Por vezes, gosto de ligar o telemóvel mais tarde para evitar distrações.

Sometimes, I like to turn on the cell phone later to avoid distractions.

Breakdown of Por vezes, gosto de ligar o telemóvel mais tarde para evitar distrações.

• gostar de: to like
• para: to
• evitar: to avoid
• o telemóvel: the cell phone
• por vezes: sometimes
• ligar: to turn on
• mais tarde: later
• a distração: the distraction

Questions & Answers about Por vezes, gosto de ligar o telemóvel mais tarde para evitar distrações.

What does por vezes mean in this sentence?

It means "sometimes." This expression indicates that the action described happens occasionally rather than all the time.

Why does the sentence use the structure gosto de ligar?

In Portuguese, the phrase gostar de is followed by an infinitive to express liking an action. Thus, gosto de ligar translates to "I like to turn on," showing that the speaker enjoys or prefers performing that specific action.

What does ligar o telemóvel imply in this context?

Here, ligar o telemóvel means "to turn on the mobile phone." While ligar can sometimes mean "to call" in other contexts, the absence of a preposition such as para (as in ligar para alguém) clarifies that the action is about switching the phone on.

What role does mais tarde play in the sentence?

Mais tarde means "later." It specifies that the mobile phone is turned on at a later time than usual, emphasizing a deliberate delay in activating the device.

Why is para evitar distrações used, and what function does it serve?

The phrase para evitar distrações translates to "in order to avoid distractions." It’s a purpose clause that explains the reason for delaying turning on the mobile phone—namely, to minimize interruptions.