Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Eu preciso me arrumar para a festa agora.

It means “I need to get ready for the party now.” The sentence expresses necessity (I need) and immediacy (now) and shows that the speaker is talking about preparing themselves for a specific event.

Why is the reflexive pronoun me used before arrumar?

In Portuguese, many actions performed on oneself are expressed using reflexive verbs. Here, me arrumar translates to “get ready” in a sense that you prepare yourself. The pronoun me is placed before the conjugated verb to indicate that the subject is acting on itself.

How is the verb preciso used in this sentence?

Preciso is the first-person singular present form of the verb precisar, which means “to need.” It expresses a necessity or obligation, equivalent to “I need” in English.

What role does the preposition para play in the sentence?

The preposition para means “for” and in this sentence it shows the purpose or destination of the action. It indicates that the speaker is getting ready for the party.

Why is the definite article used with festa (i.e., a festa)?

In Portuguese, it is common to use a definite article before nouns to specify or define them. A festa means “the party,” indicating a particular event the speaker is referring to, and it is necessary for correct grammatical structure.

Could the reflexive pronoun be attached to the verb instead of placed before it?

Yes, it is possible in certain constructions. For instance, with an infinitive form or in more formal writing you might see arrumar-me after the verb. However, in everyday Brazilian Portuguese with a conjugated verb, the pronoun is typically placed before the verb, making me arrumar the preferred structure.