Breakdown of Em breve, eu vou comprar um livro novo.
eu
I
um
a
ir
to go
novo
new
comprar
to buy
o livro
the book
em breve
soon
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Questions & Answers about Em breve, eu vou comprar um livro novo.
What does em breve mean in English, and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?
Em breve translates to "soon" or "shortly" in English. In Portuguese, it’s common to begin a sentence with a time expression like this to set the temporal context and draw attention to when the action will occur.
Why is the auxiliary verb vou used in eu vou comprar instead of a simple future tense like comprarei?
The phrase eu vou comprar uses the periphrastic future construction, where "ir" (conjugated as vou) plus the infinitive comprar expresses a future intention, similar to saying "I am going to buy" in English. It’s often preferred in spoken Portuguese to indicate near-future plans.
Can the subject pronoun eu be omitted in this sentence, and why might it still be included?
Yes, the subject pronoun eu is optional because the verb vou clearly indicates the first person singular. However, learners and speakers sometimes include it for clarity, emphasis, or stylistic reasons, especially during the learning phase.
Why is the adjective novo placed after the noun livro rather than before it as in English?
In Portuguese, adjectives like novo typically follow the noun they describe. The standard order is um livro novo instead of um novo livro. This placement is a common structural difference from English, where adjectives usually precede the noun.
What are the differences in nuance between saying eu vou comprar and comprarei?
Eu vou comprar (using the periphrastic future) implies a planned or imminent action and is more common in everyday conversation, much like "I am going to buy". On the other hand, comprarei is the simple future tense, which can sound more formal or convey a stronger sense of commitment, similar to "I will buy" in English.