Portuguese Phrase
Quem pode ajudar com esta disputa?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the identity of the person who is able to provide assistance in a current dispute. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, and it carries a polite tone because it frames the request as a question rather than a demand.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are in a meeting, a legal context, or a casual conversation and you need to know who is capable of stepping in to resolve or mediate a conflict. It works well when the dispute is already known to the participants.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quempodeajudarcomestadisputa?
Quem (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about a person; it does not change gender or number.
pode (present of poder)
Third‑person singular of the modal verb ‘poder’, meaning ‘can’ or ‘be able to’.
ajudar (infinitive verb)
Follows a modal verb directly; no ‘to’ is needed in Portuguese.
com (preposition)
Introduces the object that receives assistance; similar to English ‘with’.
esta (demonstrative adjective)
Feminine singular, agrees with the noun ‘disputa’; points to something close to the speaker.
disputa (noun)
A feminine noun meaning ‘dispute, argument, or conflict’.
🗨In Conversation
Quem pode ajudar com esta disputa?
Who can help with this dispute?
Eu posso ajudar, se quiserem.
I can help, if you’d like.
✕Common Mistakes
Quem pode ajudar com essa disputa?
‘Essa’ is masculine/feminine but points to something farther away; the correct demonstrative for a noun close to the speaker is ‘esta’.
Quem poderia ajudar com esta disputa?
Using the conditional ‘poderia’ changes the meaning to ‘who could help’, which is less direct than the intended present ability.
Quem pode ajuda com esta disputa?
After a modal verb you need the infinitive ‘ajudar’, not the conjugated form ‘ajuda’.
↔Alternatives
Quem pode nos ajudar com esta disputa?
Who can help us with this dispute?
Alguém pode intervir nesta disputa?
Can someone intervene in this dispute?
Quem tem condições de ajudar nesta disputa?
Who has the ability to help in this dispute?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it is common to soften a request for help by using the conditional or by adding ‘por favor’. The word ‘disputa’ can refer to anything from a small argument to a legal battle, so be mindful of the context. When speaking to a superior, you might say ‘O senhor/a senhora poderia ajudar…’ to add extra politeness.