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Temos comprado muito barro para a olaria.

Temos comprado muito barro para a olaria.
We have been buying a lot of clay for the pottery workshop.
From Lesson 297:The present perfect (Pretérito Perfeito Composto)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Temos comprado muito barro para a olaria.

Why does temos comprado translate to 'have been buying' rather than 'have bought'?
In Portuguese, this tense (the Pretérito Perfeito Composto, formed with temos + comprado) specifically describes an action that started in the past and is repeating or continuing up to the present. It means you have been buying clay repeatedly over a period of time, not just in one single completed purchase.
Could I use the simple past comprámos instead?
You would use the simple past comprámos if you were talking about a single, finished event in the past (like 'we bought clay yesterday'). By choosing temos comprado, the speaker highlights the ongoing, repetitive habit of buying it lately.
Why is it muito barro and not muitos barros?
Barro (clay) is an uncountable mass noun in this context, just like 'water' or 'sand' in English. Because it is a masculine singular noun, the word for 'a lot' must agree with it, taking the masculine singular form muito.
Why do we use para instead of por for 'for the pottery workshop'?
Para is used here because it points to the destination or the intended purpose of the clay. You are buying the clay specifically to go to or be used at the workshop (a olaria).

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