Durante a semana, eu gosto de estudar português.

During the week, I like to study Portuguese.

Breakdown of Durante a semana, eu gosto de estudar português.

• eu: I
• gostar de: to like
• português: Portuguese
• estudar: to study
• durante: during
• semana: week

Questions & Answers about Durante a semana, eu gosto de estudar português.

Why is durante used at the start of the sentence instead of something else in Portuguese?

In Portuguese, durante indicates a duration of time (similar to "during" in English). It emphasizes that the activity (studying Portuguese) happens over the course of the week. Alternatives include ao longo da semana or no decorrer da semana, but durante a semana is the most straightforward.

Why do we say a semana (with an article) instead of just semana?

In Portuguese, it's common to use the definite article a (feminine form) before semana, because semana (week) is a countable noun. While native speakers might sometimes drop articles in casual speech, the standard usage is to keep the article.

Why do we use de after gosto in the phrase eu gosto de estudar português?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar is typically followed by the preposition de when connecting to another verb in the infinitive. So, you say gostar de fazer algo ("to like doing something") rather than just gostar fazer algo.

Is it necessary to say eu before gosto de estudar or can I just say gosto de estudar?

You can drop eu because Portuguese is a pro-drop language. The sentence gosto de estudar português is still perfectly clear in meaning. Including eu can add emphasis or formality, but it's not required.

Can I replace durante a semana with something like de segunda a sexta (from Monday to Friday)?

Yes, you can. Durante a semana is more general and refers to the weekdays collectively, whereas de segunda a sexta is more specific. Both express the idea that the activity takes place on weekdays, but the latter leaves no doubt you mean specifically Monday through Friday.