Portuguese Phrase
Podemos, se o preço for ajustado.
Meaning
The speaker is willing to proceed with something—usually a purchase or agreement—provided that the price is changed. It conveys a conditional willingness and is a polite way to set a prerequisite.
When to use
Use this phrase in business negotiations, sales discussions, or any situation where you want to express that you’ll go ahead only if the price can be modified. It’s common in both formal and semi‑formal Portuguese.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Podemos,seopreçoforajustado.
Poder (present)
‘Podemos’ is the 1st person plural present of the modal verb ‘poder’, meaning ‘we can’ or ‘we are able to’.
Conditional ‘se’
‘Se’ introduces a conditional clause, equivalent to ‘if’ in English.
Subjunctive ‘for’
‘For’ is the present subjunctive of ‘ser’, used here as an auxiliary in a passive construction.
Passive participle ‘ajustado’
‘Ajustado’ is the past participle of ‘ajustar’; combined with ‘for’, it forms the passive ‘if the price is adjusted’.
Comma usage
A comma before ‘se’ separates the main clause from the conditional clause, making the sentence clearer.
🗨In Conversation
Podemos fechar o contrato agora?
Can we close the contract now?
Podemos, se o preço for ajustado.
We can, if the price is adjusted.
✕Common Mistakes
Podemos, se o preço está ajustado.
‘Estar’ is not used for passive voice; the correct auxiliary is ‘ser’ in the subjunctive.
Podemos se o preço for ajustado.
Missing comma can make the sentence harder to parse; a comma before ‘se’ separates the clauses.
Podemos, se o preço for ajusta.
Using the indicative ‘ajusta’ instead of the past participle changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Concordamos, caso o preço seja ajustado.
We agree, provided the price is adjusted.
Aceitamos, desde que o preço seja ajustado.
We accept, as long as the price is adjusted.
Podemos prosseguir, se o preço mudar.
We can proceed, if the price changes.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, using the subjunctive after ‘se’ signals politeness and a non‑imperative tone. Native speakers often prefer this conditional structure over a direct demand, especially in business contexts. Remember that the verb ‘ser’ (for) is required for passive constructions; using ‘estar’ would change the meaning to a temporary state.