Something I often find really confusing is the word já.
It seems like it can mean:
right now
already
in a minute
very soon
Are there any meanings I missed? Can you provide some examples of já in English with their translations?
(I’m not sure if I’m alone, but I also sometimes mix this up with apenas or ainda – don’t know why, since the differences are probably pretty apparent to a fluent/native speaker.)
I’m confusing apenas because of the translation that means just, but it’s a totally different meaning. But since just is more universal in its English usage, my mind can’t distinguish it on demand yet.
Ahhh, this is a good question. I had to think a bit about it. I would say that, at least for me (so, read this just as a personal feeling, not fact), there is a difference, but it’s subtle and not so much in the apparent meaning, but in the undertone.
You could certainly say “Já que estávamos com fome, fomos ao restaurante". However, já que suggests that you’re taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity. I would kind of expect you to say this after just mentioning that you were taking a random stroll and happened upon a conveniently located restaurant. Like “Oh, well, this restaurant was right there and I was actually hungry, so why not?”.
“Como estávamos com fome, fomos ao restaurante” doesn’t make me assume anything beyond what you actually said. But the meaning is otherwise the same
Wow, okay. This is a really helpful answer. It’s so, so subtle a difference, but definitely makes me consider more which I would want to use depending on the circumstance.
De nada! Also made me think of how many of these unwritten rules we all adopt in our native languages completely subconsciously. It’s hard to explain things you’ve always done without thinking, but it’s a fun mental exercise.