Breakdown of Depois do trabalho, sinto cansaço.
eu
I
depois de
after
sentir
to feel
o trabalho
the work
o cansaço
the tiredness
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Questions & Answers about Depois do trabalho, sinto cansaço.
Why is there no subject pronoun before "sinto" in the sentence?
In Portuguese, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation itself indicates the subject. In this case, sinto clearly shows that the speaker is referring to themselves (i.e., "eu sinto" is shortened to "sinto"). This is a common feature in Portuguese, making sentences more concise without losing meaning.
What does the contraction do in "Depois do trabalho" mean, and why is it used?
The word do is a contraction of de + o. In the phrase Depois do trabalho, it functions to combine the preposition depois with the definite article o, translating roughly to "after the work" or simply "after work" in English. This contracted form is standard in Portuguese when the preposition de meets the article o.
Why does the sentence use the noun cansaço instead of the adjective cansado?
The verb sentir in Portuguese is typically used with a noun to express a sensation or inner experience. In this sentence, cansaço (meaning "fatigue" or "tiredness") is used as a noun. If you were to use the adjective cansado, you would generally pair it with the verb estar (as in estou cansado) to describe a state of being tired. Thus, sinto cansaço emphasizes the feeling associated with fatigue, rather than just stating the condition.
Is there a difference between saying sinto cansaço and estou cansado?
Yes, there is a subtle nuance between the two expressions. Sinto cansaço focuses on the sensation or experience of fatigue—it implies that you are feeling or perceiving fatigue. On the other hand, estou cansado describes your state of being tired, emphasizing a condition or a result of fatigue. Both constructions are correct; the choice depends on whether you want to convey the experience of feeling fatigue or simply state that you are tired.
Why is there a comma after trabalho in the sentence?
The comma after trabalho separates the introductory temporal phrase Depois do trabalho from the main clause sinto cansaço. This punctuation marks a natural pause and helps clarify that the phrase provides the context or timing for the main statement. While the use of commas can sometimes be flexible in Portuguese, this placement is common for clarity in written text.