concentrem

Concentrem is a conjugated form of the Portuguese verb concentrar. It primarily appears as the third-person plural present subjunctive form (que eles/elas se concentrem) and is used in subordinate clauses to express desire, doubt, necessity, or possibility: Espero que eles se concentrem durante a prova.

In many varieties of Brazilian Portuguese, concentrem also serves as the imperative form for the vocês form, typically used with or without a reflexive pronoun: Concentrem-se, por favor, antes de começar. In formal or written contexts, the imperative for vocês is usually realized with the reflexive pronoun, while the bare form can appear in headlines or telegraphic style.

The verb concentrar comes from the sense of bringing elements together or focusing attention, and its cognates appear in related words such as concentração and concentrado. The present subjunctive form concentrem is thus connected to the broader family of forms used to express actions that are not asserted as fact but viewed from a certain perspective, such as necessity or potentiality.

Usage notes: concentrar, and its form concentrem, are common in contexts involving mental focus, gathering resources, or centralizing attention. It is essential to consider regional variations in formality and usage, especially regarding the imperative with or without the reflexive pronoun.

Related terms include concentrar, concentração, and concentrado. Examples help illustrate the distinction between subjunctive and imperative uses, such as “Espero que eles se concentrem” versus “Concentrem-se agora.”