Breakdown of O Pedro deixou o cesto junto à porta, para levar as frutas ao mercado local.
Pedro
Pedro
o mercado
the market
a porta
the door
para
in order to
levar
to take
deixar
to leave
local
local
a fruta
the fruit
o cesto
the basket
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Questions & Answers about O Pedro deixou o cesto junto à porta, para levar as frutas ao mercado local.
What does junto à porta mean, and how is it constructed grammatically?
Junto à porta means "next to the door" or "by the door" in English. Here, junto means "next to" and à is the contraction of the preposition a (meaning "to" or "at") and the feminine definite article a, which is used because porta (door) is a feminine noun.
What is the function of the clause para levar as frutas ao mercado local in the sentence?
The clause para levar as frutas ao mercado local is an infinitive purpose clause that explains the reason behind Pedro’s action. It translates to "in order to take the fruits to the local market" and indicates the intended purpose of leaving the basket by the door.
What does the word cesto mean in this sentence?
The word cesto means "basket" in English. It refers to the container that Pedro left by the door.
Why are contractions used in junto à porta and ao mercado, and what do they signify?
In Portuguese, contractions are used to combine prepositions with definite articles. In junto à porta, à is the contraction of a + a (since porta is a feminine noun), and in ao mercado, ao is the contraction of a + o (because mercado is masculine). These contractions help the language sound more natural and fluid.
Why does the sentence use the definite article o before Pedro when names in English typically do not have an article?
In Portuguese, it is common to use the definite article before a person’s first name, especially in informal contexts or to emphasize familiarity. So, O Pedro is a natural way to refer to Pedro in Portuguese, even though English usually omits the article with proper names.
What tense is the verb deixou, and why is it used here?
The verb deixou is the third-person singular form of the verb deixar in the simple past tense (pretérito perfeito). It indicates that Pedro completed the action of leaving the basket by the door. This tense is used to narrate events that have already occurred.