Portuguese Phrase
Deve clarear até a tarde.
Meaning
The sentence predicts that the sky will become clear by the afternoon. It is often used when talking about the weather forecast or a hoped‑for improvement in conditions.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone that you expect the clouds or rain to disappear before the afternoon begins, such as during a weather report, a casual conversation about plans, or when reassuring a friend about outdoor activities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Deveclarearatéatarde
Deve (modal verb)
‘Deve’ is the third‑person singular of the verb ‘dever’, used here as a modal meaning ‘should’ or ‘is expected to’.
Clarear (infinitive)
After a modal verb like ‘deve’, the following verb stays in the infinitive form.
Até (preposition)
‘Até’ means ‘until’ or ‘by’, indicating a deadline or limit in time.
Artigo definido ‘a’
When talking about a specific part of the day, Portuguese uses the definite article: ‘a tarde’, ‘a manhã’, etc.
Tempo futuro implícito
The sentence refers to a future event (the weather clearing) without a separate future tense marker; the modal already conveys futurity.
🗨In Conversation
Vai chover ainda hoje?
Is it going to rain today?
Não, deve clarear até a tarde.
No, it should clear up by the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Tem que clarear até a tarde.
‘Tem que’ expresses obligation, not prediction. Use ‘deve’ or ‘vai’ for weather forecasts.
Deve clarear até tarde.
The article ‘a’ before ‘tarde’ is required in standard Portuguese.
Deve clarear até a tarde?
Adding a question mark changes the meaning; the original sentence is a statement, not a question.
↔Alternatives
Vai ficar claro até a tarde.
It will become clear by the afternoon.
O tempo deve melhorar até a tarde.
The weather should improve by the afternoon.
A previsão é de sol a partir da tarde.
The forecast is for sun starting in the afternoon.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, talking about the weather is a common ice‑breaker. Native speakers often use ‘até a tarde’ to set a time frame, but they may also say ‘até o fim da tarde’ for a slightly later deadline. Remember that ‘deve’ sounds a bit formal; in casual speech many people prefer ‘vai’ (it’s going to) or ‘tem que’ (has to).