Portuguese Phrase
Quando devo ligar se os sintomas piorarem?
Meaning
The sentence asks for guidance on the appropriate moment to call a doctor, nurse, or emergency service if the patient’s symptoms become more severe. It combines a polite request (devo) with a conditional clause (se … piorarem).
When to use
Use this phrase when you are speaking with a healthcare professional, a nurse on a tele‑health line, or a friend who is helping you monitor a health condition. It is typical in medical consultations, after‑care instructions, or when you receive a discharge plan.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quandodevoligarseossintomaspiorarem?
Quando (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask about time; placed at the beginning of a question.
devo (dever, present indicative)
First‑person singular of dever, expressing obligation or recommendation.
ligar (infinitive)
Infinitive verb meaning ‘to call’; follows the modal verb devo.
se (conditional conjunction)
Introduces a conditional clause; after se, the verb is in the present subjunctive.
piorarem (piorar, present subjunctive, 3rd‑person plural)
Present subjunctive used after se to talk about a possible future worsening.
🗨In Conversation
Quando devo ligar se os sintomas piorarem?
When should I call if the symptoms get worse?
Ligue imediatamente ao número de urgência se a dor ficar insuportável ou houver febre alta.
Call the emergency number right away if the pain becomes unbearable or you develop a high fever.
✕Common Mistakes
Quando devo ligar se os sintomas piorar?
After ‘se’, the verb must be in the present subjunctive (piorarem), not infinitive.
Quando devo ligar para se os sintomas piorarem?
‘Ligar’ already means ‘to call’; adding ‘para’ is redundant in this construction.
Quando devo eu ligar se os sintomas piorarem?
The subject pronoun ‘eu’ is unnecessary because ‘devo’ already indicates the speaker.
↔Alternatives
Quando devo ligar se piorar?
When should I call if it gets worse?
Em que momento devo entrar em contato caso os sintomas se agravem?
At what point should I get in touch if the symptoms worsen?
Qual a hora certa para ligar se os sintomas piorarem?
What is the right time to call if the symptoms worsen?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the most common numbers to call are 190 for police, 192 for ambulance, and the specific health‑plan or doctor’s office line. When asking a professional, keep a respectful tone and use ‘por favor’ if you add a request, e.g., ‘Por favor, me informe quando devo ligar…’. Regional accents may affect pronunciation, but the structure stays the same across the country.