Breakdown of Não rasgar o papel; apenas desdobrar a aba.
não
not / no
o papel
the paper
apenas
only
rasgar
to tear
a aba
the flap
desdobrar
to unfold
Questions & Answers about Não rasgar o papel; apenas desdobrar a aba.
Why are the infinitive verbs rasgar and desdobrar used here instead of the imperative forms like rasgue and desdobre?
Using the infinitive for commands is called the Instructional or Prescriptive Infinitive. It is very common in written instructions, public signs, recipes, and manuals. It sounds neutral and impersonal because it applies generally to anyone reading it, rather than directly addressing a specific person with a formal or informal 'you'.
Does the negative word não follow the same placement rules with the instructional infinitive as it does with other verb forms?
Yes, não stays directly in front of the verb, just as it would if you were using the regular imperative like Não rasgue. Using the negative instructional infinitive is as simple as placing the negative word immediately before the unconjugated verb.
How is the verb desdobrar formed, and is this a reliable pattern to use with other words?
It is formed by adding the prefix des- to the verb dobrar (to fold). The prefix des- works exactly like 'un-' or 'dis-' in English to show the reversal of an action. It is a very reliable and common pattern in Portuguese, seen in pairs like fazer (to do) and desfazer (to undo), or apertar (to fasten) and desapertar (to unfasten).
What kind of object exactly is an aba?
Aba generally translates to flap, edge, or brim. In the context of paper or packaging, it refers to the foldable flap of a box or envelope. It is a highly versatile word in everyday life: you will also hear it used for the brim of a hat and for the open tabs in your internet browser.
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