Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu não consigo abrir o carro trancado.

Conseguir means “to be able to” or “to manage to.” In this sentence, it expresses the speaker’s inability to perform the action of opening due to the car being locked.

Why is abrir in its infinitive form after não consigo?

In Portuguese, when using a verb like conseguir to express ability, it is followed directly by another verb in its infinitive form. This construction shows that the action (to open) is what the speaker is unable to accomplish.

What does trancado mean, and how does it function in the sentence?

Trancado is the past participle of the verb trancar and functions as an adjective in this sentence. It describes the state of the noun carro, indicating that it is locked. The adjective is placed after the noun, which is common in Portuguese.

Is there a difference between using não consigo and não posso in this context?

Yes, there is a subtle difference. While both can translate to “I can’t,” não consigo emphasizes the inability to perform the action (a lack of capability or means), whereas não posso often relates to a lack of permission or possibility. In this situation, não consigo is more appropriate because it highlights the physical inability to open the locked car.

How does gender agreement work with carro and trancado in the sentence?

Since carro is a masculine noun, the adjective trancado must also be in its masculine form. Portuguese requires that adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe, ensuring that carro trancado is grammatically correct.