Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.

Portugal (PT-PT):
- Eu continuo a estudar. ✅
- Eu continuo estudando. ❌ (sounds Brazilian)
Brazil (PT-BR):
- Eu continuo estudando. ✅
- Eu continuo a estudar. ✅ (also possible, but less common in speech)

So if your goal is Portuguese from Portugal, stick with continuo a estudar.

Can I drop the “eu” and just say “Continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.”?

Yes, and that’s actually very common and natural.

Portuguese is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns (eu, tu, ele…) are often omitted when the verb ending makes the subject clear.

So you can say:

Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.
Continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.

Both are correct. The version without eu is slightly more neutral and typical in normal conversation and writing.

What does “mesmo” mean here, and does it have other meanings?

Here, mesmo means “even” in the sense of “despite the fact that”:

Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.
→ I keep studying *even when I’m tired.*

Mesmo is very flexible; some of its common meanings include:

same:
- o mesmo livro – the same book
really / very / indeed / actually:
- É mesmo difícil. – It’s really/indeed very hard.
oneself:
- eu mesmo – myself

In this sentence, focus on the “even” / “despite” meaning: mesmo quando = even when.

What’s the difference between “mesmo quando” and “mesmo que”?

mesmo quando = even when (introduces a time/condition that actually happens)
- Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.
  → I really do get tired, and even in those moments, I keep studying.
mesmo que = even if / even though (often hypothetical or more concessive and uses the subjunctive)
- Eu continuo a estudar mesmo que esteja cansado.
  → even if I’m tired / even though I may be tired.

In your original sentence, mesmo quando is more literal and factual: “at the times when I’m tired.”
Mesmo que would make it more “even if / regardless of whether.”

Why is it “estou cansado” and not “sou cansado”?

Portuguese uses:

estar + adjective for temporary states or conditions
ser + adjective for permanent or defining characteristics

So:

estou cansado – I am tired (right now / at this moment)
sou cansado – literally “I’m a tired person (by nature)”, which would sound odd or mean “I’m the kind of person who is always tired.”

In your sentence you’re talking about being tired in particular moments, so estou cansado is correct.

Why is it “cansado” and not “cansada”?

Adjectives in Portuguese must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Eu (if you are male) → cansado
Eu (if you are female) → cansada

So:

A man: Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado.
A woman: Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansada.

For plural:

A group of men or mixed group: quando estamos cansados
A group of women only: quando estamos cansadas

Is the present tense here like English “keep studying” or “continue to study”? Why not a “continuous” tense?

Portuguese does not use a special continuous tense (like “am studying”) with continuar in this structure. The verb continuar itself already expresses continuity.

Eu continuo a estudar
→ literally I continue to study
→ functionally very close to I keep studying.

You could also say:

Eu estou a estudar. – I am studying (right now).

But that focuses on what is happening at this moment, whereas continuo a estudar emphasizes persistence over time.

Could I move parts of the sentence around, like: “Mesmo quando estou cansado, eu continuo a estudar.”?

Yes, that word order is perfectly natural and very common:

Mesmo quando estou cansado, eu continuo a estudar. ✅
Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado. ✅

Both mean the same thing.

Starting with Mesmo quando… puts more emphasis on the condition (being tired).
Starting with Eu continuo… puts more emphasis on your persistence.

Just don’t split continuar a + infinitive in unnatural ways (like inserting other words between continuo and a estudar).

Do I need a comma before “mesmo quando”?

In this short sentence, you can omit the comma, and that’s very common:

Eu continuo a estudar mesmo quando estou cansado. ✅ (quite normal)

You may add a comma if you want a small pause for emphasis:

Eu continuo a estudar, mesmo quando estou cansado. ✅ (slightly more emphatic, especially in writing)

Both are grammatically correct. The version without the comma often sounds more fluid in everyday speech.

How formal or informal does this sentence sound in European Portuguese?

The sentence is neutral in register—perfectly appropriate in both:

informal contexts (talking to friends, family)
more formal contexts (a presentation about your study habits, writing an email to a teacher, etc.)

It does not use slang, and it doesn’t sound overly formal. It’s a good “standard” sentence.

Is there another way to express a similar idea in European Portuguese?

Yes, there are several natural alternatives that keep roughly the same meaning:

Mesmo estando cansado, continuo a estudar.
– Even being tired, I keep studying. (stylistically a bit more “written”/careful)
Continuo a estudar, mesmo cansado.
– I keep studying, even (when I’m) tired.
Mesmo quando estou cansado, não deixo de estudar.
– Even when I’m tired, I don’t stop studying.

Your original sentence is one of the most straightforward and natural versions, especially for learners.