Breakdown of Preciso de internet rápida para ver o vídeo da aula.
eu
I
de
of
precisar de
to need
ver
to watch
para
to
rápido
fast
a aula
the class
a internet
the internet
o vídeo
the video
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Questions & Answers about Preciso de internet rápida para ver o vídeo da aula.
Why do we say preciso de internet rápida instead of just preciso internet rápida?
In European Portuguese precisar is a verb that requires the preposition de before its object. Think of precisar de as one unit, similar to English “to need.” So you always say preciso de ajuda, preciso de tempo, preciso de internet, etc.
Could we say preciso que a internet seja rápida instead of preciso de internet rápida?
Yes, you can rephrase with a subordinate clause: preciso que a internet seja rápida (“I need the internet to be fast”). It’s grammatically correct but more formal and wordy. The original phrase is shorter and idiomatic for everyday speech.
Why is there no article before internet? Wouldn’t it be a internet?
When talking about “Internet” in general, Portuguese often drops the article, just like we do in English. If you want to refer to a specific internet connection you’ve mentioned before, you could say a Internet or a internet, but most speakers simply omit it: preciso de acesso à Internet or preciso de Internet.
Why is the adjective rápida feminine and not rápido?
Adjectives in Portuguese agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Internet is feminine, so the adjective takes the feminine form rápida. If you said preciso de um movimento rápido, movimento is masculine, so you use rápido.
Why do we contract de + a into da in o vídeo da aula?
Portuguese normally contracts the preposition de with the definite articles o and a. So de + a becomes da, and de + o becomes do. Here a aula is feminine, so de + a → da.
What is the difference between ver o vídeo and assistir ao vídeo?
Both mean “to watch the video,” but:
- ver o vídeo is more general (“see/watch”).
- assistir ao vídeo uses assistir which requires the preposition a (→ ao when combined with o). It’s slightly more formal or technical. In Portugal, you’ll hear both.
Can I say preciso de internet rápida para assistir o vídeo da aula without the ao?
In Portugal, grammatically assistir takes a, so you should say assistir ao vídeo. However, many speakers (especially in Brazil) drop the preposition and say assistir o vídeo. In European Portuguese, stick to assistir ao vídeo.
Is vídeo da aula the same as “class video”?
Yes. vídeo da aula literally means “video of the lesson/class.” Aula is “lesson” or “class session.” If you wanted to say “the video for the class,” you could also say o vídeo para a aula, but that often implies a video you’ll use in class, not one you’re watching as part of the lesson.
How would I pronounce Preciso de internet rápida para ver o vídeo da aula?
A rough phonetic guide (European Portuguese):
[pɾ(ɨ)ˈsi.zu d(ɨ) ĩ.tɛʁ.ˈnɛt ˈʁap.i.ðɐ ˈpa.ɾɐ vɛɾ u ˈvi.de.u ðɐ ˈaw.lɐ]
Key points:
- The “e” in internet sounds like [ɛ].
- The “r” in rápida is a guttural [ʁ].
- The “e” in unstressed positions (e.g. ver o) often sounds like [ɨ] or [ə].