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Questions & Answers about Eu vou manter a casa bonita.
Why is the verb vou used instead of a different future tense form?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the construction vou + [infinitive] is a common way to express a future intention. It is analogous to saying "I am going to..." in English. Although there exists a formal future tense (for example, manterei), using vou manter is much more colloquial and frequently used in everyday conversation.
What does the verb manter mean in this sentence?
The verb manter means "to keep" or "to maintain." In the context of the sentence "Eu vou manter a casa bonita," it means that the speaker is intending to keep or preserve the house in a beautiful state.
Why is the article a used before casa?
In Portuguese, every noun has a gender. The word casa (house) is feminine, and the corresponding definite article is a, which translates to "the" in English. Therefore, "a casa" means "the house."
Why is the adjective bonita placed after casa rather than before it?
Portuguese typically places adjectives after the noun they modify. In this case, bonita coming after casa is the natural order in Portuguese to describe the house. Placing the adjective before the noun can sometimes convey a different nuance or emphasis, but the standard descriptive order is noun first, then adjective.
Can the adjective bonita be positioned before the noun for stylistic effect?
Yes, adjectives can sometimes be placed before the noun to add subjectivity or poetic nuance. However, in most descriptive contexts—especially when simply stating a fact—the common and natural order is to have the adjective follow the noun. Changing the order might slightly alter the meaning or emphasis.
How do adjectives in Portuguese agree with the nouns they modify?
In Portuguese, adjectives must agree with the noun in both gender and number. Since casa is a feminine singular noun, the adjective takes the feminine singular form bonita. If the noun were masculine or plural, the adjective would change accordingly (for example, bonito for a masculine singular noun or bonitas/bonitos for plural nouns).
What would change if I wanted to express that I habitually keep the house beautiful, rather than stating a future intention?
To express a habitual action rather than a planned future action, you would use the present tense. Therefore, you could say "Eu mantenho a casa bonita." In this case, mantenho is the present tense form of manter, indicating an ongoing or habitual condition rather than a future plan.