Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Trouxe-te uma prenda para agradecer a tua ajuda com os meus estudos. - I brought you a gift to thank you for your help with my studies.

Trouxe-te comes from the verb trazer. Trouxe is the preterite (past) form meaning brought (with the implied subject eu meaning “I”), and te is the clitic object pronoun meaning you. In European Portuguese, it’s common to attach the pronoun after the verb in affirmative statements.

What does prenda mean in this context, and is it commonly used in Portugal?

In this sentence, prenda refers to a gift or present. It is a familiar term often used in Portugal to denote a token of appreciation, and it is the more common word for a gift there compared to some other expressions you might find in Brazilian Portuguese.

Why is the subject not explicitly mentioned in the sentence?

Portuguese verb conjugations make the subject clear, so the subject pronoun (in this case, eu meaning “I”) is typically omitted. The form trouxe already indicates that the action is performed by the first person singular, which is why an explicit subject isn’t necessary.

Why is tua used instead of teu when referring to ajuda?

The noun ajuda is feminine, so the corresponding possessive adjective must agree in gender. That’s why tua (the feminine form of “your”) is used rather than teu (the masculine form).

How does the phrase para agradecer function in the sentence?

The phrase para agradecer is an infinitive clause that expresses purpose. It means “to thank” and explains why the gift was brought—it was brought in order to thank you for your help.

What role does the prepositional phrase com os meus estudos play in the sentence?

Com os meus estudos specifies the context of the help being acknowledged. It tells you that the gratitude is for the assistance provided with regard to my studies, clarifying that the support was related to the speaker’s academic work.