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Eu mantenho a casa limpa.

Eu mantenho a casa limpa.
I keep the house clean.
FromLesson 9inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu mantenho a casa limpa.

eu
I
a casa
the house
manter
to keep
limpo
clean

Questions & Answers about Eu mantenho a casa limpa.

What is the function of mantenho and how is it conjugated in the sentence?
Mantenho is the first-person singular (eu) present tense form of the irregular verb manter, which means to keep or to maintain. Its use here shows that the speaker (“eu”) actively performs the action of keeping the house in that state.
Why does the adjective limpa come after casa instead of before it, as it would in English?
In Portuguese, adjectives that describe a characteristic or a permanent quality of a noun are usually placed after the noun. Thus, casa limpa literally means “house clean,” which is the typical order in Portuguese, even though English places the adjective before the noun (“clean house”).
What’s the difference between saying Eu mantenho a casa limpa and Eu limpio a casa?
Eu mantenho a casa limpa means “I keep the house clean,” suggesting ongoing care or the state of being kept clean over time. On the other hand, Eu limpio a casa would translate to “I clean the house,” implying the act of cleaning as a one-time event rather than a continuous state of maintenance.
Why is the definite article a used before casa in this sentence?
The definite article a specifies that the speaker is referring to a particular house, much like the in English. It indicates that it is not just any house, but a specific one that the speaker is responsible for keeping clean.
How does the structure of Eu mantenho a casa limpa compare to its English equivalent?
The sentence structure is quite similar. In both languages, the order is subject – verb – object – adjective. In Portuguese, it appears as Eu (subject) mantenho (verb) a casa (object) limpa (adjective), which corresponds directly to the English “I keep the house clean.” The primary difference is that Portuguese places the adjective after the noun, while English typically places it before.
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