Breakdown of Este sofá é tão macio que quase adormeço quando me sento nele.
ser
to be
este
this
quando
when
que
that
tão
so
me
me
sentar-se
to sit
em
on
ele
it
quase
almost
o sofá
the sofa
macio
soft
adormecer
to fall asleep
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Questions & Answers about Este sofá é tão macio que quase adormeço quando me sento nele.
What does the structure “tão macio que” mean and how is it used in this sentence?
The structure “tão macio que” translates as “so soft that” in English. In this construction, “tão” is used to intensify the adjective “macio” (soft), and “que” introduces the consequence that follows from that intensity. This expression establishes a cause-and-effect relationship, similar to the English “so... that...” construction.
Why is the reflexive pronoun “me” used in “me sento”?
The verb "sentar-se" (to sit down) is reflexive in Portuguese, meaning that the subject also receives the action. The pronoun “me” indicates that the subject is performing the action on themselves, making “me sento” literally equivalent to “I sit myself.” Both “me sento” and the alternative “sento-me” are acceptable, with the placement depending on stylistic or regional preferences.
What is the function of “nele” in this sentence?
“Nele” is a contraction of “em” + “ele”, meaning “in it” or “on it” in English. In the sentence, it refers back to “o sofá” (the sofa), indicating the location where the action takes place — that is, the speaker sits on the sofa.
Why is “adormecer” conjugated as “adormeço” in this context?
“Adormeço” is the first person singular present tense form of the verb “adormecer” (to fall asleep). The ending “-eço” is typical for this irregular verb in the “eu” form, showing that the action (almost falling asleep) is habitual or occurs under specific circumstances, such as sitting on the soft sofa.
How does this sentence illustrate a cause-and-effect relationship in Portuguese compared to English?
The sentence uses the “tão... que...” construction to connect a description with its consequence. “Tão macio” (so soft) explains the extent of the sofa’s softness, and the result is that the speaker “quase adormeço quando me sento nele” (almost falls asleep when sitting on it). This mirrors the English structure “so... that...” and helps learners understand how to express intensity leading to a specific outcome in both languages.