Precisamos de apoio técnico para resolver o problema.

Breakdown of Precisamos de apoio técnico para resolver o problema.

precisar de
to need
para
to
o apoio
the support
o problema
the problem
resolver
to solve
técnico
technical

Questions & Answers about Precisamos de apoio técnico para resolver o problema.

What does precisamos tell me about the subject?

Precisamos is the 1st person plural form of precisar, so the subject is we. Portuguese does not need to say nós here, because the verb ending -amos already shows who is meant.

You could say Nós precisamos..., but that usually adds emphasis or contrast.

Why is de used after precisamos?

Because precisar normally goes with de when you say what is needed:

  • precisar de ajuda
  • precisar de tempo
  • precisar de apoio técnico

So precisamos de apoio técnico is the standard pattern: to need technical support.

Why does técnico come after apoio?

In Portuguese, adjectives often come after the noun. So apoio técnico is the normal order.

That is different from English, where we usually put the adjective first: technical support.

Does apoio técnico mean exactly technical support?

Usually yes. Apoio técnico is a natural way to say technical support or technical assistance.

A useful nuance:

  • apoio técnico = broad technical help/support
  • assistência técnica = can also mean technical support, but often suggests repair service or after-sales service

So in this sentence, apoio técnico is a very good choice.

Why is there no article before apoio técnico?

Because the sentence is talking about technical support in a general, indefinite way, not a specific support service already identified.

So:

  • Precisamos de apoio técnico = we need technical support / some technical support
  • Precisamos do apoio técnico da empresa X = we need the technical support from company X

The article appears when the support is specific.

What does para resolver do in the sentence?

Para resolver shows purpose. It means to solve or in order to solve.

So the structure is:

  • Precisamos de apoio técnico = main idea
  • para resolver o problema = why we need it / for what purpose

It is very common to use para + infinitive like this in Portuguese.

Why is it o problema if problema ends in -a?

Because problema is a masculine noun, even though it ends in -a.

This is common with several words of Greek origin ending in -ma, for example:

  • o problema
  • o sistema
  • o tema
  • o programa

So the correct article is o, not a.

Why use o problema instead of um problema?

O problema means it is a specific problem, probably one already known in the conversation or situation.

Compare:

  • resolver o problema = solve the problem
  • resolver um problema = solve a problem

Portuguese often uses the definite article when the speaker has a particular thing in mind.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. A very natural alternative is:

Para resolver o problema, precisamos de apoio técnico.

This puts more focus on the goal first. The original version is also completely natural and neutral.

How is this pronounced in European Portuguese?

A careful European Portuguese pronunciation is roughly:

[pɾɨsiˈzɐmuʒ dɨ ɐˈpoju ˈtɛkniku ˈpaɾɐ ʁɨzuɫˈveɾ u pɾuˈblɛmɐ]

A few useful pronunciation notes:

  • the final -s in precisamos sounds like zh before de
  • unstressed vowels are often reduced in European Portuguese
  • the r at the start of resolver is the stronger Portuguese r
  • para is often pronounced in a reduced way in everyday speech

So in fast speech, it may sound more compressed than the spelling suggests.

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