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Questions & Answers about Eu termino o exame agora.
What is the literal translation of "Eu termino o exame agora."?
It literally means "I finish the exam now." The sentence communicates that the speaker is completing or about to complete the exam immediately.
Why is the subject pronoun Eu included, even though the verb ending already indicates the first person singular?
In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending makes the subject clear. However, Eu is used here for clarity or emphasis, reinforcing that the speaker themselves is performing the action.
Why is the simple present tense used in termino instead of a progressive form?
Portuguese commonly uses the simple present to express actions that are occurring at the moment or actions that will happen very soon. Although a progressive form like estou a terminar (especially in European Portuguese) can also be used to emphasize the ongoing nature of the action, termino in the simple present is perfectly acceptable to indicate that the exam is finishing right now.
What is the function of the definite article o in the phrase o exame?
The article o is necessary because exame is a masculine noun, and in Portuguese, nouns typically require a definite or indefinite article. Here, o exame specifies that the speaker is referring to a particular exam.
Is the word order in the sentence standard for Portuguese?
Yes, the structure Subject + Verb + Object + Time Adverb is common in Portuguese. In "Eu termino o exame agora," the subject (Eu) comes first, followed by the verb (termino), then the object (o exame), and finally the time expression (agora), which marks when the action occurs.
Would the meaning change if a continuous form like Estou a terminar o exame agora were used instead?
Not significantly—the overall meaning remains that the exam is finishing at this moment. However, using the continuous form Estou a terminar places a bit more emphasis on the ongoing process of finishing, whereas termino in the simple present states the fact more directly. Both forms are acceptable, with the choice often depending on stylistic preference or regional usage.