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Portuguese Phrase

Você pode limpar isso por volta das 14h?

/voˈse ˈpo.dʒi limˈpaɾ ˈi.su poɾ voɫˈta das kaˈtoɾ.zi ˈoɾas/
Meaning"Can you clean this around 2 PM?"
💡

Meaning

This phrase is a polite way to ask someone if they are able to clean something specifically around 2 PM. It's a direct question about their capability and availability, implying a request rather than a command. The 'por volta das' indicates an approximate time.

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When to use

You would use this phrase when you need to request someone to perform a cleaning task at a specific, approximate time. It's suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts, like asking a colleague, a family member, or a service person. It's a good way to schedule a task without being overly demanding.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Vocêpodelimparissopor volta das14h

1

Você pode

This is a common and polite way to ask 'Can you...' in Portuguese. 'Você' is the informal 'you', and 'pode' is the conjugation of 'poder' (to be able to/can) for 'você'.

2

limpar

'Limpar' means 'to clean'. It's a regular -ar verb. In this construction, it remains in the infinitive form after 'pode'.

3

isso

'Isso' means 'this' or 'it' and refers to something inanimate or a general situation. It's a neutral demonstrative pronoun.

4

por volta das

This phrase means 'around' or 'approximately' when referring to time. 'Das' is the contraction of 'de' (of/from) + 'as' (the feminine plural article), used before feminine plural nouns like 'horas' (hours), which is implied here.

5

14h

This denotes 2 PM using the 24-hour clock format, which is very common in Portuguese-speaking countries. 'h' stands for 'horas' (hours).

🗨In Conversation

A

A sala está um pouco bagunçada. Você pode limpar isso por volta das 14h?

The room is a bit messy. Can you clean this around 2 PM?

Sim, claro! Posso fazer isso antes das 14h, se precisar.

Yes, of course! I can do it before 2 PM, if needed.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Você deve limpar isso às 14h.

    Using 'deve' (should/must) makes the request sound like an order, which is less polite than 'pode' (can).

  • Você pode limpar isso por volta das duas da tarde?

    While understandable, using '14h' (2 PM in 24-hour format) is more common and precise in Brazil for scheduling, especially in written communication or more formal contexts.

  • Você pode limpar ele por volta das 14h?

    The pronoun 'isso' (this/it) refers to an inanimate object or a general situation. 'Ele' (he/it) is typically used for masculine animate beings or specific masculine nouns.

↔Alternatives

  • Poderia limpar isso por volta das 14h?

    Could you clean this around 2 PM?

  • Seria possível limpar isso por volta das 14h?

    Would it be possible to clean this around 2 PM?

  • Limpe isso por volta das 14h, por favor.

    Clean this around 2 PM, please.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, using 'você pode' is a common and polite way to make requests, similar to 'can you' in English. While 'você' is generally informal, it's widely used. For time, the 24-hour clock (e.g., 14h for 2 PM) is very common, especially in formal settings or when precision is needed. Using 'por favor' (please) at the end of the sentence can further enhance politeness, though it's often implied by the 'você pode' construction.