Breakdown of Vizinha está a descansar depois de trabalhar.
estar
to be
descansar
to rest
depois de
after
trabalhar
to work
a vizinha
the neighbor
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Questions & Answers about Vizinha está a descansar depois de trabalhar.
What does vizinha mean in this sentence?
Vizinha means neighbor in English, with the feminine form indicating a female neighbor. It functions as the subject of the sentence.
Why is the sentence using the construction está a descansar instead of a simple present tense form like descansa?
In European Portuguese, the progressive aspect is formed using estar + a + [infinitive]. The phrase está a descansar means "is resting" and emphasizes that the action is currently in progress, much like the English present continuous tense.
How does this progressive structure differ from what is used in Brazilian Portuguese?
In European Portuguese, you use estar a + infinitive (as in está a descansar) to express an ongoing action. In Brazilian Portuguese, the equivalent construction typically uses the gerund form, so one would say está descansando to indicate the same idea.
What is the role of the phrase depois de trabalhar in the sentence?
The phrase depois de trabalhar means "after working." It provides a temporal context by indicating that the neighbor started resting once the period of work was finished.
Why is there no article before vizinha? Shouldn't it be a vizinha?
Although you might expect the definite article (as in a vizinha meaning "the neighbor"), omitting the article can be typical in informal or conversational Portuguese. When addressing or referring to someone by a title or role, the noun can sometimes stand alone without the article.
Could you provide an overall English translation of the full sentence?
Certainly. Vizinha está a descansar depois de trabalhar translates as The neighbor is resting after working. This sentence conveys that the female neighbor is currently taking a rest following her period of work.