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Questions & Answers about Eu jogo bola.
What does Eu jogo bola mean in English?
It translates to I play ball. The sentence indicates that the speaker is engaging in an activity involving a ball.
How is the verb jogo formed from jogar and what does it signify?
Jogo is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb jogar. This conjugation tells us that the speaker, eu (meaning I), is currently doing the action of playing.
Why is there no article before bola in the sentence?
In Portuguese, when referring to playing a sport or a game involving a ball, it is common to omit the definite article. Much like the English phrase play ball, the construction emphasizes the action rather than specifying a particular ball.
Does bola refer to a specific sport, or is it a more general term?
Bola literally means ball. It is a general term and can refer to playing any ball-related game. In some contexts—especially in Brazil—it might imply soccer, but in European Portuguese, the word for soccer is usually futebol. Thus, Eu jogo bola generally refers to engaging in a ball game without specifying which one.
Is it necessary to include the subject eu when jogo already implies the first-person singular?
While the verb jogo clearly indicates the first-person singular, including eu helps clarify who is performing the action, particularly for learners. In everyday conversation, native speakers might often omit the pronoun when the context makes the subject obvious, but including it can add emphasis or clarity.