Eu escrevo no caderno.

I write in the notebook.

Breakdown of Eu escrevo no caderno.

• eu: I
• em: in
• escrever: to write
• o caderno: the notebook

Questions & Answers about Eu escrevo no caderno.

What does “Eu” mean in this sentence?

“Eu” is the subject pronoun that translates to “I” in English. It clearly indicates that the speaker is the one performing the action, even though Portuguese often allows the subject to be omitted because the verb form already suggests it.

What is the form and origin of “escrevo”?

“Escrevo” is the first person singular present tense form of the verb “escrever”, which means “to write.” It directly translates to “I write.” This conjugation is used when the speaker is describing a current or habitual action.

Why is the word “no” used instead of simply “em o” before “caderno”?

In Portuguese, prepositions often contract with definite articles. Here, “em” (meaning “in”) and the masculine definite article “o” (meaning “the”) combine to form “no.” This contraction is a standard grammatical rule in Portuguese.

What does “caderno” refer to in this sentence?

“Caderno” means “notebook” (or “exercise book” in some contexts). It is the noun receiving the action of the verb, indicating the object where the writing takes place.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun “Eu” given that the verb “escrevo” already implies the subject?

Not necessarily. In Portuguese, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb conjugation already clarifies who is performing the action. However, including “Eu” can add emphasis or clarity, especially for beginners or in contexts where the subject needs to be explicitly stated.