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Questions & Answers about De repente, o alarme tocou.
What does de repente add to the sentence beyond simply “suddenly”?
It conveys abruptness and unexpectedness, like “all of a sudden.” It often signals a sudden change of state or a surprise event, which fits an alarm going off.
Can de repente go at the end of the sentence?
Yes. Both are correct:
- De repente, o alarme tocou.
- O alarme tocou de repente. Putting it first gives a bit more emphasis to the suddenness.
Do I need the comma after de repente?
It’s recommended when de repente is fronted, because it’s an introductory adverbial: De repente, o alarme tocou. You can omit it in very informal writing, but the comma is standard.
Why is it o alarme and not just alarme?
Portuguese uses definite articles more than English. O alarme means “the alarm,” implying a specific alarm (the one we have in mind, like the house alarm or the alarm clock). Without the article would sound odd here.
Could I say um alarme instead of o alarme?
Yes, if you mean “an alarm” (not previously known or specific): De repente, um alarme tocou. That suggests some unidentified alarm went off.
Is alarme masculine or feminine? What’s the plural?
Masculine: o alarme. Plural: os alarmes.
Is o alarme tocou fully idiomatic in Portugal?
Yes, especially for alarm clocks or phone alarms. For security/fire alarms, many speakers prefer o alarme disparou or o alarme soou. All are understandable.
What’s the difference between tocou, soou, disparou, and apitou?
- tocou (from tocar): rang/went off; very common for phones and alarm clocks.
- soou (from soar): sounded; slightly more formal/literary, fine for sirens/alarms.
- disparou (from disparar): was triggered/went off; common for security/fire alarms.
- apitou (from apitar): beeped/blew a whistle; used for horns, whistles, short beeps.
What tense is tocou, and why not tocava?
Tocou is the pretérito perfeito (simple past), used for a completed event. Tocava (imperfect) describes ongoing or habitual background action, e.g. O alarme tocava quando cheguei (it was ringing when I arrived).
How is tocou pronounced and stressed?
Stress the last syllable: to-COU. ou sounds like the “o” in “go” (often with a slight glide). The c before o is a hard k-sound.
How do I pronounce De repente in European Portuguese?
- de is reduced, like a quick “dɨ”
- initial r in repente is a guttural sound (like French/European Portuguese r)
- final -e is a weak “uh” sound Approximation: dɨ rɨ-PEN-tɨ.
What verb is tocou from, and how does it conjugate in the past?
It’s from tocar (regular -ar). Pretérito perfeito in European Portuguese:
- eu toquei
- tu tocaste
- ele/ela/você tocou
- nós tocámos (note the accent in EP)
- eles/elas/vocês tocaram Notice the spelling change toquei (qu) to keep the k-sound before e.
Could I say despertador instead of alarme?
If you specifically mean an alarm clock, yes: De repente, o despertador tocou. Alarme is broader (house alarm, fire alarm, phone alarm, etc.).
Can I invert the order to De repente, tocou o alarme?
Yes. That inversion is grammatical and a bit more literary/narrative in tone. Everyday word order is more commonly De repente, o alarme tocou.
Does de repente ever mean “maybe” in Portugal?
No. In European Portuguese, de repente means only “suddenly.” In Brazil, it can colloquially mean “maybe/perhaps.” In Portugal, use se calhar or talvez for “maybe.”
Are there synonyms for de repente?
Yes, with different registers:
- Neutral/colloquial: de repente, num repente
- More formal/literary: de súbito, subitamente
- Colloquial paraphrase: de um momento para o outro
Can I drop the de and say just repente?
No. De repente is a fixed adverbial meaning “suddenly.” Repente alone is a noun (a sudden impulse), not used here.
Does tocar mean anything else I should know about?
Yes:
- to play (an instrument): tocar piano
- to touch: tocar em algo/alguém (EP typically uses em)
- to ring/sound: o telefone tocou Here, it’s the “ring/sound” meaning.
What’s the difference between O alarme tocou and O alarme começou a tocar?
- O alarme tocou: simple completed event (it went off).
- O alarme começou a tocar: focuses on the start of the ringing (it began to ring), useful if you’re about to describe what happened next.