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Eu guardo moedas de ouro no cofre.

Eu guardo moedas de ouro no cofre.
I keep gold coins in the safe.
FromLesson 21inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu guardo moedas de ouro no cofre.

eu
I
de
of
em
in
guardar
to keep
o cofre
the safe
a moeda
the coin
o ouro
the gold

Questions & Answers about Eu guardo moedas de ouro no cofre.

Why is the subject pronoun eu used at the beginning of the sentence?

In Portuguese, subject pronouns are optional because the verb ending already shows who the subject is. Here eu is included for emphasis or clarity. In everyday speech you can drop it and say:
• Guardo moedas de ouro no cofre.

What does the verb guardo mean exactly?

Guardo is the first‑person singular present tense of guardar. Depending on context, guardar can mean:
• to store
• to keep
• to save
• to put away

Why is there no article before moedas de ouro?

Because the speaker refers to some gold coins in a general (indefinite) sense. If the coins were specific or already known, you’d use the definite article:
• as moedas de ouro (the gold coins)

How would you say the gold coins in Portuguese?

as moedas de ouro
‑ as = definite article (feminine plural)
‑ moedas = coins
‑ de ouro = made of gold

What role does de play in moedas de ouro?

It’s a preposition indicating material or composition:
• moedas de ouro = coins made of gold

Could you use an adjective instead of de ouro, like douradas?
Yes, moedas douradas means “gold‑colored coins.” But if they’re literally made of gold, moedas de ouro is more precise.
What does no mean in no cofre?
no is a contraction of em + o and means in the (masculine singular).
Why not say em cofre without the article?

Portuguese normally requires the definite article with em in this context:
• em + o cofre → no cofre
Saying em cofre sounds unnatural unless Cofre were a proper name.

What is a cofre?
A cofre is a strongbox, safe, or vault used for storing valuables like money, jewelry, or important documents.
Could you use a different word for cofre?

Yes. Common synonyms include:
• caixa‑forte (a bank or home safe)
• depósito (vault or storage room)

Why is the simple present tense used instead of a continuous tense like estou guardando?
European Portuguese often uses the simple present for both habitual actions and ongoing ones. The continuous form (estar a guardar) is grammatically correct but less common in Portugal.
What’s the gender and number of moedas de ouro and cofre?

• moedas: feminine plural (‑as ending)
• ouro: masculine singular (does not change)
• cofre: masculine singular (takes the article o)

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