Eu gosto de comparar preço e qualidade antes de comprar algo.

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Breakdown of Eu gosto de comparar preço e qualidade antes de comprar algo.

• gostar de: to like
• comprar: to buy
• e: and

Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de comparar preço e qualidade antes de comprar algo.

What does the 'de' in 'Eu gosto de comparar...' do in this sentence?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar (to like) usually comes with the preposition de. Whenever you say you like to do something, you use the structure gostar de + infinitive. So, instead of saying Eu gosto comparar, you must say Eu gosto *de comparar.*

Why is 'comparar' in the infinitive here and not conjugated?

After the phrase gostar de, the next verb remains in the infinitive form. You’re basically saying “I like to compare price and quality.” The infinitive reflects that general action you enjoy doing, not a specific ongoing action.

Could I say 'Eu gosto de comparar o preço e a qualidade' instead of 'preço e qualidade'?

Yes, you can use articles before preço and qualidade to be more specific: o preço e a qualidade. However, in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, it’s completely natural to say preço e qualidade without articles. Both ways are correct; it’s mainly a matter of style and emphasis.

What does 'antes de comprar algo' literally mean, and do I need to say 'antes de eu comprar algo'?

In Portuguese, antes de comprar algo literally means “before buying something.” The subject is implied (you talking about yourself), so it’s not necessary to say antes de eu comprar algo, although that version still exists in more formal contexts. Typically, dropping the subject is perfectly natural in everyday speech.