Breakdown of Vou alugar um carro no fim de semana, porque o meu está na oficina.
um
a
meu
my
ir
to go
estar
to be
porque
because
o carro
the car
em
in
o fim de semana
the weekend
alugar
to rent
a oficina
the workshop
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Questions & Answers about Vou alugar um carro no fim de semana, porque o meu está na oficina.
What does “Vou alugar” mean, and how is it used to express a future action?
“Vou alugar” literally translates to “I am going to rent.” In Portuguese, using the present form of “ir” (vou) followed by an infinitive (alugar) is a common way to talk about future plans or actions, much like the “going to” construction in English.
How does “um carro” translate in this sentence, and why is the indefinite article used?
“Um carro” translates as “a car.” The indefinite article “um” indicates that the speaker isn’t referring to a specific car previously mentioned, but rather to any car that will be rented.
Why is the possessive pronoun “o meu” used without repeating the noun “carro”?
In Portuguese, it’s quite common to omit the noun when the context makes it clear what is being referred to. “O meu” stands for “o meu carro” (my car), making the sentence more concise without losing meaning.
What does “no fim de semana” mean, and is this phrase specific to European Portuguese?
“No fim de semana” means “at the weekend” (or “on the weekend”). This phrasing is typical in European Portuguese. While Brazilians sometimes say “no final de semana,” both expressions are understood, with “fim de semana” being more standard in Portugal.
What is the significance of “está na oficina” in the sentence?
“Está na oficina” means “is in the workshop.” Here, “está” is the present tense of “estar,” indicating a temporary state, and “na” is a contraction of “em” and “a,” meaning “in the.” The phrase tells us that the speaker’s car is currently in the workshop, likely for repairs.