Log inSign up

Posso ajudar-te amanhã.

Posso ajudar-te amanhã.
I can help you tomorrow.
From Lesson 67:Direct object pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, os, as)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Posso ajudar-te amanhã.

Why is te attached to the end of ajudar with a hyphen?
te is a direct object pronoun meaning "you" (informal). In European Portuguese, these pronouns usually attach to the end of the verb with a hyphen. Because this sentence uses a helping verb (posso) followed by a main verb in its dictionary form (ajudar), the pronoun easily attaches to the end of that main verb.
Can I put the te somewhere else in the sentence?
You cannot put it at the very beginning of the sentence, as European Portuguese forbids starting sentences with object pronouns. However, you could attach it to the first verb instead, saying Posso-te ajudar. Both Posso ajudar-te and Posso-te ajudar are completely correct and widely used.
Is this sentence formal or informal?
This is informal. The pronoun te is the direct object form of tu (the informal "you"). If you wanted to offer help to someone you address formally, you would use the formal pronouns o or a. (This changes the spelling of the verb slightly, making it Posso ajudá-lo or Posso ajudá-la).
Where is the word for "I" in this sentence?
The Portuguese word for "I" is eu, but you do not need to include it here. The verb posso (I can) is already the "I" form of the verb poder, so the speaker is obvious. Dropping the subject pronoun like this is the most natural way to speak in Portuguese.

Learn Posso ajudar-te amanhã and more in Portuguese

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Portuguese →