Cavámos perto do canteiro.

Cavámos comes from the verb cavar, which means to dig.

In this sentence, cavámos means we dug.

• cavar = to dig
• cavámos = we dug

So the subject is we, even though nós is not written.

It is the pretérito perfeito simples, which usually corresponds to the English simple past.

So cavámos describes a completed action in the past:

• Cavámos = we dug

It suggests the digging happened and is viewed as finished.

In European Portuguese, the accent helps distinguish this past form from the present form.

• cavámos = we dug
• cavamos = we dig

The accent also shows where the stress falls: ca-VA-mos.

This distinction is especially useful in European Portuguese spelling and pronunciation.

Portuguese often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

Here, -ámos tells you the subject is we.

So both are possible:

• Cavámos perto do canteiro.
• Nós cavámos perto do canteiro.

The version without nós is very normal and natural.

Because perto normally uses the preposition de before a noun:

• perto de = near

Then de + o contracts to do:

• de + o = do

So:

• perto do canteiro = near the flowerbed

Literally, it is something like near of the flowerbed, but in natural English we just say near the flowerbed.

Here, canteiro most likely means flowerbed, garden bed, or planted bed.

It refers to a defined area of soil where plants or flowers are grown.

Depending on context, canteiro can have slightly different uses, but in this sentence the gardening meaning is the natural one.

Yes. Canteiro is a masculine singular noun, so its definite article is o:

• o canteiro = the flowerbed

After de, it becomes:

• de + o canteiro → do canteiro

If the noun were feminine, you would use da instead:

• perto da casa = near the house

Yes, absolutely.

Adding nós is grammatically correct:

• Nós cavámos perto do canteiro.

But Portuguese often omits subject pronouns unless they are needed for:

• emphasis
• contrast
• clarity

So the version without nós is usually the more neutral one.

These two forms mean different things.

• cavámos = we dug
  A completed action in the past.

• cavávamos = we were digging / we used to dig
  An ongoing, repeated, or background action in the past.

So:

• Cavámos perto do canteiro. = We dug near the flowerbed.
• Cavávamos perto do canteiro. = We were digging / used to dig near the flowerbed.

Not necessarily. Cavar can be used without a direct object when the context is clear.

So Cavámos can simply mean:

• We dug

If you want to say what was dug, you can add it:

• Cavámos um buraco. = We dug a hole.
• Cavámos a terra. = We dug the soil.

In your sentence, the important extra information is the place: perto do canteiro.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Cavámos → stress on vá
• perto → stress on per
• canteiro → stress on tei

Very roughly:

kuh-VAH-moosh PEHR-too doo kawn-TAY-roo

A few useful notes for European Portuguese:

• the final -o often sounds like a weak u
• the r in perto is not like a strong English r
• cavámos has clear stress on the middle syllable

So the rhythm is roughly:

ca-VA-mos PER-to do can-TEI-ro