Breakdown of Eu tento puxar a cadeira para ficar mais perto da mesa.
eu
I
de
of
mais
more
para
to
tentar
to try
a mesa
the table
puxar
to pull
a cadeira
the chair
perto
close
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Questions & Answers about Eu tento puxar a cadeira para ficar mais perto da mesa.
What does tento mean in this sentence?
Tento is the first-person singular present form of the verb tentar, which means "to try" or "to attempt". In this sentence, it translates as "I try".
What does puxar a cadeira mean, and how is it used here?
Puxar means "to pull" and a cadeira means "the chair". Together, they form the action phrase "to pull the chair", which describes what the speaker is attempting to do.
What does the phrase para ficar mais perto da mesa express?
The phrase para ficar mais perto da mesa indicates the purpose behind the action. Para translates as "in order to", ficar means "to be" or "to become", mais perto means "closer", and da mesa (a contraction of de + a) means "of the table". So, it explains that the action is taken "to get closer to the table."
Why is the contraction da used in da mesa?
In Portuguese, da is a contraction of de and a. It is used to link the description of the resulting state to a mesa (the table), indicating possession or association—in this case, expressing "closer to the table."
What is the role of ficar in this sentence?
Ficar often means "to become" or "to be." In this sentence, it is used to describe the state that the speaker aims to achieve by pulling the chair—that is, being closer (or getting closer) to the table.
How is the sentence structured in terms of subject, verb, and purpose?
The sentence begins with the subject Eu (I) and the verb tento (try). This is immediately followed by the infinitive phrase puxar a cadeira (pull the chair), which describes the action. Finally, the purpose is expressed in the phrase para ficar mais perto da mesa (to get closer to the table). This structure is similar to the English form, "I try to [do something] in order to [achieve something]."