Two Possibilities
The following quote is by the fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke:
Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Ambas são igualmente aterradoras.Both are equally terrifying.
Click to reveal translation
Click the sentence again to see the Portuguese
The Plus version of this story
Existem* duas possibilidades: ou* estamos sozinhos* no universo ou* não estamos*. Ambas são* igualmente aterradoras.Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.
🔎 Words in this story
✴️ Existem (exist)
Here, the verb "existir" is in the present tense for the third person plural. “Existir” is used to talk about the existence of something in a strict sense, but we can also use the verb "haver" to talk about the presence or availability of something at a specific place or time; for example: “Há duas possibilidades” (There are two possibilities).
✴️ Ou… ou… (Either… or…)
The conjunction “ou” (or) is used twice when we want to present two options, and is used in the same way as “either… or…”
Another conjunction that is similarly used is “quer… quer…” which means “whether… or...” With this structure, the present subjunctive must be used. For example:
There is a Plus version of this story
The same story, taken further, for DailyNata Plus members. This one works on ser vs estar.
- The whole story in Portuguese, and its English
- The words in it, explained, with examples
- 2 interactive exercises
Written for level A2. Every story has its own, anywhere from A1 to B2.