Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O engenheiro estuda o regulamento antes de começar o projeto. - The engineer studies the regulation before starting the project.

In European Portuguese we normally use definite articles before nouns acting as subjects (except after the verb ser). When you say a profession with any verb other than ser, you keep the article.
Examples:
• O médico trabalha muito.
• A professora explicou a lição.
If you used ser, you’d omit it: Ele é engenheiro.

Why is the simple present estuda used instead of a continuous form like “is studying”?

Portuguese often uses the simple present to express both habitual actions and ongoing events. So estuda can mean “he studies” or “he is studying.” To stress the continuous aspect in European Portuguese, you can use:
• O engenheiro está a estudar o regulamento.
Using estar + a + infinitive is the typical EP continuous form.

How does the structure antes de começar o projeto work? Why do we say antes de + infinitive?

When the same subject performs both actions, Portuguese uses antes de + infinitive:
• Antes de começar o projeto (Before starting the project)
Here de is mandatory. You cannot say antes começar.
If the subjects differ, you switch to antes que + subjunctive:
• Ele estuda o regulamento antes que o colega comece o projeto.

Why isn’t there a preposition or connector between começar and o projeto?

Começar can be used transitively with a direct object:
• começar o projeto – “to start the project.”
You only add a when começar is followed by another verb:
• começar a fazer – “to start doing.”

Why are regulamento and projeto masculine nouns?

Portuguese nouns have grammatical gender, often without a direct link to meaning. Many abstract or inanimate nouns ending in -o are masculine. You must learn each noun’s gender. Both regulamento (rules/regulation) and projeto (project) happen to be masculine.

Can I rearrange the sentence to put antes de começar o projeto at the beginning?

Yes. You can front the adverbial phrase and use a comma:
• Antes de começar o projeto, o engenheiro estuda o regulamento.
The core meaning stays the same. European Portuguese usually keeps SVO order, but fronting is common for emphasis or variety.

Why is projeto spelled with a “j” instead of “projecto” as in older texts?

The 1990 Orthographic Agreement simplified many ct clusters. Words like projecto, acto and spectáculo became projeto, ato and espetáculo across Portugal and Brazil. So projeto is the modern, official spelling in European Portuguese.