Breakdown of A Ana veste-se devagar para ir ao duche.
Ana
Ana
ir
to go
devagar
slowly
o duche
the shower
para
in order to
vestir-se
to get dressed
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about A Ana veste-se devagar para ir ao duche.
What does veste-se mean, and why is it written as a reflexive form?
Veste-se comes from the verb vestir, meaning “to dress.” The attached reflexive pronoun -se indicates that Ana dresses herself—that is, she gets dressed. In Portuguese, using reflexive forms to show that the subject performs the action on themselves is very common.
Why is the definite article A used before Ana’s name in the sentence?
In European Portuguese, it is customary to use a definite article before personal names. So A Ana is the standard way to refer to someone named Ana, even though English typically does not include an article before a name.
What role does devagar play in this sentence?
Devagar is an adverb meaning “slowly.” It modifies the reflexive verb veste-se, indicating the manner in which Ana dresses, emphasizing that she does it slowly.
What does the phrase para ir ao duche mean, and why is the verb ir in its infinitive form?
The phrase para ir ao duche translates to “in order to go to the shower.” The preposition para is used to express purpose, and in Portuguese, when a verb follows para, it remains in its infinitive form—in this case, ir.
Is the sentence structure typical for conveying actions and purpose in Portuguese?
Yes, the structure is typical in European Portuguese. It combines a reflexive verb form (veste-se) with an adverb (devagar) that describes how the action is performed, followed by a purpose clause in the infinitive (para ir ao duche). This clear organization helps convey both the manner of the action and its intended purpose.