Sempre gosto de refrigerante, mas hoje prefiro água.

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Breakdown of Sempre gosto de refrigerante, mas hoje prefiro água.

• gostar de: to like
• a água: the water
• hoje: today
• mas: but
• o refrigerante: the soda
• sempre: always
• preferir: to prefer

Questions & Answers about Sempre gosto de refrigerante, mas hoje prefiro água.

Why do we need to use "de" after "gostar"?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar is almost always followed by the preposition de when indicating what someone likes. For example, gostar de filmes (to like movies) or gostar de música (to like music). So we say gosto de refrigerante rather than "gosto refrigerante."

Can I say "Eu sempre gosto de refrigerantes" in the plural form?

Yes. In Portuguese, you can say gosto de refrigerantes (plural) if you mean all kinds of soda in general. If you keep it singular (gosto de refrigerante), it suggests you like soda as a category or type of drink without emphasizing its variety.

What is the difference between "mas" and other words like "porém" or "entretanto" for "but"?

All these words mean but in English. Mas, porém, and entretanto can often be used interchangeably. However, mas is the most common, simplest form in everyday speech. Porém and entretanto can sound a bit more formal or emphatic.

Is "prefiro" a different tense from "gosto"?

They are both present tense in Portuguese, but they mean different things. Gosto (I like) is from the verb gostar, and prefiro (I prefer) is from the verb preferir. They’re both simple present tense forms, but they convey slightly different nuances (liking vs. preferring).

Why do we sometimes drop the subject pronoun "eu" in Portuguese sentences?

In Portuguese, eu (I) is often omitted because the verb form already indicates the subject. For instance, sempre gosto de refrigerante still clearly indicates "I" am the one who likes soda. Native speakers typically only include eu to add emphasis or clarity.