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Eu falo abertamente sobre o exame.

Eu falo abertamente sobre o exame.
I speak openly about the exam.
FromLesson 17inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu falo abertamente sobre o exame.

eu
I
o exame
the exam
falar
to speak
sobre
about
abertamente
openly

Questions & Answers about Eu falo abertamente sobre o exame.

What is the subject of the sentence?
The subject is Eu, which means I. Although Portuguese often allows the subject pronoun to be dropped because verb conjugations indicate the person, it is included here for clarity or emphasis.
How is the verb "falar" used in this sentence, and what does "falo" indicate?
"Falo" is the first-person singular present tense form of falar (to speak). The ending -o clearly indicates that the speaker is performing the action, translating to I speak or I talk.
What does "abertamente" mean, and why is this form used instead of "aberto"?
"Abertamente" means openly. In Portuguese, to modify a verb with an adverb, you usually take the feminine form of an adjective and add -mente. Here, aberta (the feminine form of "open") becomes abertamente. Using aberto would be incorrect, as that is an adjective meant to describe a noun rather than modify a verb.
What role does the preposition "sobre" play in the sentence?
"Sobre" translates to about or concerning. In this sentence, it introduces the topic that the speaker is addressing, linking the verb to the subject matter—in this case, o exame (the exam).
Why is the definite article "o" used in "o exame," and what does it imply?
The definite article o means the. Its use implies that the exam is a specific one known by the speaker and the listener, rather than any exam in general.
Can the adverb "abertamente" be placed in a different position within the sentence, and would that change the meaning?
Yes, the adverb abertamente can sometimes be moved without a major change in meaning. For example, you might also say "Eu abertamente falo sobre o exame" or "Abertamente, eu falo sobre o exame". However, the original order (Eu falo abertamente sobre o exame) is the most natural and common in Portuguese, and it clearly indicates that the manner of speaking (openly) modifies the verb.
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