Breakdown of Costumo apanhar o autocarro de manhã, mas hoje decidi caminhar.
hoje
today
de
of
mas
but
a manhã
the morning
caminhar
to walk
decidir
to decide
costumar
to usually
apanhar
to catch
o autocarro
the bus
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Questions & Answers about Costumo apanhar o autocarro de manhã, mas hoje decidi caminhar.
What does costumo mean and how is it used in this sentence?
Costumo comes from the verb costumar, which means “to usually do something.” In this sentence, it indicates that the speaker normally takes the bus in the morning, expressing a habitual action.
What does apanhar mean in this context?
While apanhar can literally mean “to catch” or “to pick up,” in the context of transportation in Portugal it is commonly used to mean “to take.” Thus, apanhar o autocarro means “to take the bus.”
What does autocarro refer to?
Autocarro is the European Portuguese word for “bus.” It is the term used in Portugal to denote a public bus, as opposed to the Brazilian Portuguese equivalent ônibus.
What is the meaning of de manhã?
The phrase de manhã means “in the morning.” It specifies the time when the habitual action (taking the bus) normally occurs.
How does the sentence contrast a habitual action with a one-time decision?
The sentence begins with Costumo apanhar o autocarro de manhã, which describes a regular, habitual action. It then shifts with mas hoje decidi caminhar to show that, unlike the usual routine, the speaker has made an exceptional decision for today—to walk instead of taking the bus. The conjunction mas (“but”) highlights this contrast.
What tense is used in decidi and why?
Decidi is in the simple past (preterite) tense, indicating that the decision was made at a specific moment (today) in the past. This contrasts with the habitual present in costumo, clearly signaling that the action today is an exception to the norm.
How would you translate the entire sentence into English?
The sentence translates to: “I usually take the bus in the morning, but today I decided to walk.” This captures both the regular routine and the change that occurs on this particular day.
Is there any regional vocabulary specific to European Portuguese in this sentence?
Yes. The term autocarro is specific to European Portuguese, referring to the bus. In Brazilian Portuguese, the same vehicle is called ônibus. This reflects a common regional vocabulary difference between the two variants of Portuguese.