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Questions & Answers about Eu sei fazer bolo.
Why is the verb fazer in its infinitive form in the sentence "Eu sei fazer bolo"?
In Portuguese, when expressing that you have the knowledge or skill to perform an action—using a verb like saber (to know)—the following verb is kept in its infinitive form. This structure directly translates to “I know how to make cake,” where fazer remains unconjugated to indicate the general ability rather than an action being performed in a specific time.
Why is there no article before bolo in the sentence?
The omission of an article before bolo is common when the noun refers to a general concept rather than a specific instance. In this context, "Eu sei fazer bolo" means you have the ability to make cake as a craft or skill in general. Adding an article (like “um” or “o”) would imply a particular cake, which isn’t the intent here.
What is the difference between "Eu sei fazer bolo" and "Eu posso fazer bolo"?
Although both sentences might be casually rendered as “I can make cake” in English, they emphasize different aspects:
• Eu sei fazer bolo indicates that you know how to make cake—it stresses the knowledge or skill you possess.
• Eu posso fazer bolo focuses on the possibility or permission to make cake.
Thus, saber is about having learned the method or technique, while poder deals with being able or allowed to perform the action in a given context.
Can I omit the subject Eu in this sentence without changing its meaning?
Yes, you can omit the subject pronoun Eu because the verb conjugation (sei) clearly indicates the subject (first person singular). In informal contexts or when the subject is obvious, dropping the pronoun is common. However, including Eu can be useful for learners to clarify who is performing the action or when you wish to emphasize the subject.
How does the Portuguese structure "saber + infinitive" compare to how we express similar ideas in English?
In Portuguese, the structure “saber + infinitive” is a standard way to express that someone knows how to do something. In English, we often use the phrase “know how to” before the verb (e.g., “I know how to make cake”). Even though the Portuguese sentence omits an equivalent to “how to,” the construction naturally implies it, reflecting a key grammatical difference between the two languages.