Breakdown of O tio do João vai visitar o seu neto pequenino quando regressar do estrangeiro.
de
of
ir
to go
quando
when
visitar
to visit
seu
his
regressar
to return
o tio
the uncle
João
João
o neto
the grandson
pequenino
little
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Questions & Answers about O tio do João vai visitar o seu neto pequenino quando regressar do estrangeiro.
What is the function of "vai visitar" in this sentence?
It is an example of the “ir + infinitive” construction used to express a future action in Portuguese. Here, "vai" (from the verb "ir") combined with "visitar" indicates that the action is planned or will take place soon, much like saying “is going to visit” in English.
Who is the subject of the sentence, and what does "o tio do João" mean?
The subject is "o tio do João," which literally translates as "João's uncle." This phrase identifies the person who will carry out the action of visiting; it means the uncle that belongs to or is related to João.
In the phrase "o seu neto pequenino," to whom does the possessive adjective "seu" refer?
In this context, "seu" refers to the subject of the sentence (the uncle), indicating that it is his grandson who is being mentioned. Although "seu" can sometimes be ambiguous in Portuguese, here context makes it clear that it means "his."
Why is the adjective "pequenino" used instead of "pequeno," and what nuance does it add?
"Pequenino" is a diminutive form of "pequeno." Using the diminutive not only conveys the literal sense of “small” but also adds a tone of affection or endearment towards the grandson, suggesting he might be notably little or cute.
Can you explain the meaning and structure of the clause "quando regressar do estrangeiro"?
Certainly. "Quando regressar do estrangeiro" is an adverbial (time-related) subordinate clause meaning "when (he) returns from abroad." Here, "regressar" (commonly used in European Portuguese for "to return") indicates the action of coming back, and "do estrangeiro" (a contraction of "de" + "o estrangeiro") means "from abroad." The subject of this subordinate clause is implicitly the same as in the main clause (the uncle).
What does the contraction "do" in "o tio do João" represent?
The contraction "do" is a combination of the preposition "de" and the definite article "o." It translates as "of" in English, establishing a relationship of possession. Thus, "o tio do João" literally means "the uncle of João," or more naturally, "João's uncle."
How does the sentence structure reflect typical Portuguese word order compared to English?
Portuguese frequently uses constructions and word order that might seem different from English. For example, possessive relationships are expressed with phrases like "o tio do João" (literally "the uncle of João"), and the future is often formed with an "ir + infinitive" construction rather than a dedicated future tense verb. Additionally, in subordinate clauses (such as "quando regressar do estrangeiro"), the subject is often omitted when it is clear from context, which is a common practice in Portuguese grammar.