Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu corro mais rapidamente.
Why is the adverb rapidamente used instead of the adjective rápido?
In Portuguese, adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs. Since the sentence tells us how the action of running is performed, the adverbial form rapidamente (meaning "quickly") is the correct choice—much like using "quickly" rather than "quick" in English.
What does the verb form corro indicate about the subject and its conjugation?
Corro is the first person singular form of the verb correr (to run). It clearly indicates that the subject is eu (I). The conjugation in corro shows that the action is being performed by the speaker, even if the subject were to be dropped in conversation.
Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu in this sentence?
No, it isn't always necessary. Portuguese is a pro-drop language, which means that subject pronouns like eu can often be omitted because the verb's ending provides that information. However, including Eu can add emphasis or clarity, especially in contexts where the subject might otherwise be ambiguous.
How does the phrase mais rapidamente convey a comparative meaning?
The word mais means "more," and when it precedes an adverb like rapidamente, it forms a comparative structure. This construction implies that the running is done more quickly compared to another scenario, even if that comparison isn’t explicitly stated in the sentence.
Do I always need to attach -mente to an adjective when I want to use it adverbially?
Often yes. Many Portuguese adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular form of an adjective, which in this case transforms rápido into rapidamente. This is similar to how English adjectives become adverbs by adding -ly (e.g., quick → quickly).
Could the sentence be expanded to include an explicit comparison, such as “than before”?
Absolutely. To make the comparison explicit, you could extend the sentence to say, Eu corro mais rapidamente do que antes, which translates to "I run more quickly than before." In the original sentence, the comparison is implied by context, but adding a phrase like do que antes clarifies the reference point.