Breakdown of Faremos um balanço das nossas despesas para perceber onde podemos poupar.
um
a
de
of
poder
to be able to
para
to
poupar
to save
o balanço
the balance
nossas
our
a despesa
the expense
perceber
to see
onde
where
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Questions & Answers about Faremos um balanço das nossas despesas para perceber onde podemos poupar.
What does Faremos mean, and how is it formed in this sentence?
Faremos is the first-person plural future tense of the verb fazer. It means "we will do" or "we will make." In Portuguese, the future tense is used here to express a planned action that will take place, and the form is created by adding the future endings to the verb stem.
What does um balanço mean in the context of this sentence?
In this sentence, um balanço refers to an overview or review—in this case, of our expenses. While it can literally mean "balance," in this context it implies a detailed assessment or analysis of the financial outlay.
How does das nossas despesas function grammatically, and what does it translate to in English?
The phrase das nossas despesas translates to "of our expenses." Here, das is a contraction of de + as, combining the preposition "of" with the feminine plural article that accompanies despesas (expenses), which is a feminine noun. Nossas is the feminine plural possessive adjective meaning "our," agreeing with despesas.
What is the meaning of para perceber onde podemos poupar, and why is the present tense used with podemos?
Para perceber onde podemos poupar means "in order to understand where we can save." The phrase uses para to indicate purpose ("in order to") and perceber to mean "to understand" or "to figure out." Although the main clause is in the future (Faremos), the clause onde podemos poupar uses the present tense (podemos) because it expresses a general ability or opportunity that exists regardless of the timing—this is a common structure in Portuguese when stating conditions or possibilities.
Is there any difference between poupar and other similar verbs like economizar used to mean "to save"?
Yes, there is a subtle difference. While both poupar and economizar can mean "to save" in the context of money or resources, poupar often emphasizes cutting back expenses or being frugal. On the other hand, economizar can imply saving in a broader sense, such as conserving energy or resources. The context usually determines which verb is more appropriate.
Why is the sentence structured with a future action followed by a purpose clause in the present tense, and is this common in Portuguese?
The sentence is structured to first mention a planned future activity—making a review of the expenses—with the future tense (Faremos). It then explains the purpose of that action using a purpose clause in the present tense (para perceber onde podemos poupar). This mix is common in Portuguese because when expressing a purpose or general truth, especially after phrases like para perceber, the present tense is often used even if the main clause is in the future. This usage reflects that the ability or possibility to save is an ongoing characteristic rather than limited to the future.