Breakdown of Vou-me atrasar para o meu compromisso se não me dirigir ao ginásio agora.
meu
my
ir
to go
agora
now
para
for
não
not
se
if
me
myself
o compromisso
the appointment
dirigir
to head
o ginásio
the gym
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Questions & Answers about Vou-me atrasar para o meu compromisso se não me dirigir ao ginásio agora.
Why is the reflexive pronoun placed differently in the main clause versus the conditional clause?
In European Portuguese, the placement of clitic pronouns follows specific rules. In an affirmative clause like “Vou‐me atrasar,” the pronoun attaches to the verb (enclisis). In a clause with a negative element—as in “se não me dirigir ao ginásio agora”—the pronoun comes before the verb (proclisis). This difference is due to the influence of negatives and other preceding elements on pronoun placement.
What does the phrase “Vou‐me atrasar” mean, and why is a reflexive pronoun used with “atrasar”?
“Vou‐me atrasar” means “I am going to be late.” The verb “atrasar‐se” is a pronominal verb in Portuguese, meaning “to be late” or “to delay oneself,” so the reflexive pronoun “me” is an essential part of the construction to indicate that the subject is affected by the action.
How does “me dirigir” function in this sentence, and what does it mean?
Even though “dirigir” can mean “to drive,” when used reflexively as “dirigir‐se” it means “to head for” or “to go to.” In the sentence, “se não me dirigir ao ginásio agora” translates to “if I don’t head to the gym now,” where the pronoun “me” indicates that the subject is directing himself toward that destination.
What role does the word “se” play in the sentence?
The word “se” introduces a conditional clause, equivalent to “if” in English. It sets up the condition under which the main clause—“Vou‐me atrasar para o meu compromisso” (I will be late for my appointment)—will occur.
What do the words “ginásio” and “compromisso” mean in this context?
In European Portuguese, “ginásio” typically refers to a gym or fitness center, while “compromisso” means an appointment, engagement, or commitment. Thus, the sentence implies that failing to go to the gym will result in being late for one’s appointment.
How is the overall sentence structured to convey a future conditional meaning?
The sentence is divided into a main clause (“Vou‐me atrasar para o meu compromisso”) that states what will happen and a conditional clause (“se não me dirigir ao ginásio agora”) that stipulates the condition. The construction “vou” plus an infinitive (“atrasar”) indicates a future action, and the condition (“if I don’t head to the gym now”) directly influences that future outcome.
Is there a difference between this clitic pronoun placement in European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. In European Portuguese, as seen in this sentence, pronouns are often attached to the affirmative conjugated verb (enclisis), resulting in “vou‐me atrasar.” In contrast, in Brazilian Portuguese it is more common to place the pronoun before the verb (proclisis), so one might say “me vou atrasar.” Additionally, some vocabulary choices like “ginásio” may vary in meaning between the two dialects.