Breakdown of Às vezes, eu me preocupo demais com problemas pequenos.
eu
I
o
the
pequeno
small
às vezes
sometimes
preocupar-se
to worry
demais
too much
problema
problem
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Questions & Answers about Às vezes, eu me preocupo demais com problemas pequenos.
What does Às vezes mean in English?
Às vezes translates to "sometimes" in English. It indicates that the action described in the sentence happens occasionally, not all the time.
Why is the reflexive pronoun me used in eu me preocupo?
In Portuguese, the verb preocupar-se is used reflexively to mean "to worry." The pronoun me indicates that the subject is both performing and receiving the action. In other words, eu me preocupo translates to "I worry" or "I am concerned," emphasizing that the worry is about oneself.
How is the verb preocupar conjugated in this sentence, and what does it imply?
The verb is conjugated in the first person singular present tense as preocupo. Used in its reflexive form (preocupar-se), it means "to worry," so eu me preocupo means "I worry." The conjugation implies that the speaker is currently or generally prone to worrying.
What role does demais play in the sentence?
Demais functions as an adverb in this context and means "too much" or "excessively." It modifies preocupo to emphasize that the speaker worries more than what might be considered normal or necessary.
Why is the preposition com used before problemas pequenos?
The preposition com is required by the construction of the reflexive verb preocupar-se in Portuguese. It introduces the object of worry. So, com problemas pequenos means "about small problems," indicating what the speaker tends to worry about.
Why are the adjectives placed after the noun in problemas pequenos instead of before, like in English?
In Portuguese, adjectives usually come after the noun when they are used to describe an inherent or straightforward quality. Problemas pequenos is the natural word order and directly corresponds to "small problems" in English. While placing adjectives before nouns can be used for stylistic or emphatic reasons, the common structure in Portuguese is to follow the noun.