Breakdown of Eu abro imediatamente a janela.
eu
I
abrir
to open
a janela
the window
imediatamente
immediately
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu abro imediatamente a janela.
Why is the subject pronoun eu explicitly included even though the verb form already indicates the subject?
In Portuguese, the verb ending in abro already signals that the subject is first person singular (I). However, using the subject pronoun eu can add emphasis, clarity, or a stylistic nuance. Native speakers often omit it when the context is clear, but including it is perfectly acceptable.
What tense and person is the verb abro, and what does it signify in the sentence?
The verb abro is in the present indicative tense and is conjugated for the first person singular. This means it translates directly as I open, indicating an action that happens in the present.
Why is the adverb imediatamente positioned immediately after the verb instead of at the beginning or end of the sentence?
In Portuguese, adverbs like imediatamente (meaning immediately) can be placed right after the verb to clearly modify the action. This placement emphasizes that the act of opening occurs at once. While the adverb can sometimes be moved to other positions (for example, Imediatamente, eu abro a janela for added emphasis), keeping it after the verb is common and natural in everyday usage.
Why is the object introduced as a janela rather than using a different article?
The noun janela (window) is feminine in Portuguese. Therefore, the appropriate definite article is a, corresponding to the in English. This agreement between the article and noun gender is a key aspect of Portuguese grammar.
Would altering the position of imediatamente change the overall meaning of the sentence?
Reordering imediatamente—for instance, placing it at the very beginning as in Imediatamente, eu abro a janela—is grammatically correct. Although both placements convey that the action happens without delay, shifting the adverb can subtly emphasize the immediacy of the action. The core meaning remains the same despite the variation in emphasis.