Encontrarem

Encontrarem is a Portuguese verb form, specifically the future subjunctive, third-person plural of encontrar (to find). The future subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses to express actions that will occur in the future under certain conditions, often introduced by conjunctions such as quando, se, assim que, até que, or depois que.

Form and usage: the future subjunctive forms are based on the infinitive encontrar. For the verb encontrar, the paradigms include eu encontrar, tu encontrares, ele encontrar, nós encontrarmos, vós encontrardes, eles encontrarem. Encontarem appears only in the third-person plural form and is used in sentences like "Se eles encontrarem o caminho, avise-me." In such clauses, the action of finding is anticipated to happen in the future relative to the main clause.

Relation to other forms: encontrarem should not be confused with encontrem, which is the present subjunctive or the affirmative imperative for vocês in standard usage. Encontrem is used for present subjunctive or as a command, whereas encontrarem marks the future-subjunctive form for eles/elas/vocês. The infinitive form of the verb is encontrar, and related moods include the present, imperfect, and other tenses across the subjunctive and indicative.

See also: encontrar; Portuguese grammar; subjunctive mood; future subjunctive.