Breakdown of Eu separo a roupa limpa da suja na gaveta.
eu
I
em
in
de
from
a roupa
the clothes
a gaveta
the drawer
sujo
dirty
limpo
clean
separar
to separate
Questions & Answers about Eu separo a roupa limpa da suja na gaveta.
What does separo mean in this sentence?
Separo is the first‐person singular in the present indicative of the verb separar. It means “I separate” or “I am separating”, usually expressing a habitual or general action rather than a one‐time event.
Why is the adjective limpa placed after roupa, not before?
In European Portuguese, descriptive adjectives most often follow the noun:
- a casa branca – “the white house”
- a roupa limpa – “the clean clothes”
Putting an adjective before the noun (e.g. a branca casa) is possible for stylistic or emphatic reasons but is less common in everyday speech.
What is the function of da in da suja?
Da is a contraction of de + a. After separar, we use de to indicate what you’re separating from:
- separar A de B
Thus da suja = de a suja = “from the dirty one.” Here, suja stands for roupa suja (“dirty clothes”).
Can I omit Eu at the beginning? Why is the subject included?
What does na mean in na gaveta?
Na is the contraction of em + a, meaning “in the” (feminine singular). You use em to indicate location:
- em a gaveta → na gaveta (“in the drawer”).
Why is it separar A de B instead of “separar entre A e B”?
Could I say Eu separo a roupa limpa da suja no armário instead?
Why do limpa and suja end in -a?
How do I pronounce suja with that initial s?
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning PortugueseMaster Portuguese — from Eu separo a roupa limpa da suja na gaveta to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions