Breakdown of Estou a aguardar notícias do meu amigo que foi viajar para o Brasil.
eu
I
meu
my
o amigo
the friend
de
of
ir
to go
estar
to be
para
to
que
who
viajar
to travel
aguardar
to wait for
a notícia
the news
Brasil
Brazil
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Questions & Answers about Estou a aguardar notícias do meu amigo que foi viajar para o Brasil.
What does "Estou a aguardar notícias" mean, and why is the structure "estar a + infinitive" used instead of a gerund form like "aguardando"?
"Estou a aguardar notícias" translates to "I am waiting for news" or "I am awaiting news." In European Portuguese, forming the present continuous with "estar" is typically done by using the structure "estar a + infinitive". This is in contrast with Brazilian Portuguese, which generally employs the gerund (e.g., "aguardando") to express the progressive aspect.
What is the function of the relative clause "que foi viajar para o Brasil" in the sentence?
The clause "que foi viajar para o Brasil" is a defining relative clause that modifies "meu amigo". It specifies which friend is meant—the one who went traveling to Brazil—and provides essential information that distinguishes him from any other friend.
Why is "notícias" used in the plural form in Portuguese, even though the word "news" in English is typically uncountable?
In Portuguese, "notícias" is conventionally a plural noun used to refer to pieces of information or updates. Although English treats "news" as a mass noun without a plural form, Portuguese naturally uses the plural to denote the idea of multiple pieces or bits of news. This difference is simply due to the way each language handles the concept linguistically.
Why does the sentence use "foi viajar" rather than simply "viajou"?
Both "foi viajar" and "viajou" convey that traveling occurred, but "foi viajar" employs an auxiliary verb (the past form of "ir") plus the infinitive "viajar." This construction can emphasize the initiation of the journey, suggesting more of a process or purposeful departure. It’s a stylistic choice found in Portuguese that, while slightly more elaborate, is completely acceptable and common.
Is there any difference in meaning between "aguardar" and "esperar," and why might "aguardar" be chosen in this sentence?
Although both "aguardar" and "esperar" can mean "to wait," "aguardar" tends to carry a slightly more formal or deliberate connotation. It is often used when speaking about waiting for specific information, updates, or news, as in this sentence. In contrast, "esperar" is more commonly used in casual conversation and can be less specific. Thus, "aguardar" is chosen here to stress the active, anticipatory aspect of waiting for an update.