Breakdown of De vez em quando, eu viajo de autocarro.
eu
I
o autocarro
the bus
de
by
viajar
to travel
de vez em quando
occasionally
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about De vez em quando, eu viajo de autocarro.
What does de vez em quando mean in English?
It means “occasionally” or “from time to time”, indicating that the action happens at irregular or infrequent intervals.
What does the word autocarro refer to in this sentence?
Autocarro means “bus”. In European Portuguese, it’s the standard term for a bus, whereas Brazilian Portuguese uses “ônibus”.
Why is there a comma after de vez em quando?
The comma separates the introductory adverbial phrase from the main clause. This punctuation helps clarify the sentence structure and signals a natural pause before the subject.
Is eu viajo in the present tense, and what does that imply about the action?
Yes, eu viajo is the first person singular form of the verb viajar in the present tense. Coupled with the phrase de vez em quando, it suggests that the speaker travels by bus occasionally.
What role does the preposition de play in de autocarro?
The preposition de indicates the means or mode of transportation. In this case, it translates to “by” as in “by bus.”
Is the sentence structure typical for expressing habitual actions in Portuguese?
Yes, starting with an adverbial phrase (de vez em quando) followed by the subject and verb is a common construction in Portuguese to express actions that occur occasionally or habitually.