Eu preciso entender o conselho dela.

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Breakdown of Eu preciso entender o conselho dela.

• o: the
• precisar de: to need
• entender: to understand
• dela: her
• conselho: advice

Questions & Answers about Eu preciso entender o conselho dela.

Why is the verb precisar followed directly by another verb (entender) without de here?

In Brazilian Portuguese, precisar can be used with or without de when followed by a verb in the infinitive (e.g., preciso entender or preciso de entender). However, dropping de is very common and sounds more natural in many regions. When precisar is followed by a noun, you generally use de (e.g., Preciso de ajuda – I need help).

What does dela mean, and could I replace it with other words?

Dela literally means of her or her when it indicates possession. In the sentence, o conselho dela means her advice. You could also say o conselho que ela deu (the advice she gave), but that slightly changes the structure and emphasizes the advice she gave rather than simply her advice.

Is there a difference between Eu preciso entender o conselho dela and Eu preciso do conselho dela?

Yes. Eu preciso entender o conselho dela means I need to understand her advice. Meanwhile, Eu preciso do conselho dela means I need her advice. In the second sentence, the emphasis is on needing (receiving) the advice itself, rather than just understanding it.

Can preciso ever be confused with the English word precise?

Yes, but context makes it clear. In Portuguese, preciso can mean I need (when part of the verb precisar) or precise/exact. For example, Eu preciso ir agora = I need to go now, whereas É um cálculo muito preciso = It’s a very precise calculation.

Does the word order matter if I say Preciso eu entender o conselho dela?

Technically, Preciso eu entender o conselho dela is grammatically understandable in Portuguese, but it sounds unnatural and overly formal. Normally, you keep eu before preciso or simply omit eu because the verb preciso already indicates the first-person singular.

How do you pronounce preciso and entender in Brazilian Portuguese?

• preciso: You can break it down as pre-SEE-zu (with the r pronounced more like a soft h in many Brazilian accents, resulting in something like pʁe-SI-zu).
• entender: It’s typically en-ten-DER. The nasal en is produced with a slightly open mouth and air passing through the nose. Make sure to voice the final -der softly, similar to a light dare in English.