Breakdown of Quando termino de escrever, gosto de guardar o computador na gaveta.
gostar de
to like
de
of
em
in
escrever
to write
terminar
to finish
quando
when
o computador
the computer
guardar
to store
a gaveta
the drawer
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Questions & Answers about Quando termino de escrever, gosto de guardar o computador na gaveta.
What does “termino de escrever” mean, and why is it followed by “de”?
It means “I finish writing.” In Portuguese, the verb terminar is usually paired with “de” before an infinitive (in this case, escrever) to express the idea of finishing an action. This construction is similar to saying “finish doing something” in English.
Why is there a comma between “Quando termino de escrever” and “gosto de guardar o computador na gaveta”?
The comma separates the subordinate time clause “Quando termino de escrever” (meaning “When I finish writing”) from the main clause “gosto de guardar o computador na gaveta” (meaning “I like to store the computer in the drawer”). This punctuation helps clarify that the action of storing the computer occurs after the writing is finished.
What does the verb “guardar” imply in this context?
In this sentence, “guardar” means “to store” or “to put away.” Although the word can also mean “to save” (as in saving a file on a computer) in other contexts, here it clearly refers to physically putting the computer into the drawer, as indicated by “na gaveta.”
What is the meaning of “na gaveta”, and why is “na” used instead of just “gaveta”?
“Na gaveta” means “in the drawer.” The word “na” is a contraction of “em” (in) and “a” (the), which is a common way in Portuguese to indicate the location where something is placed. It tells us where the computer is stored.
How does the structure of this sentence compare to an equivalent sentence in English?
The structure is quite similar. In English, you might say “When I finish writing, I like to put the computer in the drawer.” Both languages use the subordinate clause to indicate the time or condition (introduced by “When” in English and “Quando” in Portuguese) followed by the main clause that describes the habitual action.
Could the use of “guardar” here be confused with the digital meaning of “to save,” and how can we tell the intended meaning?
Yes, “guardar” might sometimes be interpreted as “to save” in a digital context. However, the presence of “na gaveta” makes it clear that the sentence refers to physically storing the computer in a drawer rather than saving a digital file. The context provided by the location phrase eliminates ambiguity.