Discutirem

Discutirem is the third-person plural form of the Portuguese verb discutir in the future subjunctive mood. The infinitive discutir, meaning to discuss or debate, derives from Latin discutere, meaning to shake apart or investigate.

In usage, the future subjunctive is employed in dependent clauses that describe a future or hypothetical action under a condition or after a conjunction. Common triggers include quando, se, caso, assim que, mal, and depois que. The main clause typically contains a verb in a future or conditional tense, while the subordinate clause uses discutir in the form discutirem to express the contingent action.

Examples:

- Quando eles discutirem o assunto, tomaremos uma decisão.

- Se eles discutirem as opções, escolheremos a melhor solução.

Discutirem contrasts with other forms of the same verb: discussam (present subjunctive, not correct for third-person plural), discutir (infinitive), discutissem (imperfect subjunctive), and discutiria (conditional). The future subjunctive form discuti- + eram or irem endings is characteristic of this mood and tense.

Etymology and morphology: discutir comes from Latin discutere; discutir is formed with the root discut- and the infinitive ending -ir. The future subjunctive ending for third-person plural yields discutirem, signaling a contingent future action in subordinate clauses. In practice, this form appears primarily in formal writing and careful speech, with spoken Portuguese often recast into other tempos or constructions.