Eu aproximo-me da árvore.

I approach the tree.

Breakdown of Eu aproximo-me da árvore.

• eu: I
• a árvore: the tree
• aproximar-se de: to approach

Questions & Answers about Eu aproximo-me da árvore.

What is the literal translation of "Eu aproximo-me da árvore" into English?

It literally translates as "I approach the tree." Note that while English simply uses "approach," Portuguese uses a reflexive verb construction.

Why is the reflexive pronoun "me" attached to the verb in this sentence?

The verb aproximar-se is inherently reflexive in Portuguese. The attached "me" shows that the subject is performing the action on itself—in this case, the act of approaching. This form is required even though English does not use a reflexive pronoun here.

Why is there a hyphen between "aproximo" and "me"?

In European Portuguese, when using an enclitic form (attaching the pronoun to the end of a conjugated verb), a hyphen is placed between the verb and the reflexive pronoun. Thus, "aproximo-me" is the correct form in this context.

What does the contraction "da" mean in this sentence?

"Da" is a contraction of the preposition "de" (meaning "from" or "of") and the definite article "a" (meaning "the"). It is used here because the verb aproximar-se requires the preposition "de" before the noun, and when combined with "a árvore", it becomes "da árvore."