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Questions & Answers about Eu dou um presente.
What does Eu mean in the sentence Eu dou um presente?
Eu is the subject pronoun meaning I in English. It indicates who is performing the action—namely, the giver in the sentence.
What does the verb dou mean and from which verb is it derived?
Dou is the first person singular present indicative form of the irregular verb dar, which means to give. This form shows that the speaker is acting in the present.
What role does um play in this sentence?
Um is the masculine singular indefinite article, equivalent to a or an in English. It introduces presente in a non-specific way, meaning any gift rather than a particular one.
Why is um presente used instead of o presente?
Using um implies that the gift is not a specific, previously mentioned item. In contrast, o (the definite article) would refer to a particular, known gift. Thus, um presente translates to a present.
Is the sentence structure similar to English word order?
Yes, this sentence follows the standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, just like in English. Eu (subject) comes first, followed by dou (verb), and then um presente (object).
Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu in Portuguese sentences?
No, it isn’t always necessary. Portuguese often allows the omission of subject pronouns because the verb conjugation already implies the subject. Eu is included here for emphasis or clarity.
What tense is being used in Eu dou um presente, and how is it formed?
The sentence is in the present indicative tense. Here, dar is conjugated as dou in the first person singular, indicating that the action of giving is happening right now.
How would you modify the sentence to say "I give him a present"?
To include the indirect object, you would say Eu dou um presente para ele. The phrase para ele means to him, clearly indicating the recipient of the present.