Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.

Sometimes I become introverted when I am tired.

Breakdown of Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.

• eu: I
• estar: to be
• cansado: tired
• quando: when
• às vezes: sometimes
• ficar: to become
• introvertido: introverted

Questions & Answers about Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.

Why do we use fico instead of sou or estou here?

Ficar in this sentence means “to become / to get”, not “to be”.

• Eu fico introvertido ≈ I get/become introverted (a change into that state, usually temporary or situational).
• Eu sou introvertido = I am introverted (as a personality trait).
• Eu estou introvertido would sound odd; estar is used for temporary states, but not usually for personality labels like introvertido.

So fico is used because the idea is “sometimes I become introverted (in that situation)”, not “I am inherently introverted”.

Is the Eu at the beginning necessary? Can I just say Às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado?

You can absolutely drop Eu:

• Eu às vezes fico introvertido…
• Às vezes fico introvertido…

Both are correct. In European Portuguese, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending (fico) already shows the subject is eu.

Keeping Eu can add a little emphasis on I (as opposed to someone else), but in everyday speech many people would just say Às vezes fico introvertido….

Can às vezes go in different positions in the sentence?

Yes, several positions are possible and natural:

• Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.
• Às vezes eu fico introvertido quando estou cansado.
• Eu fico às vezes introvertido quando estou cansado. (less common, a bit heavier)

Most natural in everyday speech:

• Às vezes eu fico introvertido…
• Eu às vezes fico introvertido…

The meaning stays the same: às vezes always means sometimes; only the rhythm and emphasis change slightly.

What is the accent in às and why do we need it?

Às is a + as (preposition + article) contracted, and the accent marks this contraction (called crase).

• a (to/at) + as (the, feminine plural) → às

Here it’s part of the fixed expression às vezes, literally “at the times”, meaning “sometimes”.

Contrast:

• as (without accent) = the (feminine plural article)
  
  • as vezes = the times
• às (with accent) = combination of preposition + article
  
  • às vezes = sometimes

So you must use às vezes, with the accent.

Why are introvertido and cansado in the masculine form? Would a woman say the same?

Both introvertido and cansado agree with the speaker’s gender, because they refer back to eu.

• A man would say:
  
  • Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.
• A woman would say:
  
  • Eu às vezes fico introvertida quando estou cansada.

So:

• masculine: introvertido, cansado
• feminine: introvertida, cansada

Why do we use estou and not sou in quando estou cansado?

Estar is used for temporary or changing states, such as:

• estou cansado – I am tired (now / in this period)
• estou doente – I’m ill
• estou feliz – I’m (feeling) happy

Ser is used for more permanent or defining characteristics:

• sou alto – I am tall
• sou português – I’m Portuguese
• sou introvertido – I’m (by nature) introverted

Being tired is normally temporary, so estou cansado is the natural choice.

Could I say quando eu estou cansado instead of quando estou cansado? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say:

• quando estou cansado
• quando eu estou cansado

Both are correct. The version without eu is more neutral and typical in European Portuguese.

Adding eu can:

• give a slight emphasis on I (as opposed to others), or
• just reflect a slightly more explicit or careful style.

In everyday conversation, quando estou cansado is very common and sounds perfectly natural.

Is introvertido the only way to say “introverted” in Portuguese, or could I also say something like “shy”?

Introvertido is the direct equivalent of introverted in Portuguese.

Depending on the nuance, speakers might also use:

• tímido – shy / timid
• calado – quiet, not speaking much
• reservado – reserved

For example:

• Eu às vezes fico tímido quando estou cansado. – I sometimes get shy…
• Eu às vezes fico mais calado quando estou cansado. – I sometimes get quieter…

But if you specifically mean introverted as a personality type, introvertido is the most precise word.

What tense is fico here and what does it tell us about time?

Fico is the present indicative, 1st person singular of ficar.

In this context, the present tense expresses a habitual action:

• Eu às vezes fico introvertido… =
  I sometimes get introverted (whenever that situation happens).

So it doesn’t mean “I’m getting introverted right now”, but rather “this is something that happens from time to time”.

How do you pronounce às vezes and estou in European Portuguese?

Approximate pronunciations (European Portuguese):

• às vezes → [ahsh VE-zesh]

  • às: ahsh (final s like English sh)
  • vezes: VE-zesh (first e like English e in “get”, final s like sh)

• estou → [sh-TOH] (very often ’tou in fast speech)

  • Initial es- often reduces to a sh sound, then -tou like English toe.

So the whole sentence could sound roughly like:

• Eu às vezes fico introvertido quando estou cansado.
  → [eu ahsh VE-zesh FEE-koo in-tro-ver-TEE-doo KWAN-doo sh-TOH kan-SAH-doo] (approximation for European Portuguese).