Breakdown of Precisávamos de converter o interior, mas não tínhamos ninguém a quem pedir ajuda.
não
not / no
de
of / from / by (means of transport) / wearing (attire)
quem
who
mas
but
ter
to have
a
to / at (direction)
a ajuda
the help
ninguém
nobody / anybody
o
him/it (m)
pedir
to ask for
precisar
to need (with verbs)
o interior
the interior
converter
to convert
Questions & Answers about Precisávamos de converter o interior, mas não tínhamos ninguém a quem pedir ajuda.
Why do we use the infinitive pedir here instead of a conjugated verb like ...a quem pedíssemos?
This is an infinitival relative clause. When referring to an indefinite antecedent (like ninguém) and the subject of the action is the same as in the main clause (we are the ones asking), Portuguese often uses the infinitive. It is more concise than a subjunctive clause and matches the English structure "...anyone to ask" perfectly.
Why is the preposition a used before quem?
The verb pedir requires the preposition a when indicating who you are asking for something (for example, pedir ajuda a alguém means "to ask someone for help"). In a relative clause, the preposition must move to the position right before the relative pronoun quem, giving us a quem pedir (literally "to whom to ask").
The English translation says "anyone", but ninguém means "nobody". Why isn't it alguém?
Portuguese requires a double negative. Because the verb is negated with não (não tínhamos), any following indefinite pronouns in the same clause must also be negative. Therefore, you must use ninguém instead of the affirmative alguém. Literally, it translates to "we didn't have nobody."
Why are Precisávamos and tínhamos in the Imperfect tense rather than the Preterite?
The Imperfect is used here because the sentence describes an ongoing state or background situation in the past. The need to convert the interior and the lack of a helper were continuous states over an unspecified period, not a single, completed action with a defined beginning and end.
Is the preposition de mandatory after Precisávamos and before the infinitive converter?
In European Portuguese, yes. The verb precisar is almost always followed by the preposition de, whether it comes before a noun (preciso de ajuda) or another verb (preciso de converter). Dropping the de before an infinitive is very common in Brazilian Portuguese, but it sounds unnatural in Portugal.
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