Portuguese Phrase
A gente devia limpar a cozinha.
Meaning
This phrase uses the colloquial expression 'a gente' to mean 'we', paired with the verb 'devia' to suggest a necessary action. It expresses a mild obligation or a helpful suggestion regarding household chores. The use of the imperfect tense 'devia' makes the request sound softer and more polite than a direct command.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual domestic settings with roommates, family, or partners. It is ideal for pointing out a mess that needs attention without sounding too bossy.
✦Grammar Breakdown
A gentedevialimpara cozinha
A gente
A very common informal substitute for 'nós'. It always requires a singular verb.
Devia
The imperfect form of 'dever' (must/should), used here to express a polite suggestion or hypothetical obligation.
Limpar
The infinitive form of the verb 'to clean'.
🗨In Conversation
Nossa, que bagunça está aqui!
Wow, what a mess it is in here!
Pois é, a gente devia limpar a cozinha logo.
Yeah, we should clean the kitchen soon.
✕Common Mistakes
A gente devíamos limpar a cozinha.
Even though 'a gente' means 'we', it always takes the third-person singular verb form.
A gente devia limpa a cozinha.
After a modal verb like 'devia', the second verb must remain in the infinitive form 'limpar'.
↔Alternatives
Nós deveríamos limpar a cozinha.
We should clean the kitchen (formal).
Bora limpar a cozinha?
Let's clean the kitchen?
A gente precisa limpar a cozinha.
We need to clean the kitchen.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, 'a gente' is the most common way to say 'we' in daily conversation. While 'nós' is grammatically correct, using it in a casual setting like cleaning the house might sound overly formal or academic. Always remember that 'a gente' acts like 'he/she/it' for verb conjugations.