Breakdown of Eu quero alcançar sucesso no exame.
eu
I
querer
to want
em
in
o exame
the exam
o sucesso
the success
alcançar
to achieve
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Questions & Answers about Eu quero alcançar sucesso no exame.
Why is the preposition “no” used in “no exame” instead of just “em exame”?
In Portuguese, “no” is a contraction of em + o. It means “in the,” so “no exame” literally translates to “in the exam.” This contraction is common when a preposition is immediately followed by a masculine singular noun with its definite article.
Why is the verb “alcançar” in its infinitive form following “quero”?
In Portuguese, when a conjugated modal verb like quero (“I want”) is followed by another verb that describes an action, that second verb is used in the infinitive form. Thus, alcançar remains in the infinitive, similar to the English structure “I want to achieve.”
What is the nuance of using “alcançar” versus a verb like “ter” when talking about success?
Alcançar means “to achieve” or “to reach” and stresses the effort or process involved in obtaining something. In this sentence, it suggests that success is something to be actively attained. On the other hand, ter sucesso (“to have success”) is a more static way of stating that one is successful. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to emphasize the act of achieving success or simply the state of being successful.
Would adding a definite article before “sucesso” change the meaning of the sentence?
It is possible to say Eu quero alcançar o sucesso no exame. Adding the article o before sucesso slightly emphasizes the idea of “the success” in a specific way. Without the article, sucesso is treated more as an abstract, general concept. Both forms are grammatically correct, and the choice often comes down to stylistic preference.
Can this sentence be rephrased using a different verb without changing its overall meaning?
Yes. A common alternative is Eu quero ter sucesso no exame. Here, ter means “to have,” so the sentence translates as “I want to have (or be) successful in the exam.” This form is equally correct and is often used in everyday language. The choice between alcançar and ter can convey a subtle difference: the former emphasizes the process of achieving success, while the latter states the successful state more directly.