Eu asseguro-me de levar o guarda-chuva.

I make sure to take the umbrella.

Breakdown of Eu asseguro-me de levar o guarda-chuva.

• eu: I
• levar: to take
• o guarda-chuva: the umbrella
• assegurar-se de: to make sure

Questions & Answers about Eu asseguro-me de levar o guarda-chuva.

What does asseguro-me mean in this context?

Asseguro-me is the first person singular form of the reflexive verb assegurar-se, which means “to make sure” or “to ensure.” In this sentence, it indicates that the speaker is taking responsibility to ensure that the action—in this case, bringing the umbrella—actually happens.

Why is the reflexive pronoun -me attached at the end of asseguro, and can it be placed somewhere else?

In European Portuguese, affirmative sentences often use enclisis, where the clitic pronoun is attached to the end of the verb—hence asseguro-me. In other contexts (especially with negative sentences or certain triggers), the pronoun might be placed before the verb (proclisis), as in me asseguro. Both forms are correct, but the enclitic placement is typical in simple declarative sentences.

What is the role of the preposition de before levar in this sentence?

The preposition de is part of the fixed construction assegurar-se de + infinitive. It functions as a link between the verb and the action being ensured. In this instance, de levar indicates what is being made sure of—bringing (or taking) the umbrella—and is an essential element for the sentence’s grammatical correctness.

Why is levar used instead of trazer, and what’s the difference between these verbs?

In Portuguese, levar means “to take” something from one place to another, while trazer means “to bring” something toward the speaker. In this sentence, levar is chosen because it implies taking the umbrella along when leaving, rather than bringing it to a particular place.

What does the compound noun guarda-chuva literally mean, and why is it written with a hyphen?

Guarda-chuva literally blends guarda (related to “guard” or “protect”) and chuva (meaning “rain”), together describing an object that protects you from rain—an umbrella. The hyphen is used because it’s a fixed compound noun, a convention in Portuguese that signals the two words form one specific term.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu at the beginning of the sentence?

No, including Eu (“I”) is optional since the conjugated verb asseguro already clearly indicates the first person singular. However, using it can add emphasis or clarity, especially for learners.