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Questions & Answers about Eu quero conselho.
What is the basic structure of the sentence Eu quero conselho and how does it correspond to English sentence order?
The sentence follows the subject–verb–object order found in both Portuguese and English. Eu means I (subject), quero is the verb want (first person singular), and conselho translates as advice (object). Thus, Eu quero conselho directly means “I want advice.”
Why is there no article before conselho? Shouldn’t it be um conselho?
In Portuguese, abstract nouns like conselho (advice) are often used without an article when referring to the idea in general. This is similar to English, where we say “I want advice” without using an article. If you meant “a piece of advice,” you could say Eu quero um conselho to specify a singular instance.
What form of the verb querer is used in quero, and how is it conjugated?
Quero is the first person singular present indicative form of the verb querer (to want). It directly corresponds to “I want,” matching the subject Eu (I).
Is conselho a countable or uncountable noun in Portuguese, and what is its gender?
Conselho is a masculine noun. While in English “advice” is typically uncountable, in Portuguese the noun can be treated similarly when referred to in an abstract, general sense. The plural form is conselhos, but when speaking of advice as a general concept, the singular is commonly used without an article.
How is the digraph lh in conselho pronounced, and is it similar to any English sound?
The lh in Portuguese produces a palatal lateral sound that doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. It is somewhat similar to the sound you hear in the middle of the rapid pronunciation of the English word “million.” Practicing by positioning your tongue close to the roof of your mouth can help you approximate the sound.
Does the sentence Eu quero conselho come off as too direct or impolite, and are there more courteous alternatives?
The sentence is quite direct, which may seem a bit blunt in formal or polite contexts. A more courteous alternative would be Gostaria de um conselho (“I would like some advice”), which softens the request and sounds more polite in many situations.