Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O Pedro e a Ana levantam-se ao mesmo tempo, mas ele veste-se mais depressa. - Pedro and Ana get up at the same time, but he dresses faster.

Levantar-se means "to get up" or "to wake up." In this sentence, levantam-se is conjugated for the third-person plural (referring to Pedro and Ana). The -se is a reflexive pronoun that indicates the subjects perform the action on themselves—that is, they get themselves up.

How is the phrase ao mesmo tempo used in this sentence?

Ao mesmo tempo translates to "at the same time." It tells us that Pedro and Ana get up simultaneously. Its placement in the sentence emphasizes that the action occurs concurrently for both of them.

Who does the pronoun ele refer to, and why is it used?

The pronoun ele means "he" and it refers to Pedro. Even though both Pedro and Ana are mentioned at the beginning, the pronoun ele specifically points out that the following action (getting dressed faster) is attributed to Pedro, distinguishing his action from Ana's.

What does veste-se mean, and how does its structure compare to levantam-se?

Veste-se comes from the reflexive verb vestir-se, which means "to get dressed." Like levantam-se, the -se in veste-se shows that the subject is performing the action on him- or herself. The difference here is that levantam-se is in the third-person plural (for Pedro and Ana getting up) while veste-se is in the third-person singular (referring only to Pedro).

What is the meaning of mais depressa, and how is it used in the sentence?

Mais depressa means "more quickly" or "faster." It is an adverbial phrase modifying veste-se, indicating that Pedro dresses at a quicker pace than Ana. This comparative construction shows a difference in the speed of the actions between the two subjects.

Why are the reflexive pronouns attached to the endings of the verbs in this sentence instead of placed before them, as is common in English?

In Portuguese, especially in affirmative and declarative sentences using simple tenses, it is standard to attach reflexive pronouns directly to the end of the verb. This is a feature of the language’s syntax. In contrast, in English, reflexive pronouns are placed before the verb (e.g., "he dresses himself"). However, note that in certain Portuguese constructions—like negative sentences or with auxiliary verbs—the pronoun might be positioned before the verb instead.