Breakdown of Eu esqueci minha senha do computador.
eu
I
minha
my
o computador
the computer
do
of the
a senha
the password
esquecer
to forget
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Questions & Answers about Eu esqueci minha senha do computador.
Why is the pronoun eu used here even though Portuguese often drops subject pronouns?
Portuguese is a pro-drop language, so speakers frequently omit subject pronouns when the verb ending makes the subject clear. In casual Brazilian Portuguese you can simply say Esqueci minha senha do computador. Including eu adds a bit more emphasis or clarity, especially in writing or more formal contexts, but it’s not mandatory.
What does esqueci mean, and what tense is it?
Esqueci is the first-person singular form of the verb esquecer in the pretérito perfeito (simple past). It translates to I forgot, indicating a completed action in the past. If you wanted to stress a lingering state of forgetfulness, you might use tenho esquecido, but for a single past event, esqueci is the right choice.
Why is it minha senha instead of meu senha?
In Portuguese, possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Senha is a feminine noun, so you use minha (feminine singular) rather than meu (masculine singular).
What does do mean in senha do computador?
Do is a contraction of de + o (of + the). So senha do computador literally means password of the computer, which we naturally translate as computer password in English.
Can you say a minha senha do computador with the article a? Why is it often omitted here?
Yes, a minha senha do computador is grammatically correct. In Brazilian Portuguese, speakers frequently drop the definite article before possessives (meu, minha, etc.) in everyday speech. Omitting a makes it more colloquial, while including it can sound slightly more formal or emphatic.
Why isn’t there a preposition before minha senha after esqueci?
The verb esquecer is transitive when its direct object is a noun, so it takes the object without a preposition: esqueci minha senha (I forgot my password). You only use esquecer de when it’s followed by another verb: esqueci de fechar a porta (I forgot to close the door).
Could you replace do computador with para o computador? Would that change the meaning?
You could say minha senha para o computador, literally “my password for the computer,” and it would be understood. However, senha do computador is more idiomatic for the password associated with your computer’s user account. Using para focuses on purpose (“for the computer”), while de (with the contraction do) expresses possession or association, which is more natural here.