Breakdown of Normalmente, a Ana e eu lemos um livro à noite.
eu
I
Ana
Ana
um
a
e
and
ler
to read
a noite
the night
o livro
the book
normalmente
usually
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Questions & Answers about Normalmente, a Ana e eu lemos um livro à noite.
What does the word normalmente mean in this sentence?
It means "normally" or "usually." It indicates that the action of reading a book happens as a regular or habitual practice.
Why is there an article before Ana (i.e. a Ana) when referring to her name?
In European Portuguese it’s common to use the definite article with given names, especially for women. So a Ana simply means "Ana" but with a stylistic nuance that isn’t used in English.
Why is the subject written as “a Ana e eu” instead of “eu e a Ana”?
Listing Ana before eu (I) is a matter of politeness and conventional ordering in Portuguese. It’s customary to mention other people first when referring to oneself along with others.
What does lemos indicate in this sentence?
Lemos is the first-person plural present tense form of the verb ler (to read). It means "we read," showing that both Ana and the speaker engage in the reading activity together.
Why is the object um livro singular, and how should it be interpreted?
Um livro translates as "a book." The singular form suggests that it is one book being read (together) at night, which is typical in expressions of habitual activities—even if in some contexts it might imply reading parts of the book or a different book on different nights.
What does à noite mean and why is the preposition written as à with an accent?
À noite means "at night." The accent in à occurs because it is a contraction of the preposition a (at/to) and the feminine singular definite article a that accompanies noite (night). This contraction is a grammatical rule in Portuguese.