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Eu esqueci-me do passe em casa.

Eu esqueci-me do passe em casa.
I forgot the pass at home.
FromLesson 39inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu esqueci-me do passe em casa.

eu
I
de
of
a casa
the house
em
at
esquecer-se
to forget
o passe
the pass

Questions & Answers about Eu esqueci-me do passe em casa.

Why does the sentence use esqueci-me with the pronoun -me?
Because in European Portuguese the common way to say “to forget (something)” is the pronominal verb esquecer-se de. In affirmative main clauses without any special trigger, the clitic pronoun goes after the verb with a hyphen (enclisis): esqueci-me. It literally means “I forgot myself of…”, but idiomatically it just means “I forgot …”.
Could I say Esqueci o passe em casa instead?

Yes. In Portugal, both patterns are correct:

  • Esqueci-me do passe (= esquecer-se de + noun)
  • Esqueci o passe (= esquecer + direct object) They’re near-synonyms. Many speakers also use Deixei o passe em casa (“I left the pass at home”) when the idea is specifically “left behind”.
Why is it do passe and not just de o passe?

Portuguese contracts prepositions with definite articles:

  • de + o = do, de + a = da, de + os = dos, de + as = das. Here, esquecer-se takes de, and passe is masculine singular with article o: de o passe → do passe.
Why not say do meu passe (“my pass”)?
Portuguese often uses the definite article to indicate possession when the possessor is obvious from context: o passe can naturally mean “my pass.” You can say do meu passe for clarity or emphasis, but it isn’t required.
Is the subject pronoun Eu necessary?
No. The verb ending already shows the person. Esqueci-me do passe em casa is the most natural version. Keeping Eu can add emphasis (“I (as opposed to someone else) forgot…”).
When would the pronoun come before the verb instead of after?

Put the clitic before the verb (proclisis) when there’s a “trigger,” such as:

  • Negation: Não me esqueci do passe.
  • Certain adverbs: Já me esqueci do passe. / Ainda me esqueço do passe.
  • Relative/complementizers and many subordinators: Quando me esqueci do passe… / Que me esqueci do passe… / Se me esquecer do passe… Without such triggers in European Portuguese, use enclisis: esqueci-me.
Is Eu me esqueci… acceptable?
That order is typical of Brazilian Portuguese. In European Portuguese, in neutral affirmative sentences you’d say (Eu) esqueci-me…. People will understand Eu me esqueci, but it sounds Brazilian.
Why is there a hyphen in esqueci-me?
In European Portuguese, clitic pronouns attach to the verb with a hyphen in enclisis (and in affirmative imperatives and some infinitive uses): dá-me, ver-te, esqueci-me.
What tense is esqueci?

It’s the simple past (preterite) of esquecer. For the pronominal form:

  • eu esqueci-me
  • tu esqueceste-te
  • ele/ela esqueceu-se
  • nós esquecemo-nos
  • eles/elas esqueceram-se
Why is it spelled esqueci with c and not esqueçi with ç?
The letter ç is only used before a, o, u to represent the /s/ sound. Before e or i, a plain c already sounds /s/. So it’s esqueci, but in the present 1st person singular it’s esqueço (ç before “o” to keep the /s/ sound).
What exactly does passe mean here?
In Portugal, o passe commonly means a public-transport pass (monthly card). It can also mean a “pass” in sports, but context usually makes it clear.
Why is it em casa and not na casa?
  • em casa = “at home” (no article; idiomatic).
  • na casa = “in the house” (specific house, with article: em + a = na). So to say “at home,” use em casa.
Can I move em casa to another position?

Yes, for emphasis or flow:

  • Neutral: Esqueci-me do passe em casa.
  • Emphasis on place/time: Em casa, esqueci-me do passe. Avoid splitting it unnaturally, e.g., Esqueci-me em casa do passe sounds odd.
How would I say “I forgot to bring the pass”?

Use an infinitive after esquecer-se de:

  • Esqueci-me de levar o passe. (In Brazil you’d often hear Esqueci de levar…, but in Portugal the reflexive form is standard.)
Can I replace do passe with a pronoun?
  • With pronominal esquecer-se de you can use disso: Esqueci-me disso. (dele = “of him/it” is possible but often sounds like “forgot about him/it.”)
  • With transitive esquecer, use a direct-object clitic: Esqueci-o em casa. (meaning “I forgot/left it at home.”)
How would I express a repeated habit, like “I’ve been forgetting my pass lately”?

Portuguese uses the Present Perfect for repeated actions over time:

  • Tenho-me esquecido do passe ultimamente. Note the pronoun attaches to the auxiliary: tenho-me, not to the participle.
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