Breakdown of Eu nunca trabalho até tarde, mas hoje preciso terminar este projeto.
eu
I
hoje
today
mas
but
nunca
never
tarde
late
trabalhar
to work
até
until
precisar
to need
terminar
to finish
este
this
o projeto
the project
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Questions & Answers about Eu nunca trabalho até tarde, mas hoje preciso terminar este projeto.
What does nunca mean in this sentence?
Nunca translates to never in English, indicating that working until late is not part of your usual routine.
What does até tarde mean, and how is até functioning here?
Até tarde means until late. The word até sets a limit—here it specifies that you normally do not work beyond a certain late hour.
Why is the conjunction mas used in the sentence?
Mas means but. It introduces a contrast between your usual behavior (not working late) and the exceptional circumstance of needing to finish a project today.
Why is the subject pronoun only present in the first clause and omitted in the second?
In Portuguese, subject pronouns like eu (I) can be omitted when the verb's conjugation clearly indicates the subject. The form preciso unambiguously shows that it’s first person singular, so repeating eu isn’t necessary.
How do the verbs trabalho and preciso reflect different aspects of time or action?
Trabalho is used in a habitual sense—it tells us that you never normally work until late. In contrast, preciso expresses a current or specific necessity (today, you need to finish the project). Even though both verbs are in the present tense, context differentiates the usual routine from an exceptional situation.
What does terminar mean and why is it in the infinitive form?
Terminar means to finish. In Portuguese, when a modal-like verb (such as preciso, meaning “I need”) is used, the following verb is typically in the infinitive to complete the expression of necessity.