Breakdown of Eu quero mandar uma mensagem agora.
eu
I
agora
now
querer
to want
uma
a
mandar
to send
a mensagem
the message
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Questions & Answers about Eu quero mandar uma mensagem agora.
Why is mandar in the infinitive here instead of a conjugated form like mando?
In Portuguese, after a conjugated verb such as quero, the second verb stays in the infinitive. This is like English “I want to send…”. If you said Quero mando, it would be ungrammatical because you’d have two conjugated verbs back-to-back.
Could I use enviar instead of mandar?
Yes. Both verbs can mean “to send,” but mandar is more common and colloquial in Brazilian Portuguese, while enviar is slightly more formal or technical. In everyday speech you’ll often hear mandar uma mensagem.
Why do I need uma before mensagem? Can't I say mandar mensagem?
Portuguese usually requires an article before a noun, even in general statements. Uma mensagem means “a message” in the same way English uses an indefinite article. Omitting it (mandar mensagem) would sound incomplete or overly informal. In very casual speech you might hear it, but grammatically you include uma.
Why is the subject pronoun Eu optional? When can I drop it?
Portuguese is a pro-drop language, meaning verb endings (like -o in quero) already signal the subject. You can drop Eu whenever the context is clear. Including Eu adds emphasis or clarity, but in informal speech most Brazilians say Quero mandar… without Eu.
Where can I place agora in the sentence? Does it change the meaning?
Agora (now) is flexible:
- At the end: Quero mandar uma mensagem agora. (very common)
- At the beginning: Agora eu quero mandar uma mensagem. (emphasizes the immediacy)
- After the verb: Quero agora mandar uma mensagem. (less usual)
Position shifts emphasis slightly but keeps the core idea of doing it “now.”
What does mandar mean here? I've seen it mean “to order” too.
Mandar has several meanings. In this context, because the direct object is uma mensagem, it means “to send.” The “to order” sense appears when you have a person as the object, e.g. Mandei ele ligar (“I told him to call”).
Why is the simple present quero mandar used for an action right now? Shouldn’t I use vou mandar?
Portuguese often uses the simple present for near-future intentions or plans (like “I want to send it now”). Quero mandar expresses your desire and plan. Vou mandar (future periphrastic) is also correct and emphasizes that you will send it soon: Vou mandar uma mensagem agora.
Can I say Estou mandando uma mensagem agora? What's the difference?
Yes. Estou mandando uma mensagem agora is the present continuous (“I am sending a message right now”), focusing on the action in progress. Quero mandar uma mensagem agora focuses on the intention or desire to send it immediately, not that you’re already in the process.