Eu gosto de ver vocês praticando português à tarde.

I like to see you (plural) practicing Portuguese in the afternoon.

Breakdown of Eu gosto de ver vocês praticando português à tarde.

• eu: I
• gostar de: to like
• português: Portuguese
• praticar: to practice

Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de ver vocês praticando português à tarde.

Why is de used after gosto in Eu gosto de ver?

In Portuguese, certain verbs are followed by specific prepositions. The verb gostar (to like) is typically followed by de. So if you want to say I like to see, you use Eu gosto de ver instead of Eu gosto ver.

Why do we use vocês here instead of eles?

Vocês is the plural form of you in Brazilian Portuguese. It’s used when directly addressing two or more people. Eles (they) would refer to other people not being directly addressed. Since the sentence is addressing you (plural), vocês fits best.

Why is praticando (gerund form) used instead of praticar (infinitive form)?

In Brazilian Portuguese, when expressing that you like to see someone in the act of doing something, the gerund (e.g., praticando) emphasizes the ongoing action. Eu gosto de ver vocês praticar wouldn’t be wrong, but it sounds more natural to use the gerund here to stress the continuous nature of practicing.

Why is à tarde used instead of na tarde?