Eu vejo um menino a correr no jardim.

I see a boy running in the garden.

Breakdown of Eu vejo um menino a correr no jardim.

• eu: I
• um: a
• em: in
• o jardim: the garden
• ver: to see
• o menino: the boy
• correr: to run

Questions & Answers about Eu vejo um menino a correr no jardim.

What does the construction “a correr” mean, and why is it used instead of a gerund like “correndo”?

In European Portuguese, the phrase “a correr” uses the preposition a followed by the infinitive form correr to express an action in progress. This construction is equivalent to the English “running” and is the standard way in Portugal to indicate continuous action, whereas Brazilian Portuguese typically uses the gerund form (i.e., “correndo”).

Why is the article “um” used before “menino” in this sentence?

The word um is an indefinite article, functioning similarly to “a” or “an” in English. It is used here because the sentence refers to an unspecified boy, not a particular one known to the speaker.

How is the sentence “Eu vejo um menino a correr no jardim” structured grammatically?

The sentence is structured as follows:
• Eu – the subject (“I”)
• vejo – the verb (“see”)
• um menino – the object (“a boy”)
• a correr – an action phrase describing what the boy is doing (“running”)
• no jardim – a locative phrase (“in the garden”) that indicates where the action takes place.

What does the contraction “no” in “no jardim” stand for, and what is its significance?

The term no is a contraction of em (in) and o (the), so “no jardim” directly translates to “in the garden.” It serves to indicate the location of the action.

Is the use of the “a + infinitive” construction exclusive to European Portuguese?

Yes, it is predominantly a feature of European Portuguese. In Portugal, using a + infinitive (as in a correr) is the common way to express ongoing actions, while Brazilian Portuguese prefers using the gerund form (e.g., correndo) to convey the same meaning.