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Precisas da chave de fendas, mas não queres usar.

Precisas da chave de fendas, mas não queres usar.
You need the screwdriver, but you don't want to use it.
From Lesson 473:Dropping inanimate objects·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Precisas da chave de fendas, mas não queres usar.

Why is there no Portuguese word for "it" after usar?
This is an example of the Inanimate Null Object. In European Portuguese, when a direct object refers to an inanimate thing (like the screwdriver) that was just mentioned, you can completely drop the pronoun. Instead of saying usá-la, you can simply say usar and the listener will understand from context.
Could I still use a pronoun for "it" in this sentence if I wanted to?
Yes. While dropping the pronoun is very natural in everyday speech, you can absolutely keep it. Because of the negative word não, the pronoun is typically pulled before the conjugated verb, giving you não a queres usar. You could also attach it to the infinitive as não queres usá-la.
Does this "invisible it" rule apply when talking about people too?
No. The null object is almost exclusively used for inanimate objects or abstract concepts. If you were saying "I know Maria, but I don't want to invite her", you must use the pronoun, as in mas não a quero convidar. Dropping the pronoun when referring to a person sounds unnatural.
Why does the sentence use da before chave de fendas instead of just a?
The verb precisar requires the preposition de to connect to its object. Here, de combines with the feminine singular definite article a to form da. Even though English just says "need the", Portuguese requires "need of the", making it Precisas da chave.
What is the literal meaning of chave de fendas?
Literally, it translates to key of slots or key of crevices. The word chave means key but is also used for hand tools like wrenches. The word fenda means a crack, slit, or slot, referring to the linear slot on the head of a screw.

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