Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos antes de correr. - After work, we stretch our muscles before running.

“do” is a contraction of “de + o” (preposition de
- masculine singular article o).
- de + o → do
- de + a → da
- de + os → dos
- de + as → das
In Portuguese, when a preposition comes right before a definite article, you normally must make this contraction, so “de o trabalho” is ungrammatical in normal speech/writing.
You also usually need the article with nouns like trabalho here.
- Depois do trabalho ≈ After (the) work / after work (today’s work, my workday).
- Depois de trabalho (without article) sounds wrong in this context.

What tense is “alongamos” here, and what kind of time meaning does it have?

alongamos is present indicative, 1st person plural of alongar (to stretch).
- eu alongo
- tu alongas
- ele/ela alonga
- nós alongamos
- …
In this sentence, the present tense is used for a habitual action:
- Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos antes de correr.
- After work, we (usually) stretch our muscles before running.
In modern spelling, for regular -ar verbs, alongamos can also be the simple past (pretérito perfeito): “Ontem alongamos os músculos” (Yesterday we stretched our muscles).
- The difference between present and past is understood from context, not from spelling.
- In older spelling you may still see alongámos for the past.

Do we have to say “nós”, or can we drop it?

In European Portuguese, the subject pronoun is usually optional because the verb ending already tells you the person:
- Depois do trabalho, alongamos os músculos antes de correr. (perfectly fine)
- Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos antes de correr. (also fine)
Using “nós” can:
- add emphasis on we (as opposed to someone else), or
- help beginners or in noisy situations where you want extra clarity.
So you don’t need “nós” grammatically; it is there for clarity or emphasis.

Why is it “os músculos” and not “nossos músculos” or just “músculos”?

With parts of the body, Portuguese often uses the definite article instead of a possessive when it’s clear whose body we’re talking about:
- Alongamos os músculos. ≈ We stretch (our) muscles.
- Lavei as mãos. ≈ I washed my hands.
You can say “os nossos músculos”:
- …nós alongamos os nossos músculos…
- That’s correct, but sounds a bit more emphatic or heavier, like stressing our muscles as opposed to someone else’s.
Using bare “músculos” without any article or determiner (“alongamos músculos”) sounds unnatural in this context.

Why is it “antes de correr” and not “antes de corrermos”?

correr is the infinitive of the verb. After “antes de”, you normally use an infinitive:
- antes de + infinitive → antes de correr (before running).
Portuguese also has a personal infinitive, which can agree with the subject:
- antes de corrermos = before we run.
In this sentence:
- antes de correr is neutral and very common; the subject (“we”) is understood from the context.
- antes de corrermos is also correct. It makes the subject “we” very explicit and can sound a bit more formal or careful.
So both are possible in European Portuguese; “antes de correr” is just the simpler, more typical choice.

Why is there a comma after “trabalho”?

“Depois do trabalho” is an adverbial phrase of time placed at the beginning of the sentence.
In Portuguese, when such a phrase comes before the main clause, it is very common (and usually recommended) to separate it with a comma:
- Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos…
If the time phrase came at the end, you would normally not use a comma:
- Nós alongamos os músculos antes de correr depois do trabalho.
  (This is grammatical but a bit clumsy/ambiguous; the fronted version with a comma is clearer.)

Could we use “após” instead of “depois de”?

Yes, “após” is largely a synonym of “depois de” and often sounds a bit more formal or written.
Possible alternatives:
- Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos…
- Após o trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos…
In everyday European Portuguese speech, “depois de” is more common and more neutral than “após”.

Is “alongar” reflexive here? Should it be something like “alongar-se”?

In this sentence, alongar is used with a direct object:
- alongamos os músculos = we stretch the muscles.
Portuguese also has a reflexive/pronominal form alongar-se, often meaning to stretch (oneself) in a more general way:
- Costumamos alongar-nos antes de correr.
  (We usually stretch before running.)
Both patterns are possible:
- alongar os músculos – focusing on what you stretch (the muscles).
- alongar-se / alongar-nos – focusing on the action on oneself, without mentioning “músculos”.
In European Portuguese, “alongamos os músculos” is perfectly natural in a warm‑up / exercise context; you don’t need the reflexive pronoun here.

Why do we use the present tense instead of a future form, even though this can mean something like “after work we will stretch”?

In Portuguese (as in English), the simple present is often used to talk about:
- habits/routines: things that regularly happen.
- timeless truths.
Depois do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos antes de correr.
- Means After work, we (usually) stretch our muscles before running.
- It describes a general routine, not a single future event.
If you really wanted to emphasize a specific future occasion, you could use the future or periphrastic future:
- Depois do trabalho, vamos alongar os músculos antes de correr.
- After work, we’re going to stretch our muscles before running (today/this time).

Does “Depois do trabalho” mean after my shift / after work in general, or literally after the work (task)?

In everyday use, “Depois do trabalho” most naturally means:
- After work / after my job / after my workday is over.
The definite article “o” makes trabalho something specific and context‑known, typically:
- your job or working hours that day, rather than some abstract “work” you did.
If you wanted to be more explicit, you could also say:
- Depois de sair do trabalho, nós alongamos os músculos…
  (After leaving work, we stretch our muscles…)
- But “Depois do trabalho” alone is already understood that way in context.