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Eu trabalho para ter sucesso.

Eu trabalho para ter sucesso.
I work to have success.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu trabalho para ter sucesso.

eu
I
ter
to have
trabalhar
to work
para
to
o sucesso
the success

Questions & Answers about Eu trabalho para ter sucesso.

What does para mean in the sentence Eu trabalho para ter sucesso?
Para is a preposition that expresses purpose or intention. In this sentence, it functions much like "in order to" in English, clarifying that the speaker works with the aim of achieving success.
Why is the verb ter in the infinitive form after para?
In Portuguese, when para is used to indicate purpose, the following verb must be in its infinitive form. This structure—para + infinitive—is standard for expressing the reason or goal behind an action.
Is Eu trabalho para ter sucesso equivalent in meaning to "I work to succeed"?
Yes, it is. The sentence conveys the idea that the speaker works with the goal of succeeding, which aligns closely with the English phrase "I work to succeed" or "I work in order to succeed."
Why do we use ter sucesso rather than another expression like ser bem-sucedido?
Ter sucesso is the common idiomatic expression in Portuguese for achieving success. Although ser bem-sucedido (literally "to be successful") is also correct, ter sucesso focuses on the action or process of attaining success, making it more suitable for expressing purpose.
Can the sentence be rearranged without changing its meaning, for example as Para ter sucesso, eu trabalho?
Absolutely. Reordering the sentence to Para ter sucesso, eu trabalho is grammatically correct. This variation simply places the purpose at the beginning for emphasis, but the overall meaning remains the same.
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