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Questions & Answers about Depois de correr, eu estou tonto.
Why is the verb correr in its infinitive form after depois de?
In Portuguese, when a preposition like de is used as part of a temporal expression such as depois de (“after”), the verb that follows must be in its infinitive form. In this case, correr (“to run”) remains un-conjugated to indicate the action that happened before the main clause.
Why is the subject pronoun eu included, and can it be omitted?
Portuguese verb conjugations already indicate the subject, so the pronoun eu (“I”) is often optional. It’s included here for clarity or emphasis. You could also say Depois de correr, estou tonto without any loss of meaning.
What is the function of the comma after Depois de correr?
The comma separates the introductory adverbial phrase Depois de correr from the main clause eu estou tonto. This punctuation clarifies that the action of running precedes the current state of being dizzy, similar to how introductory phrases are set off by a comma in English.
What does tonto mean in this sentence, and might it be confusing for learners?
In this context, tonto means “dizzy” or “lightheaded.” Some learners might be tempted to associate it with the Spanish tonto (meaning “silly” or “foolish”), but here it clearly describes a physical state resulting from running.
Why is estou (from the verb estar) used instead of sou (from ser)?
The verb estar is used to describe temporary states or conditions, such as feeling dizzy. Estou (the first-person singular form) correctly indicates a temporary state after running. Ser is generally reserved for permanent characteristics, so eu sou tonto would not be appropriate in this context.
Can the sentence be rearranged, for example as Eu estou tonto depois de correr, and still be correct?
Yes, rearranging the sentence to Eu estou tonto depois de correr is perfectly acceptable. Both orders are common in Portuguese. Placing the temporal phrase at the beginning, as in the original sentence, emphasizes that the state of being dizzy followed the activity of running.