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Eu dou um presente a cada amigo.

Eu dou um presente a cada amigo.
I give a present to each friend.
FromLesson 10inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu dou um presente a cada amigo.

eu
I
um
a
o amigo
the friend
a
to
o presente
the present
cada
each
dar
to give

Questions & Answers about Eu dou um presente a cada amigo.

What does the sentence "Eu dou um presente a cada amigo" mean in English?
It means "I give a present to each friend." This confirms that the speaker gives one gift to every friend individually.
Why is the subject pronoun Eu included even though Portuguese often drops it?
Although Portuguese verb endings usually indicate the subject, including Eu can provide extra clarity—especially for learners—or add emphasis on who is performing the action.
Why is the indefinite article um used before presente?
In Portuguese, singular countable nouns typically require an article. Um presente means "a present" much like the English indefinite article a is used to indicate one unspecific item.
What is the role of a cada amigo in the sentence, and why is the preposition a used?
A cada amigo identifies the recipient of the gift, acting as the indirect object. The preposition a is required in Portuguese to introduce indirect objects, similar to using "to" in English.
How does cada differ from an expression like todos os when referring to friends?
Cada translates to "each," emphasizing the individuality of every friend—implying that every single friend receives a gift separately. In contrast, todos os means "all the" and would treat the friends as a collective group rather than emphasizing them one by one.
Could another preposition, such as para, be used instead of a before cada amigo?
While para is sometimes used to indicate direction or purpose in Portuguese, the standard construction with the verb dar (to give) is dar algo a alguém. So in this case, a cada amigo is the natural and grammatically correct choice.
Is it possible to change the word order in the sentence, for example by moving a cada amigo to a different position?
Yes, the sentence can be rearranged for emphasis. For instance, saying "A cada amigo, eu dou um presente" is grammatically correct and shifts the emphasis onto the recipients, even though the original word order is more common and natural.
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