Breakdown of Umas amigas ajudam a limpar a casa.
a amiga
the friend
a casa
the house
limpar
to clean
ajudar
to help
umas
some
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Questions & Answers about Umas amigas ajudam a limpar a casa.
What does umas mean, and why is it used here?
Umas is the feminine plural form of the indefinite article in Portuguese. It translates to some in English and is used to modify a feminine plural noun, in this case, amigas.
Why is amigas in the feminine form?
Amigas is feminine because it refers specifically to female friends. In Portuguese, nouns and the accompanying articles must agree in gender and number. Since the friends in this sentence are implied to be all female, the feminine plural form amigas is used.
What is the conjugation of the verb ajudam and what does it indicate?
Ajudam is the third person plural form of the verb ajudar, which means to help. It indicates that the subject (in this case, umas amigas) is performing the action, meaning they help.
What function does the phrase a limpar a casa serve in the sentence?
The phrase a limpar a casa is an infinitive phrase that explains what the subject helps with. A limpar functions similar to the English infinitive to clean, and a casa means the house. Together, they describe the activity that the friends are assisting with.
Why is the preposition a used before limpar?
In Portuguese, it is common to insert the preposition a before an infinitive when it follows certain verbs, like ajudar. This prepositional marker connects the verb ajudar with the infinitive limpar, helping to indicate the purpose or direction of the help.
How would the sentence change if referring to a group of male friends or a mixed group?
If referring to solely male friends, the sentence would change to the masculine form: uns amigos ajudam a limpar a casa. In the case of a mixed group, Portuguese typically defaults to the masculine plural, so the same form, uns amigos, would be used.
Is the overall sentence structure typical of Portuguese, and what is its basic order?
Yes, the structure is typical for Portuguese. The sentence follows a common pattern where the subject (in this case, umas amigas) comes first, followed by the verb (ajudam), and then an infinitive phrase (a limpar a casa) that explains the action. This mirrors the standard subject–verb–object (or complement) order found in both Portuguese and English.