Question 1

Why does this sentence use mete for "puts"? I learned that "to put" is pôr.

Accepted Answer

Both meter and pôr mean "to put." However, meter specifically implies putting something inside or into something else, like putting a bag into a car or keys into a pocket. In Portugal, you will hear meter used very frequently in casual, everyday speech.

Question 2

What kind of bag is a saco? Can I use it for a purse or a travel bag?

Accepted Answer

A saco usually refers to a shopping bag (plastic, paper, or cloth), a tote bag, or a sports bag/backpack. If she were putting a handbag or a travel suitcase into the car, you would use the word mala (or sometimes bolsa for a small purse) instead.

Question 3

I remember that em means "in". Why does this sentence use no?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, the preposition em (in/on/at) must combine with the word "the" when they are next to each other. Because carro is a masculine word, "the car" is o carro. When you combine em + o, it shrinks into the single word no.

Question 4

Could I say dentro do carro instead of just no carro?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could absolutely say Ela mete o saco dentro do carro (She puts the bag inside the car). Using no carro is just the shorter, most common way to say it, especially since the verb meter already gives a strong hint that the bag is going inside.

Ela mete o saco no carro.

Breakdown of Ela mete o saco no carro.

Questions & Answers about Ela mete o saco no carro.

Learn Ela mete o saco no carro and more in Portuguese