Breakdown of Antigo ou não, este livro ainda me ajuda a estudar.
estudar
to study
o livro
the book
ainda
still
este
this
ou
or
não
not
me
me
a
to
antigo
old
ajudar
to help
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Questions & Answers about Antigo ou não, este livro ainda me ajuda a estudar.
Why does the sentence begin with "Antigo ou não" and what does that phrase express?
The phrase "Antigo ou não" literally means "Old or not" and functions as a concessive clause. It expresses the idea that regardless of whether the book is old or not, the outcome described in the main clause remains true—that is, the book still helps the speaker study.
What is the role of "ainda" in the sentence?
"Ainda" translates to "still" in English. Its role is to emphasize that even though the book might be old (or regardless of its age), it continues to be useful for studying. It highlights the persistence of the book’s value over time.
How does the construction "ajuda a estudar" work grammatically?
The phrase "ajuda a estudar" means "helps (me) study." In Portuguese, it is common to follow verbs like "ajudar" (to help) with the preposition "a" and an infinitive form, in this case, "estudar" (to study). This structure is similar to the English construction "helps to study."
Why is the clitic pronoun "me" placed before "ajuda", and what does it indicate?
In Portuguese, especially in European Portuguese, object pronouns like "me" are typically placed before the verb. Here, "me" serves as the direct object pronoun, indicating that the book helps me (the speaker). This positioning is standard and helps clarify who benefits from the action.
What punctuation role does the comma after "Antigo ou não" play in this sentence?
The comma separates the introductory concessive phrase "Antigo ou não" from the main clause "este livro ainda me ajuda a estudar." This pause helps clarify that the condition about the book's age is being set aside as the speaker emphasizes that, regardless, the book remains helpful.
Is there another common way to express the same idea in Portuguese?
Yes, a similar idea can be expressed as "Mesmo que seja antigo, este livro ainda me ajuda a estudar." This version uses the phrase "Mesmo que seja antigo" (meaning "Even if it is old") to explicitly introduce a concessive condition. Both forms convey that the book’s age does not diminish its usefulness as a study aid.