verificassem

Verificassem is the imperfect subjunctive form of the Portuguese verb verificar, meaning to verify or to check. It is not a separate lexical item, but a specific verb conjugation used in dependent clauses to express hypothetical, uncertain, or past-referenced actions.

Etymology and form: Verificar derives from Latin verificare, and the Portuguese form verificassem is built by adding the imperfect subjunctive ending -assem to the third-person plural stem. The full imperfect subjunctive of verificar is: eu verificasse, tu verificasses, ele verificasse, nós verificássemos, vós verificásseis, eles verificassem.

Usage: Verificassem appears in sentences that describe imagined or conditional past situations, often after verbs or conjunctions that introduce doubt, possibility, or postponement. It commonly follows phrases like se, caso, or quando in past contexts. Examples include: Se eles verificassem os dados, teriam descoberto o erro; Caso verificassem novamente, poderiam evitar problemas. Em contextos formais, pode-se encontrar formas como seria necessário que eles verificassem previamente.

Comparison and related forms: Verificassem is related to other mood forms of verificar, such as the present subjunctive verificassem (não: o correto é verificar no presente) and the indicative forms like verificam ou verificavam. Distinções entre o subjuntivo imperfeito e outros modos são importantes para expressar tempo e hipótese com precisão.

Notes: The imperfect subjunctive is common in both Brazilian and European Portuguese, especially in written Portuguese and in formal or narrative contexts. It contrasts with the conditional and with past imperfect indicative forms to convey different nuances of likelihood, contingency, or past unreality.