Breakdown of Durante a manhã, gosto de escovar os dentes antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço.
gostar de
to like
a manhã
the morning
antes de
before
durante
during
escovar
to brush
o dente
the tooth
o pequeno-almoço
breakfast
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Questions & Answers about Durante a manhã, gosto de escovar os dentes antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço.
What does Durante a manhã mean in English, and is it interchangeable with de manhã?
Durante a manhã literally translates to “during the morning.” While you can also say de manhã to mean “in the morning,” using durante a manhã can emphasize that the action takes place within the entire morning period, though in everyday conversation de manhã is more common.
How does the construction gosto de work, and why is it followed by an infinitive in this sentence?
Gosto de means “I like to” or “I enjoy”. In Portuguese, verbs that express preferences, such as gostar de, are typically followed by another verb in its infinitive form. In this sentence, escovar (to brush) remains in the infinitive, matching the structure: I like to brush.
Why is the definite article os used in escovar os dentes instead of a possessive like my teeth?
In Portuguese, it is common to use the definite article with body parts when speaking in general or habitual terms. Os dentes literally means “the teeth”, and the context makes it clear whose teeth are being referred to. This is why a possessive pronoun is unnecessary here, unlike in English where we say “my teeth.”
What does the phrase antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço indicate about the sequence of actions?
The phrase antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço translates to “before having breakfast”. It defines the order in which the actions occur, showing that the speaker brushes their teeth before they eat breakfast. The structure antes de is used to indicate that one event happens prior to another.
What is the meaning of pequeno-almoço and how does it differ from the term used in Brazilian Portuguese?
Pequeno-almoço refers to “breakfast” in Portugal and literally translates as “small breakfast.” In Brazilian Portuguese, however, the common term for breakfast is café da manhã. This difference is one of several vocabulary distinctions between European and Brazilian Portuguese.
Can you explain the overall sentence structure of Durante a manhã, gosto de escovar os dentes antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço?
Certainly! The sentence is structured into three key parts:
- Durante a manhã – a time expression setting the scene by indicating when the routine takes place.
- Gosto de escovar os dentes – the main clause that tells us what the speaker enjoys doing, “I like to brush my teeth.”
- Antes de tomar o pequeno-almoço – a subordinate clause that explains when the main action occurs, specifically “before having breakfast.” Together, they form a coherent description of a morning routine.