Breakdown of O engenheiro desenha a nova linha do metro com cuidado para não estragar o plano.
de
of
novo
new
desenhar
to draw
não
not
o plano
the plan
com cuidado
carefully
para
so as to
estragar
to ruin
o metro
the subway
a linha
the line
o engenheiro
the engineer
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Questions & Answers about O engenheiro desenha a nova linha do metro com cuidado para não estragar o plano.
Why do we use O engenheiro instead of just Engenheiro? Can the article be omitted before professions in Portuguese?
In European Portuguese, it’s common to include the definite article before a profession or role.
- O engenheiro literally means “the engineer.”
- Omitting the article (just Engenheiro desenha…) sounds more like a headline or very informal note.
- In everyday sentences, keep o/a before professions even when you’re not specifying a particular person.
What tense and person is desenha in, and how do you conjugate desenhar in the present indicative?
Desenha is the 3rd person singular of desenhar in the present indicative. It matches ele/ela/você.
Present indicative of desenhar:
- Eu desenho
- Tu desenhas
- Ele/ela/você desenha
- Nós desenhamos
- Vós desenhais
- Eles/elas/vocês desenham
Why is it a nova linha and not just nova linha? When do we keep the article with adjectives?
The noun linha is feminine singular, so the article is a. Even with an adjective, European Portuguese typically retains the article:
- a linha → a nova linha
If you omit the article, it’s possible but more poetic or journalistic: - (Newspapers) Nova linha do metro abre hoje.
What’s the difference between metro and metropolitano? Why choose metro here?
- Metro is the informal, everyday term for an underground rail system (subway).
- Metropolitano is more formal or used in specific names (e.g., Metropolitano de Lisboa).
In casual speech and writing, metro is preferred.
Why do we say linha do metro instead of linha de metro?
Do is the contraction of de + o. Since metro is masculine singular with a definite article, you must combine them:
- de + o metro → do metro
Without the article, you’d say linha de metro in a very generic sense, but here we’re referring to the metro line.
What does com cuidado mean, and are there alternative ways to say “carefully” in Portuguese?
Com cuidado literally means “with care” → “carefully.” Alternatives:
- cuidadosamente (more formal)
- com atenção (“with attention”)
- de modo cauteloso (formal/written)
Why is the structure para não estragar o plano used? Could we use another form to express purpose and prevention?
Para não + infinitive expresses purpose: “in order not to…”
- para não estragar o plano = “so as not to ruin the plan.”
Alternative with subjunctive: - para que não estrague o plano (more formal, uses subjunctive estrague).
Both are correct, but para não + infinitive is more common in speech.
What does estragar o plano mean, and does estragar require a direct object?
Estragar means “to spoil,” “to ruin,” or “to damage.” It’s a transitive verb, so it usually takes a direct object without a preposition:
- estragar o plano (“ruin the plan”)
If you need to specify damage to something: - estragar algo (“to spoil something”)