How to Use the Verbs TO START and TO FINISH in European Portuguese!

TL;DR

Learn to use 'começar' and 'acabar' in Portuguese.

Transcript

Olá a todos! Boas Festas! I hope you all are enjoying your holidays and staying healthy. In this episode, I want to talk about the verbs “to start” and “to finish” in Portuguese. The most common ones are “começar” and “acabar”. They can be tricky to use because when you are expressing an action, it can be followed by a pronoun or a preposition plus... Read More

Key Insights

• The video focuses on the verbs 'começar' and 'acabar', which mean 'to start' and 'to finish' in European Portuguese, respectively.
• These verbs can act as auxiliary verbs, often followed by prepositions like 'em' for 'começar' and 'de' for 'acabar'.
• The content creator highlights a lack of Portuguese subtitling in RTP's online content, which is a concern for language learners.
• There is a movement to pressure RTP to add more subtitles to their content, but the initial response from RTP was unsatisfactory.
• The creator plans to continue advocating for more European Portuguese content to aid language learners.
• Alternative verbs like 'terminar' can be used in place of 'acabar' for a more formal tone.
• The video provides examples of using 'começar' and 'acabar' with nouns, pronouns, and adverbs, without needing prepositions.
• The creator celebrates reaching 3000 subscribers and encourages viewers to engage by practicing sentence writing.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the main verbs discussed in the video?

The main verbs discussed in the video are 'começar' and 'acabar', which translate to 'to start' and 'to finish' in English. These verbs are essential in European Portuguese and are often used as auxiliary verbs with specific prepositions to convey different meanings.

Q: What issue does the creator address regarding RTP's content?

The creator addresses the issue of RTP's lack of Portuguese subtitling in their online content, which poses a challenge for learners of European Portuguese. Despite the importance of subtitling for language acquisition, RTP's response to requests for more subtitled content was unsatisfactory.

Q: How does the creator plan to advocate for more Portuguese content?

The creator plans to continue advocating for more European Portuguese content by raising awareness and reaching out to various stakeholders in Portugal. Her goal is to ensure that language learners have access to quality content with Portuguese subtitles, thus enhancing their learning experience.

Q: What alternative verb is mentioned for a more formal tone?

The alternative verb mentioned for a more formal tone is 'terminar', which can be used interchangeably with 'acabar'. Both verbs mean 'to finish' or 'to end', but 'terminar' may be preferred in more formal contexts.

Q: What is the significance of prepositions with 'começar' and 'acabar'?

Prepositions play a significant role when using 'começar' and 'acabar' as auxiliary verbs. 'Começar' is typically followed by the preposition 'em' to indicate the start of an action, while 'acabar' is often followed by 'de' to indicate the completion of an action. These prepositions help clarify the context of the verbs.

Q: How does the creator engage with the audience in the video?

The creator engages with the audience by encouraging them to practice writing sentences using 'começar' and 'acabar'. She invites viewers to share their sentences in the comments and expresses gratitude for their support, celebrating milestones like reaching 3000 subscribers.

Q: What feedback did the creator receive from RTP?

The feedback from RTP was disappointing, as the response did not address the creator's concerns about the lack of Portuguese subtitling. The reply focused on the availability of foreign series with subtitles, ignoring the request for more subtitled Portuguese content.

Q: What are the creator's future plans regarding Portuguese content?

The creator plans to work on a strategy in 2021 to advocate for more European Portuguese content. She aims to collaborate with different individuals and organizations in Portugal to raise awareness and push for the inclusion of Portuguese subtitles in national content, benefiting language learners.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• This video teaches how to use the verbs 'começar' and 'acabar' in European Portuguese, focusing on their use as auxiliary verbs with prepositions. The creator also discusses the lack of Portuguese subtitling in RTP's content, highlighting efforts to address this issue.

• The content creator, Sandra Carapinha, expresses disappointment with RTP's response to requests for more subtitled content. Despite this, she remains committed to advocating for better resources for European Portuguese learners.

• Viewers are encouraged to practice using 'começar' and 'acabar' in sentences, and the creator shares her plans to promote the availability of European Portuguese content. The video concludes with holiday greetings and a thank you to subscribers.