Breakdown of Mesmo estando cansado, eu continuo a trabalhar no projeto.
eu
I
estar
to be
cansado
tired
em
in
trabalhar
to work
o projeto
the project
continuar
to continue
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Questions & Answers about Mesmo estando cansado, eu continuo a trabalhar no projeto.
What does mesmo mean in this sentence?
Mesmo functions as an adverb meaning "even though" or "despite". It introduces a concessive clause that shows the speaker acknowledges a condition (being tired) before stating an action that proceeds regardless.
Why is estando used instead of the infinitive estar?
Estando is the present participle (gerúndio) of estar. It conveys the idea of an ongoing state—in this case, "being tired" while the action continues. This construction helps build the concessive clause and emphasizes that the tiredness is a current, temporary condition.
Why is there an a before trabalhar following continuo?
In European Portuguese, after verbs like continuar (meaning "to continue"), it is customary to use the preposition a before the infinitive. Therefore, "continuo a trabalhar" translates to "I continue to work." In Brazilian Portuguese, it is more common to say "continuo trabalhando," but in Portugal, the a is typically included.
How can this sentence be translated into English?
The sentence can be translated as "Even though I'm tired, I continue to work on the project." This translation maintains the concessive nuance of the original Portuguese sentence.
Can the order of the clauses be switched without changing the meaning?
Yes. While the given order "Mesmo estando cansado, eu continuo a trabalhar no projeto" emphasizes the concession (being tired) right at the beginning, you could also say "Eu continuo a trabalhar no projeto, mesmo estando cansado." Both constructions are grammatically correct, though the emphasis may shift slightly.
Is it acceptable to omit estando and simply say "Mesmo cansado, eu continuo a trabalhar no projeto"?
Yes, it is acceptable in informal speech. Dropping estando still conveys that the speaker is tired. However, including estando explicitly indicates the ongoing nature of the state, making the sentence slightly more precise in terms of timing and condition.