Eu preciso começar a estudar agora.

I need to start studying now.

Breakdown of Eu preciso começar a estudar agora.

• eu: I
• agora: now
• estudar: to study
• precisar de: to need
• começar: to start

Questions & Answers about Eu preciso começar a estudar agora.

Why do we say preciso instead of necessito when we mean "I need"?

In Brazilian Portuguese, preciso is the most common verb form related to precisar, which means to need. While necessito comes from necessitar, it’s less frequently used in everyday speech. Sticking with eu preciso or eu preciso de is more natural for most contexts.

Why is there an a before estudar in começar a estudar?

In Portuguese, certain verbs (like começar) require the preposition a before another verb in the infinitive. So we say começar a estudar to mean to begin to study. Without the preposition, the sentence would sound incorrect to native speakers.

How do I pronounce preciso correctly?

Preciso sounds like preh-SEE-zoo (the last vowel can also sound like zoo or zu, depending on accent). Make sure to stress the SEE part. Practice saying each syllable clearly, and you’ll get it right!

Can I replace agora with amanhã or hoje à noite if I’m changing the time?

Absolutely! Just swap out agora for the appropriate time. For example: • Eu preciso começar a estudar amanhã. (I need to start studying tomorrow.)
• Eu preciso começar a estudar hoje à noite. (I need to start studying tonight.)

Is there a difference between Eu preciso estudar agora and Eu preciso começar a estudar agora?

Yes. Eu preciso estudar agora simply means I need to study now, while Eu preciso começar a estudar agora emphasizes the starting point of the action. It suggests urgency to begin the process of studying. Both are correct, but the second makes it very clear that the action of initiating study needs to happen right away.