Phrase · 📖 Telling a story
Eu tinha certeza de que tinha deixado a chave na bolsa.
I was sure I’d left the key in my bag.
B1explaining what you thoughtAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
eupronounI1st sing. · subjecttinha1verbhadter · imperfect · 1st sing.certezanouncertaintyfem. · sing.de1preposition(of)queconjunctionthattinha2verbhadter · imperfect · 1st sing.deixado2verbleftdeixar · participle · masc. · sing.adeterminertheo · fem. · sing. · definitechavenounkeyfem. · sing.naprepositionin theem · fem. · sing. · definitebolsa3nounbag, handbagfem. · sing..
- eu → tinha: subject
- tinha → certeza: object
- certeza → de: preposition
- tinha → deixado: periphrasis
- deixado → chave: object
Word for word: “I had certainty of that (I) had left the key in-the bag.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1ter certeza de que = to be sure that. In speech the de is often dropped. Verbs with prepositions (regência I) →
- 2tinha deixado = had left: an earlier past, before tinha certeza. Past participles & the pluperfect (tinha feito) →
- 3bolsa = handbag, bag. A backpack is a mochila.
Variations
- Eu tinha certeza que tinha deixado a chave na bolsa.
- Eu jurava que tinha deixado a chave na bolsa.
- Eu achei que tinha guardado a chave na bolsa.