Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Nós precisamos de descansar, mas ainda queremos ver um filme. - We need to rest, but we still want to watch a movie.

In European Portuguese, the verb precisar typically takes the preposition de before another verb or noun. So when you say precisamos de descansar, you’re literally saying “we need of resting.” In Brazilian Portuguese, it’s more common to just say precisamos descansar, but in Portugal, including the de is the preferred form.

Can I leave out nós and just say precisamos de descansar?

Yes, you can. In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often optional because the verb form makes it clear who the subject is. So nós precisamos de descansar and precisamos de descansar both convey the same meaning. Using nós sometimes adds emphasis or clarity, but it’s perfectly fine to leave it out.

Is it correct to say queremos assistir a um filme instead of queremos ver um filme?

Yes, that’s a normal way to express the idea of watching a film, especially if someone is referring specifically to watching it on TV or at a cinema. In Portugal, ver um filme and assistir a um filme can often be used interchangeably, though ver um filme is slightly more common in everyday speech.

Why do we say descansar and not descansar-se?

Descansar is not a reflexive verb, so it doesn’t typically take a reflexive pronoun like se. It simply means “to rest.” If you were to say descansar-se, it would be an unusual form and might sound incorrect or unnatural to native speakers.

What does mas ainda convey in this sentence?

Mas ainda emphasizes a contrast combined with the idea of “still” or “yet.” So you’re expressing that, despite the need to rest, you still want to do something else. It’s like saying “but we still want to see a movie” in English.

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