Eu devo estudar para o exame.

I must study for the exam.

Breakdown of Eu devo estudar para o exame.

• eu: I
• estudar: to study
• para: for
• o exame: the exam

Questions & Answers about Eu devo estudar para o exame.

What does the verb devo indicate in this sentence?

Devo is the first-person singular form of the verb dever in the present tense. It expresses obligation or necessity, meaning “I must” or “I should.”

Why is the infinitive estudar used right after devo?

In Portuguese, when a modal or auxiliary verb like dever is used, the following main verb remains in its infinitive form. So, estudar is used to show the action that is required without any further conjugation, similar to “study” after “must” in English.

What is the function of the preposition para in this sentence?

The preposition para introduces the purpose or goal of an action. In this sentence, it means “for” or “in order to,” indicating that the studying is being done in preparation for the exam.

Why is the article o used before exame?

The article o is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese, equivalent to “the” in English. It specifies that the exam mentioned is a particular one, much like saying “the exam” in English.

How does the overall sentence structure compare to English?