Breakdown of Eu preciso de força para subir a montanha.
eu
I
precisar de
to need
para
to
a montanha
the mountain
subir
to climb
a força
the strength
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Eu preciso de força para subir a montanha.
In the sentence Eu preciso de força para subir a montanha., why is there de after preciso?
Because in Portuguese the verb precisar is always followed by the preposition de when it means “to need.” The correct pattern is precisar de + object. You cannot drop the de—precisar força would be ungrammatical.
Can I omit the subject pronoun Eu and just say Preciso de força para subir a montanha?
Yes. Subject pronouns in Portuguese are optional because the verb ending (-o in preciso) already tells you the subject is “I.” Including Eu adds emphasis or clarity, but leaving it out is perfectly natural.
What role does para play before the infinitive subir?
Para + infinitive expresses purpose (“in order to”). Here para subir means “to climb.” Without para, you might use another structure (e.g. a gerund), but for a simple purpose phrase, para + infinitive is the standard choice.
Why is there an article a before montanha? Could I say subir montanha?
When you refer to a specific or definite mountain, you include the definite article a. Saying subir montanha without an article feels odd in European Portuguese—it either needs an article (subir a montanha) or a different quantifier (subir uma montanha for “climb a mountain” in general).
If I want to say “I need a lot of strength,” how do I modify the sentence?
Just add an adjective of quantity before força. For example:
• Eu preciso de muita força para subir a montanha. (“muita” = “a lot of”)
• Eu preciso de bastante força para subir a montanha. (“bastante” = “enough”/“quite a bit of”)
What’s the difference between subir and escalar when talking about a mountain?
Subir means “to go up” or “to ascend,” generally. Escalar is more technical—“to scale” or “to climb” (often rock climbing). If it’s a straightforward hike, subir a montanha is fine; if it’s a steep rock face, you might choose escalar a montanha.
Why is força used without any article here? Can I say a força?
Here força is an uncountable noun meaning general strength. Uncountable nouns in Portuguese often appear without an article when speaking in general. Saying a força would refer to a specific force or power (e.g. “the force of the wind”), so it changes the meaning.
Could I use ter de instead of precisar de, like Eu tenho de força?
No. Ter de + infinitive means “to have to (do something),” not “to need something.” If you say Eu tenho de subir a montanha, you’re saying “I have to climb the mountain” (an obligation), not “I need strength.”
How do you pronounce the nh in montanha?
The nh represents a palatal nasal, similar to the “ny” in English canyon or the “ni” in onion. In European Portuguese you’d say roughly mon-TA-ɲɐ, with that soft ɲ sound.
Can I substitute força with energia to say “I need energy to climb the mountain”?
Yes, but with a nuance. Energia is more like “energy” or “stamina,” whereas força is “strength” or “power.” If you feel physically drained you might prefer preciso de energia para subir a montanha; if you mean raw physical strength (e.g. to hoist yourself up), força is the better choice.