Breakdown of Enquanto os operários descansam, a grua trabalha.
trabalhar
to work
descansar
to rest
enquanto
while
o operário
the worker
a grua
the crane
Questions & Answers about Enquanto os operários descansam, a grua trabalha.
Why does the Portuguese sentence use the simple present (descansam, trabalha) when the English translation usually implies 'are resting' and 'is working'?
In Portuguese, it is very common to use the simple present tense with enquanto (while) to describe actions happening at the exact same time. You could also use the continuous form (estão a descansar and está a trabalhar), but the simple present sounds completely natural here and is used much more frequently than in English to show ongoing actions.
Do I have to start the sentence with enquanto?
What is the difference between operários and the more common word trabalhadores?
Trabalhadores is the broad, general word for workers in any profession. Operários specifically refers to blue-collar workers, manual laborers, or construction workers. Since this sentence is about a crane (a grua), operários is the most accurate word to use.
Since os operários is plural, why doesn't enquanto have an 's' at the end to match?
Because enquanto is a conjunction (a linking word), not a noun or an adjective. Conjunctions are invariable, meaning their spelling never changes. It will always remain enquanto, no matter how many people or things are involved in the action.
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