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Questions & Answers about Eu quero um bolo, por favor.
Why do we say Eu quero instead of just Quero if the pronoun can be dropped in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, you can often omit eu (meaning I) since the verb ending already indicates who is speaking. However, some speakers include eu to add emphasis or clarity, especially in more formal situations or when contrasting with someone else’s wishes.
What is the grammatical function of um in um bolo?
Um is the indefinite article meaning a or one in English. It specifies that you want an unspecified single cake. If you said bolo without um, it could come across as more informal or imprecise, though sometimes in casual speech people do drop the article.
How do I pronounce quero in European Portuguese?
In European Portuguese, quero is pronounced somewhat like keh-roo with a slightly open "e" sound. The "r" is a softer, more guttural sound at the back of the throat compared to many dialects of Brazilian Portuguese.
Is por favor always used at the end of a request?
Usually you’ll hear por favor at the end of the request, but it can also be placed at the beginning or even in the middle in Portuguese. However, the most common position is the end, functioning just like please in English.
Can I use queria instead of quero to sound more polite?
Yes, Eu queria um bolo, por favor is a more polite or softer way to ask for a cake, translating roughly to I would like a cake, please. Quero is still polite enough, but it can sound a bit more direct than queria.
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