Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Empurrar um carro avariado na rua é uma tarefa muito cansativa. - Pushing a broken‑down car on the street is a very tiring task.

It translates to: "Pushing a broken down car on the street is a very tiring task." This gives you a clear idea of the overall meaning of the sentence.

What does empurrar mean, and why is it used in its infinitive form here?

Empurrar means "to push." In this sentence, it is used in the infinitive form, which often acts like a noun (or a general concept) and serves as the subject. This construction is common in Portuguese when discussing an action in abstract.

Can you break down the phrase um carro avariado? What do each of the words mean?

Certainly. Um is the masculine singular indefinite article, equivalent to "a" in English. Carro means "car," and avariado is an adjective meaning "broken down" or "damaged." Together, they describe a car that is not functioning properly.

What does the contraction na in na rua signify?

The contraction na is formed from em (meaning "in" or "on") and a (the feminine singular definite article, meaning "the"). Thus, na rua translates to "on the street" or "in the street," indicating the location where the car is found.

How is the overall sentence structured in terms of subject and predicate?

The sentence’s subject is the entire infinitive phrase "Empurrar um carro avariado na rua," which describes the action of pushing a broken down car on the street. The predicate is "é uma tarefa muito cansativa," where é (the third person singular of ser) links the subject to the description "a very tiring task." This structure, where an action expressed by an infinitive serves as the subject, is a useful pattern for learners to recognize in Portuguese.