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Questions & Answers about Eu começo a trabalhar agora.
Why is the preposition a used before the verb trabalhar?
In European Portuguese, certain verbs—especially those that indicate the beginning of an action, like começar—are followed by the preposition a and then an infinitive. This construction (i.e., começar a + infinitive) is standard and signals that an action is about to begin. It’s somewhat analogous to the English “to” in “I’m starting to work,” though the usage is determined by Portuguese grammatical rules rather than a direct one-to-one translation.
Why is trabalhar in its infinitive form instead of being conjugated?
When a conjugated main verb (in this case, começo from começar) is followed by another verb that expresses the action beginning, the second verb remains in its infinitive form. This is a common structure in Portuguese: the main verb carries the tense and person, while the subordinate verb (here, trabalhar) stays in the infinitive to indicate the action that is starting or about to be performed.
What tense is começo, and what does it imply about the timing of the action?
Começo is the first-person singular form of the verb começar in the present indicative tense. Despite being a present-tense verb, in Portuguese it is often used to refer to actions that are starting at the moment of speaking or in the immediate future, especially with the adverb agora (“now”) clarifying the immediacy of the action.
How does the sentence Eu começo a trabalhar agora compare to its English counterpart?
The sentence directly translates to “I am starting to work now.” In both languages, the subject is stated first, followed by a verb that conveys the initiation of an action. However, while English uses the continuous form (am starting) to emphasise the ongoing process, Portuguese typically uses the simple present (começo) supplemented by context (here, agora) to indicate that the action is happening immediately. Additionally, the use of a before the infinitive in Portuguese is a grammatical requirement that has no exact parallel in English.
What role does the word agora play in the sentence?
Agora means “now” and serves to indicate that the action of beginning work is taking place at this very moment. It reinforces the immediacy of the action and helps clarify that, although the present tense is used, the intended meaning is not a general statement but a declaration of action occurring immediately.
Are there any notable differences in using this construction between European and Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes, while the construction começar a + infinitive is standard and expected in European Portuguese, in Brazilian Portuguese you might occasionally encounter speakers omitting the a in informal, colloquial speech (resulting in começo trabalhar agora). However, for learners—especially those studying European Portuguese—it’s best to adhere to the established structure with a, as it is considered grammatically correct and is widely used in formal contexts.