Breakdown of Eu comprei um postal bonito para enviar à minha tia.
eu
I
um
a
minha
my
comprar
to buy
para
to
o postal
the postcard
bonito
nice
enviar
to send
a tia
the aunt
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Questions & Answers about Eu comprei um postal bonito para enviar à minha tia.
What does the sentence "Eu comprei um postal bonito para enviar à minha tia." mean in English?
It translates to "I bought a nice postcard to send to my aunt." The sentence informs us that the speaker made a purchase—a postcard—with the specific purpose of sending it to their aunt.
Why is the contraction "à" used in "para enviar à minha tia"?
In Portuguese, the preposition "a" (meaning "to") when combined with the feminine singular definite article "a" contracts to "à." Since "tia" (aunt) is feminine, "a minha tia" becomes "à minha tia" to indicate the destination or recipient.
How does the adjective placement in "um postal bonito" differ from typical English usage?
In Portuguese, adjectives often follow the noun they modify. So while in English we say "a nice postcard" (adjective before the noun), in Portuguese it’s common to say "um postal bonito" with the adjective "bonito" placed after "postal."
What verb tense is used in "Eu comprei", and what does it tell us about the action?
"Comprei" is the simple past (pretérito perfeito) form of the verb "comprar" in the first-person singular. It tells us that the action of buying was completed in the past.
Why is the noun "postal" preceded by "um" instead of "uma"?
The noun "postal" is masculine in Portuguese. Therefore, it takes the masculine indefinite article "um." This agreement in gender is a key aspect of Portuguese grammar.
What role does the phrase "para enviar" play in the sentence?
The phrase "para enviar" is an infinitive expressing purpose. It explains why the postcard was bought—namely, "to send" it, referring to the action that the purchase is intended to support.