Eu inspiro-me em música.

I am inspired by music.

Breakdown of Eu inspiro-me em música.

• eu: I
• a música: the music
• inspirar-se em: to be inspired by

Questions & Answers about Eu inspiro-me em música.

Why is the reflexive pronoun attached to the verb with a hyphen (inspiro‐me) instead of standing before it?

In Portuguese affirmative sentences, reflexive pronouns are typically attached to the end of the conjugated verb using a hyphen. So in “inspiro‐me,” the pronoun “me” is attached to “inspiro” to show that the action (drawing inspiration) reflects back on the subject.

Why is the verb used in its reflexive form “inspirar‐se” instead of simply “inspirar”?

The verb “inspirar” on its own generally means “to breathe in.” When used reflexively as “inspirar‐se,” it means “to draw inspiration from.” The reflexive construction clarifies that it’s about receiving inspiration rather than the literal act of inhaling.

What role does the preposition “em” play in the sentence “Eu inspiro‐me em música”?

The preposition “em” is required by the pronominal verb “inspirar‐se” to introduce the source of inspiration. In this sentence, “em música” indicates that music is the element from which inspiration is drawn.

Why is there no article before “música”? Would it be correct to say “a música” or “na música” instead?

Using “música” without an article emphasizes the idea of music in general. In Portuguese, it’s common to drop the article when speaking about abstract or general concepts. While “na música” (a contraction of “em a música”) could be used if you meant a specific genre or context, “inspiro‐me em música” is idiomatic and expresses that you draw inspiration from music as a whole.

I often see subjects omitted in Portuguese due to the verb conjugation. Why is “Eu” explicitly stated here?

Although Portuguese often omits subject pronouns because the verb’s conjugation clearly indicates the subject, including “Eu” can add emphasis or clarity. In this sentence, “Eu” is used to firmly establish that it is the speaker who draws inspiration, even if it isn’t strictly necessary from a grammatical standpoint.

How would the structure change if this sentence were made negative?

In negative sentences, the reflexive pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb rather than attached to it. Thus, the negative form would be: “Eu não me inspiro em música.” This placement complies with the general rule for clitic pronoun position in negative constructions.