Eu arrumo sala de estar antes do jantar.

I tidy up the living room before dinner.

Breakdown of Eu arrumo sala de estar antes do jantar.

• eu: I
• o jantar: the dinner
• antes: before
• a sala de estar: the living room
• arrumar: to tidy up

Questions & Answers about Eu arrumo sala de estar antes do jantar.

What is the meaning and grammatical role of arrumo in this sentence?

Arrumo is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb arrumar. It translates as “I tidy up” (or “I arrange”) and indicates that the speaker is performing the action. The present tense can denote either a current action or a habitual routine.

Why is there no definite article before sala de estar? Is this omission acceptable?

Typically, you might expect the definite article to appear, making it “a sala de estar.” However, in informal speech or certain stylistic contexts (such as listing household tasks), the article is sometimes dropped. While this omission can be acceptable in casual usage, including the article is generally preferred in formal written Portuguese.

What does the contraction do in antes do jantar represent, and how is it formed?

The contraction do comes from combining the preposition de with the definite article o. In this phrase, antes do jantar literally means “before dinner.” The use of do ensures proper agreement with the masculine noun jantar.

Does the present tense in this sentence imply a habitual action or a single occurrence?

The present tense in Portuguese can be versatile. It might describe a habitual routine (i.e., tidying up the living room before dinner regularly) or a one-time event occurring just before dinner. Context usually clarifies which meaning is intended.

Can the verb arrumar be used in contexts other than tidying up?

Yes, arrumar is a versatile verb in Portuguese. Besides “to tidy up,” it can also mean “to arrange” or “to fix” depending on the context. In this sentence, it clearly refers to the act of tidying or organizing the living room before dinner.