Breakdown of Você se preocupa com seu futuro ou prefere viver o presente?
você
you
ou
or
com
with
preferir
to prefer
seu
your
viver
to live
preocupar-se
to worry
o futuro
future
o presente
present
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Questions & Answers about Você se preocupa com seu futuro ou prefere viver o presente?
What does the reflexive pronoun se indicate in the phrase "Você se preocupa com seu futuro"?
The pronoun se is used to show that the subject (you) is both performing and receiving the action. In this case, it means that you are worrying for your own sake about your future. Many Portuguese verbs that describe emotions or personal states require this reflexive form.
Why is the verb viver in its infinitive form in "prefere viver o presente" instead of being conjugated?
In Portuguese, when one verb (here prefere, which is conjugated) is immediately followed by another verb, the second verb is typically left in the infinitive form. This construction is similar to English, where we say "prefer to live" rather than conjugating the second verb.
What does the preposition com mean in "com seu futuro", and why does it translate as "about" instead of "with"?
Although com literally means with, in the context of the verb preocupar(se) it conveys the idea of worrying about something. So "se preocupa com seu futuro" is best understood as "worry about your future." This is an example of how prepositions in Portuguese can have idiomatic meanings that differ from their direct translations.
What role does the conjunction ou play in this sentence?
The word ou means or. It introduces a choice between two contrasting behaviors: worrying about your future or preferring to live in the present. It clearly sets up a dichotomy for the listener to consider.
Can you break down the sentence word by word to explain its translation?
Certainly. Here’s a breakdown: • Você – You • Se preocupa – from the verb preocupar(se), meaning worry or are concerned (with the reflexive se indicating that the action is directed at oneself) • Com – literally with, but idiomatically used as about in this context • Seu – your • Futuro – future • Ou – or • Prefere – from the verb preferir, meaning prefer (conjugated for você) • Viver – the infinitive form of to live • O presente – the present
So the whole sentence asks: Do you worry about your future or do you prefer to live in the present?