Breakdown of Eu sento-me perto da janela para sentir a brisa fresca da manhã.
eu
I
de
of
a manhã
the morning
para
to
sentir
to feel
sentar-se
to sit
perto
near
a janela
the window
a brisa
the breeze
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Questions & Answers about Eu sento-me perto da janela para sentir a brisa fresca da manhã.
What does sento-me mean in this sentence?
Sento-me is the first person singular present form of the reflexive verb sentar-se, which means “to sit” or more precisely “to sit down.” In Portuguese, many verbs that describe everyday actions are reflexive, so even though English simply says “I sit,” the reflexive construction is required to indicate that the subject is performing the action on itself.
Why is the reflexive pronoun me attached to the verb with a hyphen (as in sento-me)?
In Portuguese, when the reflexive pronoun follows the verb (a structure known as enclisis), it is attached to the verb with a hyphen. This is common in affirmative statements where there isn’t any preceding word (like a negative or a pronoun) that forces the pronoun to move before the verb. Hence, me is linked directly to sento to form sento-me.
What is the role of the word para in para sentir a brisa fresca da manhã?
The preposition para introduces an infinitive clause that expresses purpose. In this sentence, para sentir a brisa fresca da manhã explains why the speaker sits near the window—it translates to “in order to feel the fresh morning breeze.” It indicates the intended result or goal of the action.
How does perto da janela function within the sentence?
Perto da janela acts as a locative expression, describing where the speaker sits. It means “near the window,” providing context by specifying the location of the action.
Can you explain the structure and meaning of a brisa fresca da manhã?
Certainly! A brisa means “the breeze” (with brisa being a feminine noun). The adjective fresca means “fresh,” and it agrees in gender and number with the noun brisa. Finally, da manhã is a contraction of de + a manhã, meaning “of the morning.” Together, the full phrase translates to “the fresh morning breeze.”