Breakdown of Segundo o gerente, o banco fechava mais cedo antigamente.
fechar
to close
antigamente
in the past
o banco
the bank
segundo
according to
o gerente
the manager
mais cedo
earlier
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Questions & Answers about Segundo o gerente, o banco fechava mais cedo antigamente.
What tense is fechava, and what does it express?
It’s the imperfect tense (pretérito imperfeito) of fechar. It expresses a habitual or ongoing action in the past without specifying the exact start or end. In this sentence, it tells us that in the past, the bank used to close earlier regularly.
Why is the imperfect fechava used here instead of the simple past fechou?
The simple past (pretérito perfeito) fechou describes a completed action at a specific time, whereas the imperfect indicates repeated or habitual actions. Since the sentence talks about the bank’s routine in former times, the imperfect is the correct choice.
What does antigamente mean, and how is it used?
Antigamente means formerly or in the past. It’s an adverb of time that refers to a period long ago. You can place it at the beginning or end of a sentence: Antigamente o banco fechava mais cedo or O banco fechava mais cedo antigamente.
Can I move antigamente elsewhere in the sentence?
Yes, besides the beginning or end, you can also put it after the subject: O banco, antigamente, fechava mais cedo, but that adds more emphasis and pauses. The most natural positions are the start or end.
How would you translate Segundo o gerente?
Segundo o gerente translates to According to the manager. It introduces information attributed to someone else.
Is de acordo com o gerente the same as segundo o gerente?
Yes. De acordo com o gerente also means according to the manager, but it’s slightly more formal and longer.
Why is there a comma after gerente?
The comma separates the introductory phrase Segundo o gerente from the main clause. It marks a pause and clarifies that this part is an attribution, not part of the main action.
Why do we use o gerente with the article o, instead of just gerente?
In Portuguese, it’s common to include the definite article before titles, professions, or roles: o gerente, a professora, o médico. Omitting it here (i.e. Segundo gerente) would sound unnatural.
What does mais cedo mean in this context?
Mais cedo means earlier (the comparative of cedo). It shows that in the past the bank’s closing time was at an earlier hour than it is now.