Breakdown of Precisamos de tirar uma amostra da água.
do
of the / from the (do, da, dos, das)
um
a / an / some (all forms)
a água
the water
precisar de
to need
tirar
to take
a amostra
the sample
Questions & Answers about Precisamos de tirar uma amostra da água.
Why is there a de after Precisamos?
In European Portuguese, the verb precisar (to need) requires the preposition de before the thing that is needed, even if that thing is an infinitive verb like tirar. You might hear it without de in Brazilian Portuguese, but in Portugal, you should always say precisar de.
Why is tirar used for 'take' in this sentence instead of levar or tomar?
The English word 'take' translates to several different verbs in Portuguese. Tirar means to extract, remove, or draw out, which is exactly what you do when taking a water sample or taking a photograph. Contrast this with levar (to transport something away) and tomar (to consume something, like a drink or medicine).
How could I connect this sentence to a reason using the causal conjunction já que from the current lesson?
You can use já que (since / seeing that) to explain why the sample is necessary. For example: Já que há suspeitas de poluição, precisamos de tirar uma amostra da água. (Since there are suspicions of pollution, we need to take a water sample.) Causal conjunctions like já que, visto que, and dado que are perfect for attaching reasons to an action like this.
Is the noun amostra related to the verb mostrar?
Amostra translates to 'sample' or 'specimen', and yes, it shares a root with the verb mostrar (to show). A helpful trick for remembering this vocabulary word is to think of an amostra as a small piece of something that 'shows' you what the entire batch is like.
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