Breakdown of Eu acho maravilhoso poder descansar um pouco.
eu
I
um
a
descansar
to rest
poder
to be able to
maravilhoso
wonderful
achar
to find
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Questions & Answers about Eu acho maravilhoso poder descansar um pouco.
What is the grammatical role of the infinitive phrase "poder descansar um pouco" in the sentence?
It functions as the complement to the adjective "maravilhoso." In this construction, the entire infinitive phrase stands for the idea or situation that the speaker finds wonderful.
Why is the main verb "descansar" in the infinitive form rather than conjugated?
After the modal verb "poder" (meaning "to be able to"), the following verb must remain in its infinitive form. This is a standard pattern in Portuguese used to express abilities or possibilities.
Why doesn’t the sentence include an explicit pronoun like "it" between "acho" and "maravilhoso," similar to English ("I think it is wonderful…")?
Portuguese often omits a linking pronoun in such constructions. When a verb like "achar" (to think/consider) is directly followed by an adjective and an infinitive clause, the structure naturally implies the object of the speaker’s judgment without needing an extra word equivalent to "it."
Does the adjective "maravilhoso" need to agree with a specific noun, and why is it in the masculine singular form?
Although there’s no explicit noun immediately preceding it, "maravilhoso" refers implicitly to the abstract idea expressed by "poder descansar um pouco." In Portuguese, such abstract constructions are conventionally treated as masculine, so the adjective appears in masculine singular to match that implicit reference.
Why is there no connector such as "that" or "which" between "maravilhoso" and the infinitive phrase?
In this construction, the adjective is directly linked to the infinitive clause without needing a connector. This direct link is common in Portuguese and naturally conveys that the action or idea described by the infinitive is being qualified as wonderful.
How does the structure of "Eu acho maravilhoso poder descansar um pouco" compare to its English equivalent?
In English, the sentence would typically be rendered as "I think it is wonderful to be able to rest a bit," which requires an expletive ("it") and a linking verb ("is"). Portuguese, however, often allows for a more succinct expression by directly combining the adjective with an infinitive clause, reflecting a differing approach to restructuring opinions and judgments.