Breakdown of Depois de nós terminarmos o lanche, vamos buscar alguns livros na biblioteca.
ir
to go
nós
we
em
in
o livro
the book
depois de
after
terminar
to finish
alguns
some
a biblioteca
the library
buscar
to pick up
o lanche
the snack
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Questions & Answers about Depois de nós terminarmos o lanche, vamos buscar alguns livros na biblioteca.
What does "Depois de" mean in this sentence, and why is it placed at the beginning?
"Depois de" is a temporal conjunction that translates as "after" in English. In this sentence, it introduces a dependent clause that specifies the action that needs to happen before the main event—namely, that after we finish our snack, something will follow (picking up books). Its position at the beginning clearly establishes the order of events.
Why is the verb form "terminarmos" in the subjunctive mood rather than the indicative?
In Portuguese, when referring to a future event that is not yet certain or completed—especially in clauses introduced by temporal phrases like "depois de"—the verb must be in the future subjunctive. Here, "terminarmos" (from the verb terminar) is used to indicate that the action of finishing the snack is anticipated but has not yet occurred. This mood choice distinguishes it from an action already completed.
What is the role of the subject pronoun "nós" in the clause "nós terminarmos", given that subject pronouns are often omitted in Portuguese?
While it’s common in Portuguese to omit subject pronouns because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject, "nós" is included here for extra clarity or emphasis. It explicitly signals that "we" are the ones performing the action, reinforcing the subject of the clause and sometimes making the sentence clearer in spoken language.
What does "lanche" refer to in this context?
In this sentence, "lanche" refers to a light snack or small meal. In Portuguese (Portugal), the term is typically used to describe a modest meal or break for eating, rather than a full and formal meal.
How does the phrase "vamos buscar" express future intention in this sentence?
The phrase "vamos buscar" is a periphrastic future construction. Although "vamos" is the present tense form of "ir" (to go), when paired with the infinitive "buscar" (to fetch), it conveys a planned future action—much like saying "we are going to fetch" or "we will fetch" in English. This structure is commonly used in Portuguese to indicate a forthcoming activity.
What does the contraction "na" in "na biblioteca" represent?
"Na" is a contraction of the preposition "em" (meaning "in" or "at") and the feminine definite article "a" (meaning "the"). Therefore, "na biblioteca" translates to "in the library" in English.