Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu preciso de ajuda.
What does the verb precisar mean in this sentence, and how is the form preciso constructed?
Preciso is the first person singular present form of the verb precisar, which means to need. In this sentence, it directly translates to I need. The full conjugation in the present tense is: eu preciso, tu precisas, ele precisa, nós precisamos, vós precisais, eles precisam.
Why is the preposition de used after preciso in the sentence Eu preciso de ajuda?
In Portuguese, when expressing a need with precisar, it’s customary to use the construction precisar de + [noun]. The preposition de connects the verb to its object, similar to saying to need something in English, even though English doesn’t use an equivalent preposition in this case.
Can the subject pronoun Eu be omitted in this sentence, and does it affect the meaning?
Yes, the subject pronoun can be omitted because the verb form preciso already indicates that the subject is I. Saying Preciso de ajuda is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation, though including Eu can add clarity or emphasis when needed.
Is there a reason why no article appears before ajuda in Eu preciso de ajuda?
Ajuda is used here in an abstract sense to mean help in general, much like in English when we say I need help without an article. When referring to help as an uncountable concept, Portuguese typically does not require an article.
Are there alternative ways to express the idea of needing help in Portuguese?
Yes, another common verb is necessitar. For example, you can say Eu necessito de ajuda, which carries the same meaning as Eu preciso de ajuda but might sound a bit more formal.