Breakdown of Eu preciso lembrar de encontrar meus amigos amanhã.
eu
I
o amigo
the friend
precisar
to need
encontrar
to meet
amanhã
tomorrow
meus
my
lembrar de
to remember
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Questions & Answers about Eu preciso lembrar de encontrar meus amigos amanhã.
Why is the preposition de used after lembrar in this sentence?
In Portuguese, when expressing the idea of "remember to do something," the verb lembrar is commonly followed by the preposition de before the infinitive. Here, lembrar de encontrar correctly conveys the meaning “to remember to meet,” with de linking the memory action to the specific task.
Why is the verb encontrar in the infinitive form rather than being conjugated?
After modal expressions like preciso lembrar de, the subsequent main verb remains in its infinitive form. This construction is similar to English, where we say “I need to remember to meet…” instead of conjugating “meet.” The use of the infinitive clearly indicates the action that must be remembered.
What does preciso mean in this sentence?
Preciso comes from the verb precisar and means “I need” or “I have to.” It expresses necessity or obligation, showing that the speaker must remember the upcoming action.
How is the sentence structured grammatically in Portuguese?
The sentence follows a typical Portuguese construction: it begins with the subject Eu (I), followed by the modal verb preciso (need). Then, the verb phrase lembrar de (to remember to) introduces the main action, which is encontrar (to meet) in its infinitive form. The object meus amigos (my friends) comes next, and finally, the adverb amanhã (tomorrow) specifies when the action is to occur.
Can lembrar be used without de, and why is de necessary here?
Yes, lembrar can sometimes be used without de when referring to the act of recalling a memory (for example, “Eu me lembro daquele dia” – “I remember that day”). However, when expressing the need to remember to perform an action (as in “remember to meet”), the preposition de is essential to introduce the infinitive that describes that action.
What role does amanhã play in the sentence?
Amanhã functions as an adverb of time, meaning “tomorrow.” It tells us when the action of meeting the friends is scheduled to take place, adding important temporal context to the sentence.