Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu lanço as chaves na mesa.
What does lanço mean in this sentence?
Lanço is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb lançar, which means "to throw". It indicates that the speaker (I) is performing the action of throwing.
Why is as used before chaves?
In Portuguese, most nouns require a definite article. As is the feminine plural form of "the" and it agrees in gender and number with chaves (keys). This usage specifies that the keys in question are known or specific.
What does the contraction na in na mesa signify?
Na is a contraction of the preposition em (which means "in" or "on") and the feminine singular definite article a (which means "the"). Therefore, na mesa translates to "on the table".
Why is the subject Eu explicitly stated even though the verb ending often implies the subject in Portuguese?
Portuguese allows for subject pronouns to be dropped because the verb endings already indicate the subject. However, including Eu (I) can provide extra clarity or emphasis, which is especially helpful for language learners or when the speaker wants to stress who is performing the action.
How does the sentence structure compare to that of English?
The sentence "Eu lanço as chaves na mesa" follows a similar structure to English: Subject + Verb + Object + Location. In English, it is "I throw the keys on the table." Although the overall word order is alike, Portuguese often uses contractions (like na) and requires the article before the noun, which are important details for correct grammatical usage.