Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu acalmo o Pedro quando ele está triste.

Acalmo is the first person singular present tense form of the verb acalmar, which means “to calm” or “to soothe.” In this sentence, it translates directly to “I calm,” matching the subject eu (I).

Why is Pedro preceded by the definite article o (i.e., “o Pedro” instead of just “Pedro”)?

In Portuguese, especially in Portugal, it is common to use a definite article before a person’s name to refer to someone in a specific and familiar manner. Thus, o Pedro is the typical way to indicate “Pedro” in this context.

What does the phrase "quando ele está triste" mean, and why is the verb estar used here instead of ser?

The phrase "quando ele está triste" means “when he is sad.” The verb estar is used to describe temporary or changeable states, such as feeling sad, whereas ser is reserved for more permanent characteristics.

Does the use of the present tense in this sentence imply a habitual action or describe a specific moment?

In Portuguese, the present tense can be used to express both habitual actions and current situations. In this sentence, "Eu acalmo o Pedro quando ele está triste" can be understood as describing a habitual action—indicating that you calm Pedro whenever he is in that state.

How does the word order and sentence structure compare between this Portuguese sentence and its English equivalent?

The sentence structure in Portuguese is quite similar to English. It follows a subject-verb-object order: Eu (I) is the subject, acalmo (calm) is the verb, and o Pedro (Pedro) is the object, followed by the subordinate clause quando ele está triste (when he is sad). This mirrors the English structure closely.