Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu deixo o telemóvel na mesa.
What is the meaning of deixo in this sentence?
Deixo is the first person singular form of the verb deixar. In this context, it means "I leave"—indicating that the speaker intentionally places the cellphone on the table.
Why is the definite article o used before telemóvel?
The article o is the masculine singular definite article in Portuguese. It functions similarly to the English the, specifying a particular cellphone. In Portuguese, nouns are normally accompanied by an article, and telemóvel is a masculine noun.
What does na in na mesa mean, and why is it used instead of just em?
Na is a contraction of the preposition em (meaning "in" or "on") and the feminine article a. Since mesa (table) is a feminine noun, em + a becomes na. It tells you both the location and the gender agreement.
What is the tense of deixo, and how does it agree with the subject Eu?
Deixo is in the present indicative tense, first person singular. It correctly agrees with Eu, which means "I" in English, showing that the action is currently taking place or is a habitual action.
Why isn’t a possessive adjective like meu used before telemóvel even though the subject is Eu?
In Portuguese, it is quite common to use a definite article instead of a possessive adjective when ownership is clear from the context. Because the speaker is referring to their own cellphone, o telemóvel sufficiently implies "my cellphone" without needing to say meu telemóvel.
What is the overall structure of the sentence "Eu deixo o telemóvel na mesa"?
The sentence follows a typical Portuguese structure: it starts with the subject (Eu), followed by the verb (deixo), then the object (o telemóvel), and finally a prepositional phrase of location (na mesa). This mirrors a common Subject-Verb-Object-Place order similar to English.
Can deixar be translated always as "leave"? Could it be confused with "put" in English?
While deixar is often translated as "leave" (as in "I leave something somewhere"), context matters. In this sentence, it means to set the cellphone on the table and then not attend to it—similar to "I leave the cellphone on the table." Although it might seem similar to “put” in English, deixar has various meanings (including "to let" or "to allow"), so understanding the context is key for the correct translation.