Breakdown of Eu gosto de sorrir quando encontro meus amigos.
eu
I
gostar de
to like
meu
my
o amigo
the friend
encontrar
to meet
quando
when
sorrir
to smile
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Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de sorrir quando encontro meus amigos.
Why is the infinitive sorrir used instead of a conjugated verb?
In Portuguese, the construction gosto de is always followed by an infinitive or a noun. So, when you say Eu gosto de sorrir, the verb sorrir stays in its base (infinitive) form to express a general liking for the action "to smile."
What function does the phrase quando encontro meus amigos serve in the sentence?
This phrase is a time clause that tells you when the action of smiling happens—it means "when I meet my friends." It connects the main idea of liking to smile with the specific circumstance under which the smiling occurs.
How is the verb encontrar conjugated in this context?
In the clause quando encontro meus amigos, encontrar is conjugated as encontro, which is the first person singular form in the present tense. This shows that the speaker ("eu") is performing the action of meeting their friends.
What is the meaning and grammatical role of gosto de in the sentence?
Gosto de translates to "I like" in English. It is a fixed expression where the preposition de is required to introduce either a noun or an infinitive verb that describes what is liked. In this sentence, it introduces sorrir (to smile), explaining the speaker's preference.
Why is the possessive adjective meus used before amigos?
The word meus means "my" and shows possession. By using meus amigos, the speaker clarifies that they are referring to their own friends, rather than friends in general. The adjective also agrees in gender and number with amigos (masculine plural).
Can the subject pronoun Eu be omitted in this sentence?
Yes, it can. In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often dropped because the verb conjugation itself indicates who is performing the action. Although gosto already implies "I like," including Eu can add emphasis or clarity, especially for learners.
How does this sentence’s structure compare to its English equivalent?
The structure is very similar. In English, the sentence would be "I like to smile when I meet my friends." Both languages use a main clause (expressing the speaker's liking) combined with a subordinate time clause (indicating when the action occurs), which makes it easier for English speakers to understand the grammatical patterns in Portuguese.