Breakdown of O guiador e o cabo de travão precisam de ajuste.
precisar de
to need
e
and
o
the
o ajuste
the adjustment
Questions & Answers about O guiador e o cabo de travão precisam de ajuste.
Why is it precisam and not precisa?
Because the subject is plural: O guiador e o cabo de travão = the handlebar and the brake cable.
In Portuguese, the verb has to agree with the subject:
- O guiador precisa = the handlebar needs
- O cabo de travão precisa = the brake cable needs
- O guiador e o cabo de travão precisam = the handlebar and the brake cable need
So precisam is the 3rd person plural form of precisar.
Why is there a de after precisam?
In European Portuguese, precisar usually takes the preposition de when it means to need.
So:
- precisar de algo = to need something
- precisar de ajuste = to need adjustment
This is very common and standard in Portugal.
Examples:
- Preciso de ajuda. = I need help.
- Ela precisa de descanso. = She needs rest.
So in this sentence, precisam de ajuste is the normal structure.
What exactly does guiador mean?