Log inSign up

Eu raramente bebo café.

Eu raramente bebo café.
I rarely drink coffee.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu raramente bebo café.

eu
I
o café
the coffee
beber
to drink
raramente
rarely

Questions & Answers about Eu raramente bebo café.

What does raramente mean in this sentence, and how does it function?
Raramente translates to "rarely" in English. It is an adverb that modifies the verb bebo, indicating that the action of drinking coffee happens infrequently.
Why is there no definite article before café in this sentence?
In Portuguese, when referring to a substance in general or describing habitual actions, the definite article is often omitted. Here, café is used to speak about coffee in a general sense rather than pointing to a specific instance.
What can you tell me about the verb bebo and its conjugation in this sentence?
Bebo is the first person singular present indicative form of the verb beber (to drink). This conjugation shows that the subject is eu (I) and that the action is either a current habit or a general truth about the speaker.
Is the placement of the adverb raramente flexible in Portuguese, or must it always come before bebo?
Adverbs in Portuguese can often be relocated without changing the overall meaning. While raramente is placed before bebo here, you could also say Eu bebo café raramente. The emphasis might shift slightly, but the basic meaning remains the same.
Does the sentence Eu raramente bebo café follow the typical Portuguese sentence structure?
Yes, it does. The sentence adheres to the common Subject + Adverb + Verb + Object order in Portuguese. Eu is the subject, raramente functions as the adverb modifying the verb bebo, and café is the object.
Are there other adverbs you could use to convey a similar meaning, and how might they differ in nuance?
Absolutely. You might use quase nunca (almost never) to form Eu quase nunca bebo café. Although both raramente and quase nunca suggest infrequency, quase nunca can imply an even stronger sense of rarely engaging in the activity, thus slightly altering the nuance of the statement.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Portuguese

Master Portuguese — from Eu raramente bebo café to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Portuguese freeBrowse the full course