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Questions & Answers about Nós estudamos em conjunto.
What does Nós mean in this sentence?
Nós means "we" in English. It is the subject pronoun that indicates the group including the speaker is performing the action.
What tense is estudamos conjugated in and is there any ambiguity in its form?
Estudamos is the first person plural form of estudar. In Portuguese, this form can represent either the simple present ("we study") or the simple past ("we studied"). In this context, given the intended meaning, it is understood as the present tense.
What does the phrase em conjunto mean, and what nuance does it add to the sentence?
Em conjunto translates to "together" or "in conjunction". It emphasizes that the studying is done collectively as a group, giving the action a sense of unity and joint effort.
Can the subject pronoun Nós be omitted in this sentence, and if so, why might it sometimes be included?
Yes, in Portuguese the subject pronoun can often be omitted because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject. However, speakers sometimes include Nós for clarity or to add emphasis to who is involved in the action.
Is there any difference between using em conjunto and juntos when expressing the idea of "together"?
Both em conjunto and juntos convey the meaning of "together." While juntos is more commonly used in everyday conversation, em conjunto can carry a slightly more formal tone or stress the aspect of collective action.
Why is the adverbial phrase em conjunto placed at the end of the sentence?
Placing em conjunto at the end of the sentence follows a common Portuguese sentence structure where the subject comes first, followed by the verb and then by adverbial phrases. This ordering helps emphasize the manner in which the action is carried out and maintains a natural flow in the sentence.