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Questions & Answers about Eu limpo o ecrã.
What does the word "Eu" represent, and is it always necessary to include it?
"Eu" means "I" in Portuguese. In many cases, Portuguese speakers omit the subject pronoun because the verb ending (in this case, “-o” in “limpo”) already indicates the first person singular. However, including "Eu" can add clarity or emphasis.
How is the verb "limpo" formed, and what tense is it using?
"Limpo" is the first person singular present indicative form of the verb "limpar," meaning "to clean." This form indicates that the action is happening in the present, matching the subject “Eu.”
Why is the definite article "o" used before "ecrã"?
The article "o" is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese. It is used with "ecrã" because this noun is considered masculine, and it specifies that you are referring to a particular screen—the equivalent of saying "the screen" in English.
What does "ecrã" mean, and is this term specific to European Portuguese?
"Ecrã" means "screen," as in the display of a device. This term is standard in European Portuguese, while Brazilian Portuguese speakers typically use "tela" for the same object.
Could the sentence be correctly written without the subject "Eu"? Why or why not?
Yes, the sentence can be written simply as "Limpo o ecrã." The verb ending "-o" already implies that the subject is "I," so the pronoun "Eu" is optional and mainly used for emphasis or to avoid any ambiguity, especially in contexts where clarity is needed.