Portuguese Phrase
Vou regar elas agora.
Meaning
This phrase expresses the immediate intention to water plants or flowers. It uses the periphrastic future 'vou regar' and employs 'elas' as a direct object, which is a hallmark of colloquial Brazilian Portuguese.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are about to perform the chore of watering plants, especially after someone mentions they look dry or as part of your daily routine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vouregarelasagora
Ir + Infinitive
The construction 'vou' (from the verb ir) followed by an infinitive is the most common way to express the near future in Portuguese.
Colloquial Pronouns
Using 'elas' as a direct object is very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, though 'as' is used in formal writing.
🗨In Conversation
As plantas estão ficando secas.
The plants are getting dry.
Vou regar elas agora.
I'm going to water them now.
✕Common Mistakes
Vou regar eles agora.
Since 'plantas' (plants) is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine pronoun 'elas' instead of the masculine 'eles'.
Vou rego elas agora.
When using the verb 'ir' to indicate future action, the following verb must remain in the infinitive form 'regar'.
↔Alternatives
Vou regá-las agora.
I'm going to water them now (formal).
Vou dar água para as plantas.
I'm going to give water to the plants.
Cultural Tip
In standard written Portuguese and European Portuguese, 'Vou regá-las' is the correct form. However, in Brazil, using subject pronouns like 'elas' as objects is the standard way people speak in everyday life.