Breakdown of Antes de regressares a casa, lembra-te de escovar os dentes e arrumar o teu quarto.
a casa
the house
e
and
o quarto
the room
antes de
before
lembrar-se de
to remember
teu
your
arrumar
to tidy
escovar
to brush
o dente
the tooth
regressar
to return
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Questions & Answers about Antes de regressares a casa, lembra-te de escovar os dentes e arrumar o teu quarto.
Why is the verb “regressares” used instead of the simple infinitive “regressar,” and what exactly is the personal infinitive in this context?
“Regressares” is the second-person singular form of the personal infinitive of “regressar” (to return). In European Portuguese, when the subject of an infinitive is clearly defined (in this case “tu” – you), the verb can be inflected to indicate which person is acting. Using the personal infinitive (“regressares”) instead of the impersonal one (“regressar”) highlights that the action specifically refers to “you returning home.”
Why is the pronoun attached to “lembrar” as in “lembrar-te” rather than placed before the verb?
In Portuguese, when an infinitive or an imperative verb is used with a reflexive pronoun, the pronoun is typically attached to the end of the verb (this is known as “enclisis”). In the imperative “lembra-te,” the pronoun “te” follows the conjugated verb to form a reflexive command, which is different from English where pronouns usually come before or after the verb without attachment.
Why are “escovar” and “arrumar” both in the infinitive form, even though the sentence gives commands?
The structure “lembrar-te de” (remember to) is followed by an infinitive that specifies the action you must carry out. Thus, after the command “lembra-te de,” both “escovar” (to brush) and “arrumar” (to tidy up) remain in the infinitive. This mirrors the English construction “remember to brush your teeth and tidy your room,” where the verbs following “remember to” are in their base (infinitive) forms.
What does “arrumar o teu quarto” imply, and why is “teu” used here?
“Arrumar o teu quarto” means “tidy up your room” or “put your room in order.” The possessive adjective “teu” is the familiar, second-person singular form, matching the informal tone used throughout the sentence. It indicates that the room belongs to “you,” keeping the language consistent with the personal address found in “regressares” and “lembra-te.”
What role does the introductory phrase “Antes de regressares a casa” play, and why is it set off by a comma?
The phrase “Antes de regressares a casa” (Before you return home) sets the time frame for when the subsequent actions should occur. The comma that follows this introductory clause indicates a natural pause and separates the adverbial clause from the main command. This punctuation is used to improve clarity and readability, much like introductory phrases in English are typically set off by a comma.