Breakdown of Eles gostam de caminhar na cidade grande.
gostar de
to like
grande
big
caminhar
to walk
na
in
a cidade
the city
eles
they
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Questions & Answers about Eles gostam de caminhar na cidade grande.
Why is there a “de” before “caminhar”?
In Portuguese, the verb gostar is almost always followed by de before another verb in the infinitive. So we say gostar de caminhar, gostar de comer, etc. It’s just a grammar rule that indicates what someone enjoys doing.
Can “na cidade grande” be replaced by “em uma cidade grande”?
Yes, but it changes the nuance slightly. Na cidade grande means you’re talking about a specific big city (even if not named), while em uma cidade grande is more general, referring to just any big city out there. Context will determine which sounds more natural.
Is there a difference between “Eles gostam de caminhar” and “Eles gostam caminhar”?
Yes. In standard Brazilian Portuguese, you almost never omit the de before an infinitive that follows gostar. Saying Eles gostam caminhar is grammatically incorrect. You always need Eles gostam de caminhar.
What’s the difference between “Eles” and “Elas”?
Eles can refer to a group of men or a mixed-gender group. Elas is only used for a group of women. Since the sentence says Eles gostam de caminhar, it implies either all men or a mixed group.
Why do we use “cidade grande” rather than “grande cidade”?
Both orders are grammatically correct, but cidade grande is more common in everyday speech when simply describing a city as large. Grande cidade can also be used, but sometimes it has a more formal or emphatic tone, depending on the context.