Breakdown of Eu gosto de caminhar perto do lago.
eu
I
gostar de
to like
caminhar
to walk
perto de
near
o lago
the lake
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Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de caminhar perto do lago.
Why is there a de after gosto?
Portuguese verb gostar always takes de before its object, whether it’s a noun or an infinitive verb. So you say gosto de música or gosto de caminhar. Without de, the phrase is ungrammatical.
Why is caminhar in the infinitive form instead of a gerund?
After gostar de, to express “like doing something,” Portuguese uses the infinitive (verbs ending in -ar, -er, -ir), equivalent to English “to walk.” The gerund (caminhando) is used for ongoing actions (progressive tenses), not for stating likes.
Why perto do lago, and not perto lago or perto de lago?
The preposition perto de requires the noun with its definite article. Here de + o lago contracts to do lago. So the full form is perto de o lago → perto do lago. You can’t drop the article in this construction.
Can I use perto do lago if the lake has a name, like Lagoa Azul?
If the proper name takes an article, you’d say perto da Lagoa Azul (because de + a → da). Some names drop the article, then you could say perto de Lagoa Azul, but Brazilians often keep the article: perto da Lagoa Azul.
What’s the difference between perto do lago and à beira do lago?
• perto do lago = near the lake (in the vicinity).
• à beira do lago = right at the water’s edge (literally “at the edge of the lake”).
How do I make this sentence negative?
Place não before gosto:
Eu não gosto de caminhar perto do lago.
How would I ask “Do you like walking near the lake?”
Use the correct conjugation for você or tu, add a question mark or rising intonation:
– Você gosta de caminhar perto do lago?
– Tu gostas de caminhar perto do lago? (informal in some regions)
Is there a nuance between andar and caminhar?
Both mean to walk, but:
• andar is more general (can mean “to go,” “to work/function,” “to ride”).
• caminhar specifically emphasizes the act of walking, often for exercise or a leisurely stroll.