Phrase · 🎬 Storytelling with markers
Foi aí que eu percebi que tinha esquecido a carteira.
That's when I realised I'd forgotten my wallet.
C1organizing discourseinformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Foi1verbit wasser · past · 3rd sing.aí1adverbthenque1conjunctionthateupronounI1st sing. · subjectpercebi2verbrealisedperceber · past · 1st sing.queconjunctionthattinha3verbhadter · imperfect · 1st sing.esquecido3verbforgottenesquecer · participleadeterminertheo · fem. · sing. · definitecarteiranounwalletfem. · sing..
- Foi → que: cleft
- eu → percebi: subject–verb
- tinha → esquecido: ter + participle
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Foi aí que… = "that's when…": a cleft that marks the turning point. Clefts & focus (é que, foi … que, o que … é) →
- 2perceber = "realise, notice", not "perceive" in a formal sense.
- 3tinha esquecido: the pluperfect, something earlier than the realisation. Past participles & the pluperfect (tinha feito) →