Breakdown of Ando para perguntar-te sobre essa hostilidade e atitude severa para com o teu pai.
e
and
o pai
the father / the parents
teu
your (informal)
para
to / for
esse
that (+ noun)
perguntar
to ask
te
you (informal object)
andar
to walk
a atitude
the attitude
sobre
about, on (a topic)
severo
strict (severe, harsh)
para com
towards (feelings, attitude)
a hostilidade
the hostility
Questions & Answers about Ando para perguntar-te sobre essa hostilidade e atitude severa para com o teu pai.
Why is para com used here instead of just para?
The double preposition para com is specifically used to express a feeling, behavior, or attitude 'towards' someone or something. While you could technically use just para, using para com is much more natural when talking about abstract relational concepts like hostility (hostilidade) or a strict attitude (atitude severa) directed at another person.
I know andar a means doing something continuously, but what does ando para mean here?
The expression andar para followed by an infinitive means you have been intending or meaning to do something for a while, but haven't done it yet. So, ando para perguntar-te perfectly captures the feeling of 'I have been meaning to ask you'.
Could I say ando para te perguntar instead of ando para perguntar-te?
Yes, both are grammatically correct. In a prepositional phrase with an infinitive (like para perguntar), the pronoun can attach to the end of the infinitive (perguntar-te) or come right before it (te perguntar). In European Portuguese, attaching it to the end of the infinitive is very common and sounds natural here.
Why use severa for 'strict' instead of estrita?
When talking about a person's demeanor, discipline, or attitude being harsh and unforgiving, severo (or severa) is the best fit. The word estrito is usually reserved for exact rules, limits, or literal interpretations (like 'strictly speaking'), rather than interpersonal behavior.
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