Eu amasso a massa com as minhas mãos.

I knead the dough with my hands.

Breakdown of Eu amasso a massa com as minhas mãos.

• eu: I
• minha: my
• com: with
• a massa: the dough
• amassar: to knead
• a mão: the hand

Questions & Answers about Eu amasso a massa com as minhas mãos.

What does the verb amasso mean in this sentence?

The verb amasso is the first-person singular present tense of the verb amassar, which means "to knead" or "to mash." In this context, it translates as I knead, referring to the process of working the dough.

Why is the definite article a used before massa?

In Portuguese, nouns almost always come with an article. Here, massa (meaning "dough") is a feminine noun, so it is preceded by the feminine singular definite article a. This construction indicates that a particular or known quantity of dough is being referred to.

What does the phrase com as minhas mãos mean and why is it used?

The phrase com as minhas mãos translates to "with my hands." The preposition com means "with," and as minhas mãos means "my hands," where minhas agrees in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with mãos (hands). This phrase emphasizes that the kneading is done manually.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu in this sentence?

No, it is not strictly necessary. In Portuguese, the verb conjugation usually makes the subject clear, so the subject pronoun Eu (meaning "I") can be omitted. However, including it can add emphasis or clarity, especially for learners or in contexts where extra emphasis is desired.

What is the overall grammatical structure of the sentence Eu amasso a massa com as minhas mãos?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object pattern with an additional adverbial phrase: • Subject: Eu (I) • Verb: amasso (I knead) • Object: a massa (the dough) • Adverbial Phrase: com as minhas mãos (with my hands) This structure clearly indicates who is performing the action, what is being acted upon, and how the action is executed.

How does the adjective minhas agree with the noun mãos?

In Portuguese, adjectives must agree in both gender and number with the nouns they modify. Since mãos is a feminine plural noun, the possessive adjective becomes minhas (feminine plural for "my"). This agreement is essential for grammatical correctness in Portuguese.

Can the verb amassar be used in other contexts besides kneading dough?

Yes, amassar can also mean "to mash" or "to crush" in other contexts. While in this sentence it refers to kneading dough, you might also encounter it when talking about mashing potatoes, crushing fruit, or even using it metaphorically to indicate smashing something.

Are there any differences in how this sentence might be spoken versus written in Portuguese?

In spoken Portuguese, it is common to drop the subject pronoun Eu because the verb ending already clearly indicates the subject. In writing—especially in formal contexts—keeping Eu can add emphasis or clarity. Other than this, the structure and word order remain essentially the same in both spoken and written forms.