Eu vou sentar-me com a minha amiga.

I am going to sit down with my friend.

Breakdown of Eu vou sentar-me com a minha amiga.

• eu: I
• minha: my
• a amiga: the friend
• ir: to go
• com: with
• sentar-se: to sit down

Questions & Answers about Eu vou sentar-me com a minha amiga.

What does the verb vou indicate in this sentence?

Vou is the first person singular form of the verb ir (to go). In this construction, it serves as an auxiliary to form the near future, expressing the intention "I am going to" perform the action described by the infinitive that follows.

Why is the reflexive pronoun -me attached to sentar (forming sentar-me)?

In Portuguese, certain verbs use a reflexive form to indicate that the subject performs the action on itself. Sentar-se literally means "to sit oneself." The clitic -me signals that the speaker is the one who will sit. In European Portuguese, when an infinitive follows a conjugated verb like vou, it is common to attach the pronoun to the end, resulting in sentar-me.

Is there any difference between saying "vou sentar-me" and "vou me sentar"?

Yes, there is a difference that mostly pertains to style and regional preferences. In European Portuguese, the norm is to attach the clitic to the end of the infinitive—as in "vou sentar-me". In Brazilian Portuguese, however, it is more common to place the pronoun before the verb, resulting in "vou me sentar". Both versions express the same meaning, but the placement follows different grammatical conventions.

Why does the sentence use minha amiga instead of a different possessive or noun?

The noun amiga is feminine, so it naturally pairs with the feminine possessive adjective minha. This agreement in gender is a fundamental part of Portuguese grammar. If you were talking about a male friend, the correct form would be "meu amigo".

What is the significance of using the near future construction (ir + infinitive) in this context?

The near future construction (vou + sentar-me) is a commonly used way to express an imminent or planned future action. It is similar in meaning to the English expression "I am going to". This construction is especially prevalent in spoken Portuguese, as it tends to be more direct and informal compared to the synthetic future tense.