Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu estudo para o exame e depois bebo café. - I study for the exam and then I drink coffee.

“Para o exame” translates to “for the exam”. In Portuguese, the preposition “para” indicates purpose or intention. Thus, “estudo para o exame” means “I study in order to prepare for the exam”, emphasizing the goal of the studying.

Why isn’t the subject “eu” repeated in the second clause “depois bebo café”?

In Portuguese, when the same subject performs multiple actions, it is common to only state it once. The verb forms “estudo” and “bebo” are both in the first-person singular, so it is understood that “eu” (I) is the subject for both actions. This omission helps keep the sentence concise and natural.

What is the role of the word “depois” in this sentence?

“Depois” means “after” or “later”. It indicates the order in which the actions occur—first, the studying happens, and then, as a subsequent action, the coffee is drunk. This sequencing helps clarify that drinking coffee comes after studying for the exam.

How do the conjugations “estudo” and “bebo” show who is performing the actions?

Both “estudo” and “bebo” are conjugated in the first-person singular present tense, which corresponds to “I study” and “I drink” respectively. Even though “eu” (I) appears only at the beginning, the verb forms confirm that the speaker is the one performing both actions.

Can the sentence be rearranged without changing its meaning, and if so, how?

Yes, the sentence can be rephrased while preserving the meaning. For example, “Depois de estudar para o exame, bebo café” is a common alternative. In this version, the phrase “depois de estudar para o exame” clearly sets the stage for the subsequent action of drinking coffee, while still conveying that the study happens before the coffee break.