Question 1

Why is the indirect‐object pronoun lhe used in “Não lhe entregues a camisa ainda” instead of te, o or a?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, the verb entregar takes two objects: the thing you’re handing over (direct object) and the person you’re handing it to (indirect object).  
- lhe is the 3rd‐person singular indirect‐object pronoun (“to him/her”).  
- te would mean “to you” (2nd person).  
- o/a are direct‐object pronouns (“it”).

So Não lhe entregues a camisa literally means “Don’t hand the shirt over to him/her.”

Question 2

Why is the pronoun lhe placed before the verb in “Não lhe entregues” but the direct‐object pronoun a also appears before queimou (“se o ferro a queimou”) rather than after?

Accepted Answer

Portuguese clitic placement depends on the type of clause and certain triggering words:  
1. In negative imperatives (like Não entregues), pronouns must appear before the verb (proclisis):  
   “Não lhe entregues.”  
2. In subordinate clauses introduced by a conjunction such as se, that conjunction also triggers proclisis, so you again place the pronoun before the verb:  
   “...quero ver se o ferro a queimou.”

If there were no negative word or subordinating conjunction, you might see enclisis (queimou-a) in affirmative, main‐clause contexts.

Question 3

Why is it entregues and not entrega after Não?

Accepted Answer

The negative imperative for tu is formed with the present‐subjunctive form of the verb, not the indicative.  
- Indicative: tu entregas → affirmative command (rarely used directly)  
- Subjunctive: tu entregues → negative command:  
   “Não entregues!”

So “entregues” comes from the present‐subjunctive of entregar.

Question 4

What does ainda do in this sentence, and why not use já?

Accepted Answer

- ainda in a negative context means yet: “not yet.”  
- Não lhe entregues a camisa ainda = “Don’t give him/her the shirt yet.”  
Using já in a negative context (“Não já”) isn’t idiomatic; já normally signals “already” in affirmative or questions.

Question 5

Why is there a definite article a before camisa?

Accepted Answer

Portuguese generally uses definite articles with nouns in contexts where English omits them.  
- a camisa = “the shirt.”  
Without the article (“Não lhe entregues camisa”) it sounds unnatural in European Portuguese.

Question 6

What does ferro refer to here? Shouldn’t it be ferro de engomar?

Accepted Answer

In everyday speech ferro is shorthand for ferro de engomar (clothes iron). Portuguese speakers often drop the “de engomar” when context makes it clear you mean the ironing iron:
   “Passa a roupa com o ferro.”  
Likewise: “ver se o ferro a queimou” = “see if the iron has burnt it.”

Question 7

What tense is queimou, and why is it used?

Accepted Answer

queimou is the simple past (pretérito perfeito) of queimar.  
Portuguese uses this tense for a specific completed action in the past. Here it means “the iron burnt it” (once, at the time of ironing). That aligns with English “burnt” or “has burnt,” but Portuguese typically expresses it with the simple past.

Não lhe entregues a camisa ainda; primeiro quero ver se o ferro a queimou.

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