Eu aconselho sempre os meus amigos a descansarem bem antes do exame.

I always advise my friends to get good rest before the exam.

Breakdown of Eu aconselho sempre os meus amigos a descansarem bem antes do exame.

• eu: I
• meu: my
• o amigo: the friend
• descansar: to rest
• o exame: the exam
• sempre: always
• bem: well
• antes: before
• aconselhar: to advise

Questions & Answers about Eu aconselho sempre os meus amigos a descansarem bem antes do exame.

Why is “descansarem” in the subjunctive form instead of using the simple infinitive “descansar”?

In Portuguese, when you use a verb like aconselhar to give advice, the construction “aconselhar alguém a fazer algo” requires that the recommended action be in the subjunctive mood. Using descansarem (the present subjunctive for “they rest”) instead of “descansar” emphasizes that the advice is about what the friends should do, rather than stating a factual action.

What role does the preposition a play before “descansarem” in the sentence?

The preposition a serves as a connector between the object and the action. In the structure “aconselhar alguém a [verb]”, the a introduces the subordinate clause that expresses the advised action. This is similar to saying “I advise my friends to rest” in English, where “to” links the advice with the action.

Why is the adverb sempre placed immediately after aconselho?

In Portuguese, adverbs of frequency like sempre (“always”) are often positioned right after the conjugated verb to emphasize the habitual nature of the action. Here, placing sempre immediately after aconselho highlights that advising one’s friends to rest well is something the speaker routinely does.

What does the phrase antes do exame mean, and why is “do” used instead of “de o”?

The phrase antes do exame translates to “before the exam.” The word do is a contraction of the preposition de and the definite article o, which is common in Portuguese grammar. Instead of saying “antes de o exame,” the language uses do exame as a smoother and grammatically correct form.

Why does the sentence include os meus amigos instead of just amigos?

Including os meus specifies “my friends” and adds a personal nuance to the advice. In European Portuguese, it is common to combine possessive adjectives with the definite article to clearly indicate which group of friends is being addressed, making the sentence both precise and natural sounding.

What tense and mood is used in aconselho, and what does this tell us about the action?

Aconselho is the first person singular form of the verb aconselhar in the present indicative. This tense indicates that the speaker is currently offering advice, and it often implies a habitual or general truth, reinforcing that the action of advising is ongoing or regularly practiced.