Eu sento-me na cadeira.

I sit on the chair.

Breakdown of Eu sento-me na cadeira.

• eu: I
• em: in
• sentar-se: to sit
• a cadeira: the chair

Questions & Answers about Eu sento-me na cadeira.

Why is there a reflexive pronoun in “sento‐me” even though English just says “I sit down”?

In Portuguese, many verbs related to everyday actions are reflexive. The verb sentar-se literally means “to sit oneself down.” Although this reflexive aspect isn’t emphasized in English, it’s an integral part of the verb’s form in Portuguese. Thus, sento‐me is the standard way to express “I sit down.”

What is the function of the hyphen in “sento‐me”?

The hyphen connects the reflexive pronoun me directly to the conjugated verb sento. In European Portuguese, this attachment (called enclisis) is required in affirmative statements to show that the pronoun is part of the verb construction.

Why is “na” used before “cadeira,” and what does it mean?

“Na” is a contraction of the preposition em (“in” or “on”) and the feminine definite article a (“the”). Since cadeira (chair) is a feminine noun, using “na” correctly indicates the location “in/on the chair.”

How is the verb sentar‐se conjugated for the first person singular?

For the first person singular, sentar‐se is conjugated as sento‐me. The portion sento comes from the verb sentar in the present tense for “eu” (I), and ‐me is the reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject “I.”

Is it possible to place the reflexive pronoun differently, for example before the verb?

Yes, clitic placement can vary. In affirmative sentences in European Portuguese, the norm is to attach the pronoun to the end of the verb (enclisis), as in sento‐me. However, in negative sentences, with certain adverbs, or in other specific constructions, the pronoun may appear before the verb (proclisis). In this sentence, the enclitic form is standard.

Does the usage of a reflexive in “sento‐me” imply that the person is sitting themselves down, and does it differ from English?

While the literal translation of sentar‐se conveys the idea of “sitting oneself down,” it is simply the established way to express the action “to sit” in Portuguese. Unlike in English—where “sit” stands alone—the reflexive form is a fixed part of the verb in Portuguese and does not imply any additional action beyond sitting.