Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Ele sujou o tapete, mas vou limpá-lo imediatamente. - He made the rug dirty, but I’m going to clean it right away.

Sujou is the third person singular simple past (pretérito perfeito) form of the verb sujar, which means "to dirty" or "to soil." In this context, Ele sujou o tapete translates to "He dirtied the rug."

Why does the sentence switch subjects between the two clauses—from ele in the first clause to vou in the second?

The first clause, Ele sujou o tapete, uses ele (meaning "he") to indicate who performed the action of dirtying the rug. The second clause, mas vou limpá-lo imediatamente, uses vou, which is the first person singular of ir combined with the infinitive limpar, showing that I will clean it. This subject shift emphasizes a contrast: someone (he) ruined the rug, but now I am taking responsibility to fix it.

Why is the pronoun lo attached to the end of limpar to form limpá-lo?

In Portuguese, especially in affirmative statements, it’s common to attach object pronouns to the end of an infinitive. Here, lo refers back to o tapete, and attaching it to limpar (forming limpá-lo) follows the standard rule of enclisis in Portuguese clitic placement.

Why is there a hyphen in limpá-lo, and what is the function of the accent in limpá?

The hyphen is used to link the object pronoun lo with the verb, making it clear that the pronoun is connected to limpar. The accent in limpá is necessary because attaching the pronoun changes the natural stress pattern of the infinitive. The accent maintains the original stress on the correct syllable, ensuring the word is pronounced properly.

Can the pronoun be placed before the verb instead of at the end in this sentence?

While Portuguese does allow variation in pronoun placement (known as proclisis and enclisis), in affirmative constructions like vou limpá-lo imediatamente, the standard and most natural form in European Portuguese is to attach the pronoun to the infinitive (enclisis). In other contexts—such as with negations—the pronoun might precede the verb, but here the attached form is the correct choice.

What is the role of the word mas in the sentence?

Mas is a coordinating conjunction that means "but" in English. It connects the two contrasting clauses: one stating that the rug was dirtied and the other stressing the immediate intention to clean it. This conjunction highlights the contrast between the negative action and the corrective action.

What does imediatamente mean, and how does it influence the meaning of the sentence?

Imediatamente means "immediately." It functions as an adverb modifying limpar (in limpá-lo), signaling that the action of cleaning will happen without delay. This word adds urgency to the speaker’s promise of cleaning the rug.

How does the use of vou in this sentence create a future action, and what does it tell us about the intended timing of the cleaning?

In Portuguese, using vou (the first person singular present tense of ir) with an infinitive forms a near-future construction. In vou limpá-lo, it expresses an action that is planned or imminent, essentially meaning "I am going to clean it." This construction clearly conveys that the cleaning will take place immediately after the rug was dirtied.