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Tentamos contornar a ponte em obras, mas acabámos por ficar perdidos.

Tentamos contornar a ponte em obras, mas acabámos por ficar perdidos.
We tried to go around the bridge under construction, but we ended up getting lost.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Tentamos contornar a ponte em obras, mas acabámos por ficar perdidos.

mas
but
em
in
tentar
to try
ficar
to get
a ponte
the bridge
contornar
to go around
a obra
the construction
acabar por
to end up
perdido
lost

Questions & Answers about Tentamos contornar a ponte em obras, mas acabámos por ficar perdidos.

What does the verb contornar mean in this context?
Contornar means to bypass, avoid, or go around. In this sentence, it implies that they attempted to take an alternative route to avoid the bridge that was under construction.
What does the phrase em obras signify?
Em obras literally means "under construction" or "in the process of being repaired." It indicates that the bridge was undergoing construction work, which is why the speaker’s plan was to bypass it.
What is the meaning of the expression acabámos por ficar perdidos?
The expression acabámos por ficar perdidos translates to "we ended up getting lost." It conveys that despite their initial attempt to avoid the bridge, their plan led to an unintended outcome—they became lost.
Why is the preposition por used in acabámos por ficar perdidos?
In Portuguese, the construction acabar por followed by an infinitive is idiomatic and is used to express an eventual or unintended result. The preposition por is essential in linking the verb acabar with the subsequent action (ficar) to indicate that getting lost was the eventual outcome of their attempt.
How do the two parts of the sentence work together?
The sentence is structured to show a contrast between intent and result. The first part, Tentamos contornar a ponte em obras, outlines their deliberate plan to avoid the bridge under construction, while the second part, mas acabámos por ficar perdidos, reveals that their plan backfired and culminated in them getting lost. The conjunction mas (“but”) highlights the unexpected contrast between their intended and actual outcomes.
Is the construction acabar por used in the same way in both European and Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes, the construction acabar por followed by an infinitive is commonly used in both European and Brazilian Portuguese to express an unintended or eventual outcome. While there might be minor differences in usage or pronunciation between the two variants, the overall meaning remains the same.
How does the sentence illustrate the idea of an unexpected outcome?
The sentence illustrates an unexpected outcome through its structure. The speakers’ initial plan to solve a problem (avoiding the bridge under construction) is presented first, only to be subverted by the unexpected result (getting lost). The use of mas ("but") and the idiomatic construction acabámos por together emphasize that despite their efforts, they reached a result they had not anticipated.
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