is ringing. Who could it be<\/em> at this hour?)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    But the word <\/span>ser\u00e1<\/b> in itself, used mostly in questions in this case, can also be a rethorical device that carries the idea of doubt and expresses a hypothetical situation. <\/span>Ser\u00e1 <\/b>is an interrogative structure that may indicate a possibility, to be applied when we are unsure about something, or when we want to wonder or speculate about a situation in the future. In sentences, it usually follows the structure <\/span>ser\u00e1 + que<\/b>. \u00a0There is no direct equivalent or translation for <\/span>ser\u00e1<\/b> in the English language, so it is important to see it in context. Read the examples below:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Ser\u00e1<\/em> que vai chover hoje? (I wonder<\/em> if it is going to rain today)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Eles est\u00e3o juntos h\u00e1 tanto tempo. Ser\u00e1<\/em> que eles v\u00e3o se casar? (They’ve been together for so long. I wonder<\/em> if they’ll get married)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Ser\u00e1<\/em> que voc\u00ea me emprestaria um dinheiro? (I wonder<\/em> if you would lend me some money)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Ser\u00e1<\/em> que \u00e9 uma boa ideia? (Do you think<\/em> it’s a good idea?)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • -Tenho certeza que ele vai conseguir o emprego – Ser\u00e1<\/em>? -I’m sure he’ll get the job – Do you think so<\/em>?)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • -A C\u00edntia faltou \u00e0 aula hoje – Ser\u00e1<\/em> que ela est\u00e1 bem? (C\u00edntia missed school today – I wonder<\/em> if she is okay)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Ser\u00e1<\/em> que ela vai gostar do presente? (Do you think<\/em> she’ll like the gift?)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • -N\u00e3o vamos conseguir chegar a tempo com esse tr\u00e2nsito! – Ser\u00e1<\/em>? (We’ll never make it on time on this traffic! – Really<\/em>?)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Ser\u00e1<\/em> que ele vem na minha festa? (Do you think<\/em> he’s gonna come to my party?)<\/li>\n
    • Por que ser\u00e1<\/em> que as pessoas agem assim? (I wonder<\/em> why people act like that)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Now listen to this song by Chico Buarque entitled “O que ser\u00e1 que ser\u00e1?” and try to identify the word ser\u00e1<\/strong>:<\/p>\n