Primo ajuda a arrumar a casa.

Cousin helps tidy up the house.

Breakdown of Primo ajuda a arrumar a casa.

• a casa: the house
• ajudar: to help
• arrumar: to tidy up
• o primo: the cousin

Questions & Answers about Primo ajuda a arrumar a casa.

What does primo mean in this sentence?

Primo translates to cousin in English, referring here typically to a male cousin.

Why is there no definite article before primo? Shouldn’t it be o primo?

In Portuguese, especially in informal contexts or headline-style expressions, it’s common to omit the definite article. Although in more formal or explicit contexts you might say o primo (meaning the cousin), dropping the article can be a stylistic choice when the context already makes the reference clear.

Why is the preposition a used before the verb arrumar?

In Portuguese, verbs like ajudar (“to help”) are typically followed by an infinitive that is preceded by the preposition a. This structure—ajuda a arrumar—is equivalent to the English helps to tidy up or simply helps tidy up.

What tense is the verb ajuda, and what does that indicate about the action?

Ajuda is in the simple present tense, which implies that the cousin habitually or regularly helps tidy the house, or that this is a current, ongoing action.

How does the phrase a arrumar a casa break down in terms of grammar and meaning?

The phrase a arrumar a casa consists of the preposition a followed by the infinitive verb arrumar (“to tidy up” or “to arrange”) and the noun phrase a casa (“the house”), with a serving as the definite article for casa. Together, it means to tidy up the house.

Are there differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese in constructions like ajuda a arrumar?

While both varieties commonly use the structure ajuda a arrumar, Brazilian Portuguese sometimes drops the preposition—resulting in ajuda arrumar—without causing confusion. In European Portuguese and in more formal registers, including the preposition a is generally preferred.