Breakdown of Eu deixo entrar ar fresco pela janela.
eu
I
a janela
the window
fresco
fresh
o ar
the air
deixar entrar
to let in
pela
through
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Questions & Answers about Eu deixo entrar ar fresco pela janela.
What does the verb deixo mean in this sentence and why is it used here?
Deixar in Portuguese means “to let” or “to allow.” In Eu deixo entrar ar fresco pela janela, it expresses that you permit fresh air to enter. It’s a catenative verb, so it’s followed by an infinitive (entrar) to show that you allow something to happen.
Why is entrar in the infinitive form, and where does its subject go?
Because deixar is a catenative verb, it takes another verb in the infinitive. Here entrar (“to enter”) is that verb. The thing doing the entering—ar fresco—serves as the subject of the infinitive and must follow it in Portuguese (infinitives don’t normally take a pre-verbal subject), giving you the sequence: deixo + entrar + ar fresco.
Why is there no article before ar fresco? Could you say o ar fresco?
Yes, you can say (Eu) deixo entrar o ar fresco pela janela, which slightly emphasizes “the fresh air.” But in general statements or when talking about fresh air in a non-specific sense, Portuguese often drops the definite article: deixo entrar ar fresco = “I let fresh air in.”
What exactly is pela janela? Why not use por a janela?
Pela is the contracted form of por + a (feminine singular). Portuguese requires this contraction, so por a janela becomes pela janela, meaning “through the window.”
Can you drop the subject pronoun eu? When is it necessary to include it?
Yes. Portuguese is a pro-drop language, so you can simply say Deixo entrar ar fresco pela janela if the context makes it clear who is acting. You include eu mainly for emphasis or contrast (e.g., Eu deixo entrar, mas ele não).
Could you use permitir instead of deixar? What’s the difference?
Both mean “to allow,” but permitir is more formal and usually followed by que + subjunctive: Eu permito que entre ar fresco pela janela. Deixar + infinitive (deixar entrar) is the everyday, more natural way to say “let… in.”
Why is the simple present deixo used rather than a progressive like estou deixando?
In Portuguese, the simple present often conveys both a habitual action and an action happening right now. Saying (Eu) deixo entrar ar fresco pela janela can mean “I let fresh air in” either as a habit or at this moment. The progressive (estar + gerund) exists but is less common for this kind of general statement.