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Questions & Answers about Eu leio todo o livro.
What tense is used in the sentence "Eu leio todo o livro."?
The verb leio is in the present simple tense. It indicates a habitual action or a current, ongoing action, meaning “I read” as a general statement.
Why is the subject pronoun Eu explicitly included, even though the verb ending already indicates the subject?
In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often optional because the verb’s conjugation usually makes the subject clear. However, they can be used for emphasis, clarity, or stylistic reasons. In this sentence, including Eu reinforces who is performing the action.
What role does todo play in the sentence, and how does it agree with the noun?
Todo is an adjective meaning “all” or “the whole.” It modifies o livro by specifying that the entire book is being read. In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since livro is masculine singular, todo is appropriately in its masculine singular form.
Could the sentence be structured as "Eu leio o livro todo" instead, and if so, is there any difference in meaning or emphasis?
Yes, the sentence can also be structured as "Eu leio o livro todo." Both versions mean “I read the whole book.” While the meaning remains essentially the same, the placement of todo can slightly shift the emphasis. Todo o livro (with todo before the noun phrase) may focus more on the totality of the book, whereas o livro todo (with todo after the noun) can have a more neutral, descriptive quality. The choice is often a matter of personal or regional stylistic preference.
Is leio a regular or irregular conjugation of the verb ler?
The verb ler (“to read”) is irregular in Portuguese. Leio is the correct first-person singular present tense form, and while it deviates from the regular conjugation patterns, it is standard and must be memorized as part of the irregular forms of ler.