Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu acredito em ti.
What does the verb acredito mean, and how is it conjugated in this sentence?
The verb acredito comes from acreditar, which means to believe. In this sentence, acredito is the first person singular present indicative form, translating to I believe. The conjugation clearly indicates that the subject performing the action is I.
Why is the preposition em used in this sentence, and what does it imply?
In Portuguese, many verbs require specific prepositions to link to their objects. Here, acreditar when meaning to believe in takes the preposition em. It signifies the object of belief, providing a structure equivalent to the English phrase I believe in you.
Why is ti used instead of você or te after em?
The pronoun ti is the stressed form used after prepositions in European Portuguese. When a pronoun follows a preposition like em, the correct form is ti for the informal second person singular. In contrast, Brazilian Portuguese often prefers você in similar expressions. Also, te is the unstressed clitic form and would not be used after a preposition.
Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu in this sentence?
While Portuguese verb conjugations typically indicate the subject, making the subject pronoun optional, including Eu can add importance or clarity. In the sentence Eu acredito em ti, Eu explicitly states that I am the one who believes. Both Eu acredito em ti and Acredito em ti are grammatically correct.
How would the sentence differ in Brazilian Portuguese?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the formal structure changes slightly in pronoun usage. Instead of ti, Brazilians usually use você, so the sentence would more commonly be Eu acredito em você. The verb conjugation remains the same, but the object pronoun changes to match regional usage.