Breakdown of Depois do jantar, a Ana senta-se perto da lareira.
Ana
Ana
de
of
o jantar
the dinner
depois de
after
sentar-se
to sit
perto
near
a lareira
the fireplace
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Questions & Answers about Depois do jantar, a Ana senta-se perto da lareira.
What does "Depois do jantar" mean, and why is it structured that way?
"Depois do jantar" translates to "After dinner" in English. The phrase is an adverbial expression indicating when the action happens. Notice that "do" is a contraction of "de" (of/after) and "o" (the), which is common in Portuguese when linking prepositions with definite articles.
Why is the definite article "a" used before Ana in the sentence?
In European Portuguese, it is common to precede personal names—especially feminine ones—with a definite article. So "a Ana" doesn’t translate as "the Ana" in a literal sense; rather, it’s a stylistic and regional feature that signals familiarity or colloquial usage.
Why is the reflexive pronoun attached to the end of the verb as "senta‐se" with a hyphen?
"Senta‐se" is the conjugated form of the reflexive verb "sentar‐se" (to sit oneself). In affirmative sentences like this one, Portuguese grammar dictates the use of enclisis, meaning the reflexive pronoun (se) is attached to the end of the verb, joined by a hyphen. This positioning follows standard clitic placement rules in Portuguese.
What does "perto da lareira" mean?
"Perto da lareira" means "near the fireplace" in English. Here, "perto" translates as "near", and "da" is a contraction of "de" and "a" (of the), while "lareira" means "fireplace".
Why is there a comma after "Depois do jantar" in the sentence?
The comma is used to separate an introductory adverbial phrase ("Depois do jantar") from the main clause ("a Ana senta-se perto da lareira"). This punctuation helps clarify the sentence structure and indicates a brief pause, much like the usage of commas after introductory phrases in English.
Could the reflexive pronoun be placed before the verb instead of after it, for example as "se senta"?
Clitic placement in Portuguese obeys specific rules. In affirmative sentences like this one, the reflexive pronoun is placed after the verb (enclisis), resulting in "senta‐se." However, in negative sentences or when certain words trigger proclisis, the pronoun would come before the verb (e.g., "Não se senta"). Thus, in the given sentence, "senta‐se" is the correct and natural form.