The Dative of Possession
In English, you might say, "The dog tore my sleeve." In Portuguese, it is more natural to say something closer to, "The dog tore me the sleeve."
Instead of using a possessive determiner (like meu, teu, or seu), you use an indirect object pronoun to show who is affected, and a definite article for the object itself.
Body Parts and Clothing
When an action affects a body part or clothing, use an indirect object pronoun (me, te, lhe, nos, vos, lhes) to indicate the owner.
Personal Belongings
This structure extends to personal belongings. If someone damages your ladder or steals your lawnmower, the action happens to the object, but the impact is felt directly by you.
Pronoun Placement
Standard pronoun placement rules apply. In affirmative sentences, the pronoun attaches to the end of the verb (danificou-me). "Trigger words" like question words (quem), relative pronouns (que), and expressions of desire (oxalá) pull the pronoun immediately before the verb.
Putting It All Together
Using the dative of possession connects the action directly to the person experiencing it, making your Portuguese much more natural.