"A" vs "DE" Flashcards
aspectual (9 cards)
“A”
unbounded
introduces ongoing nature.
ongoing, continuous, habitual processes
Notice how “a” always suggests something in progress, continuing, or repeatedly happening - never completed or finished actions.
“De”
bounded
introduces endpoint or boundary
completion, termination, boundaries, immediacy
“de” introduces aspectual meanings related to completion and immediacy.
Acabei de chegar
“I just arrived”
Acabar de + infinitive = “to have just done”
Recent completion
Parou de chover
“It stopped raining”
Parar de + infinitive = “to stop doing”
Cessation/stopping:
Terminei de trabalhar
“I finished working”
Terminar de + infinitive = “to finish doing”
Completion/finishing:
Deixou de fumar
“He quit smoking”
He stopped smoking
Deixar de + infinitive
= “to stop/cease doing”
Estou a trabalhar
“I am working” (right now, ongoing)
Continuous/Ongoing Actions:
Anda a beber muito
“He’s been drinking a lot”
Ongoing Habitual/Repeated Actions:
Continua a chove
“It continues to rain” (ongoing weather)
Continuous States/Processes:
