Breakdown of Às vezes, tento esconder a minha felicidade, mas sorrio quando vejo o grupo alcançar bons resultados.
bom
good
minha
my
mas
but
quando
when
ver
to see
tentar
to try
às vezes
sometimes
o resultado
the result
esconder
to hide
sorrir
to smile
a felicidade
the happiness
o grupo
the group
alcançar
to achieve
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Questions & Answers about Às vezes, tento esconder a minha felicidade, mas sorrio quando vejo o grupo alcançar bons resultados.
What does Às vezes mean, and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?
Às vezes translates as sometimes in English. It sets a temporal context by indicating that the speaker's behavior (trying to hide happiness) occurs on an occasional basis. Placing it at the beginning emphasizes the sporadic nature of the action.
What is the role of tento in this sentence?
Tento is the first person singular form of the verb tentar in the present tense, meaning I try. It expresses the speaker’s attempt to perform the action that follows—namely, hiding their happiness.
Why is esconder in the infinitive form after tento?
In Portuguese, when a verb like tentar (to try) is followed by another verb, that subsequent verb is typically used in the infinitive form. Therefore, esconder (to hide) is in the infinitive, following the structure of tentar + infinitive.
How is possession expressed in a minha felicidade, and why is the article a used?
In European Portuguese, possessive adjectives are often preceded by the definite article. A minha felicidade combines a (the feminine definite article) with minha (my) to refer to felicidade (happiness). This construction is standard and emphasizes possession.
What role does the conjunction mas play in this sentence?
Mas means but and functions as a coordinating conjunction. It links two contrasting clauses: the first describes the speaker’s attempt to hide their happiness, while the second shows a different reaction, where the speaker smiles upon seeing the group achieve good results.
Why is the structure vejo o grupo alcançar bons resultados built with alcançar in the infinitive form?
In Portuguese, certain verbs of perception like ver (to see) can be followed by an object and an infinitive that describes the action being observed. Here, alcançar (to achieve) remains in the infinitive because it directly follows vejo (I see) and describes what the group does.
How does the overall sentence structure convey contrasting behaviors?
The sentence is divided into two main segments linked by mas. The first part, Às vezes, tento esconder a minha felicidade, reveals the speaker’s occasional effort to conceal their own happiness. The second part, sorrio quando vejo o grupo alcançar bons resultados, presents a contrasting reaction: smiling when the group attains success. This contrast is highlighted not only by the conjunction mas but also by the differing subjects of emotion, emphasizing the speaker’s selective expressions.