Eu quero degustar o queijo antes de comprar.

I want to taste the cheese before buying.

Breakdown of Eu quero degustar o queijo antes de comprar.

• eu: I
• querer: to want
• comprar: to buy
• antes de: before
• o queijo: the cheese
• degustar: to taste

Questions & Answers about Eu quero degustar o queijo antes de comprar.

Why is degustar used instead of provar or experimentar? Are they interchangeable?

degustar often implies tasting with attention to flavor nuances (think wine or gourmet cheese). provar is more general for trying or tasting something for the first time, and experimentar usually means to try out or test something (like a new gadget or a dish). In everyday speech in Portugal you’ll hear provar o queijo antes de comprar, but degustar emphasizes a more “refined” sampling.

What exactly does degustar mean in this context?

Here, degustar means to taste or sample the cheese carefully, to evaluate its quality and flavor before deciding to purchase.

Why is there a definite article o before queijo? Could I say degustar queijo instead?

Using the definite article o (“the cheese”) points to a specific cheese you see in the shop. Omitting it (degustar queijo) sounds too general and less natural in this shopping situation.

Why is comprar in the infinitive form, and why is it preceded by de?

After antes you must use de before an infinitive in Portuguese: antes de comprar (“before buying”). Dropping de (antes comprar) would be grammatically incorrect.

Could I say antes de eu comprar instead of antes de comprar?

You can say antes de eu comprar, but because the subject is the same in both clauses, Portuguese speakers usually omit the repeated subject and just say antes de comprar.

Can I rearrange the sentence to Antes de comprar, eu quero degustar o queijo?

Yes. Putting antes de comprar at the start simply shifts emphasis. The meaning remains exactly the same.

What’s the difference between Eu quero degustar o queijo and Quero degustar o queijo?

Dropping the subject pronoun (eu) is very common because the verb ending -o already tells you the subject. Including eu adds emphasis or clarity, but both forms are equally correct.

Is degustar common in Brazilian Portuguese or only in Portugal?

Both dialects understand degustar, but in Brazil you’re more likely to hear provar when tasting food. degustar in Brazil can sound more formal or specialized, often used in wine or cheese tastings.